Where is Gibson Getting This Wood - AAA I Don't Think So

[rjwilson37]

I just looked out on the Sweetwater Site at all the different Gibson Les Paul Standard 60's tops with 4 to choose from in different finishes. None of them look like a AAA top, they all pretty much look like Plain Tops. It has been a while since I have seen a nice top on the Unburst's at Sweetwater.

Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s Electric Guitar - Bourbon Burst | Sweetwater

 

[Peter M]

I think it's a typo, the '60s Standards come with AA tops....except for some limited editions. At any rate, those tops are very mild.

 

[Justin_Case]

With the recent price increased, I think the link you have is to the basic AA tops.

This link is for the AAA ( supposedly ) at $2899 for HCBs SW-AAAs

Wildwood took their AAAs to $2999

 

[jaqueh]

Yeah the old standards pre 2019 bankruptcy Standards had much more figuring. The new Les Paul Standards are very much plain tops in my eyes.

 

[Zylo]

Buy cheap sell high it seems..

 

[hotshot]

I just looked out on the Sweetwater Site at all the different Gibson Les Paul Standard 60's tops with 4 to choose from in different finishes. None of them look like a AAA top, they all pretty much look like Plain Tops. It has been a while since I have seen a nice top on the Unburst's at Sweetwater.

Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s Electric Guitar - Bourbon Burst | Sweetwater

I was wondering the same thing. I bought a ice tea Standard last August and mine was supposed to be the AA top but to me it looks like a AAA. I've been looking at the ones they have been offering since and they are very plain. And they raised the price, go figure. Prior to the price hike they couldn't keep them in stock, now they got lots of them.

 

[Plant man]

Gibson and Fender probably both did it on purpose raising the price due to high demand

 

[LuthierVandross]

They shipped all the good wood to China to build the Joey B Lazarus’s (Lazari?)

 

[DaveSG]

Interesting discussion. I have noticed this as well. The really nice tops are few and far between. Which makes it cool when you can find one, but it does beg the question of what changed, if there was a specific change, and where is that wood going now? Is it a supplier issue? Maybe some other company/competitor offered more $$ and took a chunk out of the premium wood from Gibson's supplier? Who knows...but it is noticeable and has been for a while.

 

[flamesarewicked]

Mine was specifically sold as a AAA top.. it was $200 more than the normal 50s standard.. before the price hike companies like SW, ZZounds, and probably many others had two standards.. ones listed at $2699 with a AAA top and one for $2499. I think they probably just grouped the better looking tops in the pile and decided to create a sub model with a $200 up charge. The 60s standard I had before was easily as figured or more so than this one that is labeled as a AAA top.. and without the up charge..

How underwhelming is this AAA top? Their lighting isn’t very flattering.

Despite that underwhelming photo, this is how it looks in the sun

I just chalk it up to having a 60s color on a 50s model which isn’t as common. It’s the color I wanted with a chunky neck.

As far as the tops go… well played Gibson.. charging an extra $200 for tops that were sold at the normal price upon its initial release of the 50s and 69s standards

 

[rjwilson37]

Yep, when you see a super nice top, you just want to buy it right away because it may be the last really nice one for a while.

 

[Phillycheez402]

Bought this one not long ago, super happy with the top. However have seen several of the opposite

 

[Phillycheez402]

Bought this one not long ago, super happy with the top. However have seen several of the opposite

Same guitar

 

[jaqueh]

Same guitar
View attachment 570131

Is yours slash?

 

[pugachev]

Yeah, this has been a problem for a while. Really disappointing when you're about to drop 3 grand on a guitar. I do wonder if the underwhelming look is due to their lighting, though. I've been too afraid to pull the trigger on such an expensive guitar without seeing it in person. I think I would have a heart attack spending that much and not being thrilled at the top, which I know should be second to tone and playability, but still. That's why I'm just waiting for the right one to come along at my local GC.

 

[Phillycheez402]

Is yours slash?

Yes. But still should apply to the standards listed as AAA tops. Same difference just some different hardware

 

[Phillycheez402]

Now I ended up with a guitar that also happens to be amazing (to me) in regards to neck and playability but tried out other standards prior and passed cuz they looked like shit

 

[InTheEvening]

I was wondering the same thing. I bought a ice tea Standard last August and mine was supposed to be the AA top but to me it looks like a AAA. I've been looking at the ones they have been offering since and they are very plain. And they raised the price, go figure. Prior to the price hike they couldn't keep them in stock, now they got lots of them. View attachment 570088

It’s surprising how much the tops can vary on these models. I still see some great flame top examples in the racks, but they do seem to be more the exception than the norm. You got one of the nicer examples for sure! I see some with intense flames and some which are pretty much plain tops. It varies a lot. Love both looks.

I’m really happy with mine. It’s a 2020. It’s not super flamed but I appreciate that it was matched well.

 

[afireinside]

The price increase has me a non buyer.... was looking at some WW 50s unbursts but at $3175 shipped eek. I had bought x2 standards before for $2500 shipped, now they cant/wont deal.

And sweetwater has the iced tea 50s. A few i saw looked good but again $2899 when they were what $2699 no thanks.


So i grabbed a 2014 traditional used and a H150 custom core Sweetwater marked as a demo but has no damage. Crazy top! Pics dont do it justice.

 

[Azmedian]

This is how it looked on website

This is what it looks like in reality

I think they will look better in person, Note this was advertised as AA

Sometimes they look better at the bar, then once you wake up the next day you say Wholey Schitt, you gotta go.
It's a crapshoot.