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Is bookmatching overrated?


Bonefish

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Posted

Yeah... I hate when Heritage doesnt bookmatch!

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It doesn't worry me much when they don't.

 

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Posted

Not to drag this discussion TOTALLY off course, but to me the enduring, defining aspect of the Les Paul is that violin top carve, which Ted McCarty said was originally done just because they had the machine to do it and Fender didn't.

 

It makes the flame tops interesting. You can get any number of flat-top Stratelewhatevers with a book-matched maple top, and there's something not quite right about them. You can get the laminated guitars with perfect tops, and we all understand that it's a very thin slice of wood there, almost "photo flame".

 

Only a Les Paul has the authentic thick maple cap with the violin top. It makes the guitar individual; no two are ever the same, even in the age of CNC everything. And it directly links the instrument with the archtop aesthetic.

 

Godin and PRS, among others, have unique designs with flamed or quilted carved tops, but the original idea belongs to Ted McCarty and I, personally, will never really look at a solid-body guitar as being truly premium unless there's some dimensionality to the top.

 

End of rant.

 

 

good read. I think you are on to something

Posted

eh.. bookmatching is over-rated. It adds nothing but a specific look to solid bodied guitars.

 

On the other hand, with carved archtop guitars, it's essential, as it is on acoustic guitars.

Posted

157.jpg

 

Bonefish - that is a bookmatched top, The symmetry below the tailpiece says it all. That's a stunning 157! I wouldn't kick her out of the music room for eating crackers...

 

FredZepp - Your additions to the graphical aspect of the forum are TRULY Appreciated!

Edit:

And might I add you are the John Holmes of the HOC porn!

Posted
:downtown::tongue3::thumbsup:
Posted

Well, I think the point of the thread has been reached... but since Fred's showing off the Centurion, I might as well throw my 157 into the pic mix as well :)

 

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Posted

Well, I think the point of the thread has been reached... but since Fred's showing off the Centurion, I might as well throw my 157 into the pic mix as well :)

 

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Seriously Brian... That has to be the most amazing quilt I have ever seen. Dramatic might be the word.

Posted

Well, I think the point of the thread has been reached... but since Fred's showing off the Centurion, I might as well throw my 157 into the pic mix as well :)

 

EXCELLENT !! I always love seeing that one.. Some fantastic pics there also.

Posted

KBP810 - Beautiful! I cannot tell; is that a 1 piece top?

Posted

I'm a sucker for nice wood. Figured maple to me is always enhanced when bookmatched. The exception might be the uniformly figured one piece top and/or back. I think it's worth the premium price, recognizing it adds zero to the tone or playability of the instrument. BTW, some real stunners in this thread...

Posted

KBP810 - Beautiful! I cannot tell; is that a 1 piece top?

Tis a 2 piece top and a 1 piece bottom :)

 

Once KBP's 157 Custom has been posted, the entire thread can be shut down! What an amazing work of Heritage art!!!!!!

I always think the same thing regarding Fred's Centurion - I guess we can regard them as the "Thread Killaz" (okay not so much!)

Posted

Welcome back to the forum KBP, i was wondering if you forgot about us.... What a way to come back! Shut down the sever as we're all stuck staring at that 157!

Posted

It's been a fun thread, I got some great answers to my questions and some quality randomness from the peanut gallery.

 

Speaking of randomness, I thought I'd hijack my own thread and pose a question. Should I keep or remove my pick guard. What you think? Why?

 

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Guest HRB853370
Posted

Take it off! Expose everything on that beauty!

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