Gear News 2006
- Thread starter subversion
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theblueark
New member
It bloated, like got air below then started to crack and peel. Probably too many trips in and out of air conditioning. Not my rg by the way, was my cousin's. I was at his house and snapped those shots.
That's basswood. Now you know why you don't see basswood guitars in natural finish
See, extremely uninteresting grains:
That's basswood. Now you know why you don't see basswood guitars in natural finish
See, extremely uninteresting grains:
subversion
Moderator
there might be some confusion pertaining to laminates here. i'm refering to the piece of wood plastered on top of a guitar body to make it more visually pleasing. as long as it's wood, there's bound to be some grading to it, especially the flames/ quilts type.
with refernce to blueark's guitar- is that the wood laminate coming off or just the lackered finish giving way? it's rather unfortunate because the finish of my 15yr old RG560 is still in tact.
with refernce to blueark's guitar- is that the wood laminate coming off or just the lackered finish giving way? it's rather unfortunate because the finish of my 15yr old RG560 is still in tact.
theblueark
New member
It's a thin laminate like those you would find on furniture.
Since Ibanez says it's an undisclosed laminate, we wouldn't know if it was wood right. It might not be maple, just that it has maple grains like the guitar i showed you had alder grains.
There are just too many guitars around with photoflame laminates and such. Nobody will ever know till they try to refinish it or it starts to peel like that one.
Heck, check out this one:
Still, if it sounds good, feels good, I say buy it. Just don't be deluded into thinking your guitar has a flame maple top when it might just be a photo laminate.
Since Ibanez says it's an undisclosed laminate, we wouldn't know if it was wood right. It might not be maple, just that it has maple grains like the guitar i showed you had alder grains.
There are just too many guitars around with photoflame laminates and such. Nobody will ever know till they try to refinish it or it starts to peel like that one.
Heck, check out this one:
Still, if it sounds good, feels good, I say buy it. Just don't be deluded into thinking your guitar has a flame maple top when it might just be a photo laminate.
subversion
Moderator
theblueark said:
the 'undisclosed' here refers to the wood grade, not the doubt whether it's wood or not- it's definitely wood & not a photo finish, like on some Fenders.
trianglebiscuit
New member
just the difference between a quilt top and the flamed top version i suppose...
subversion
Moderator
QM- quilted maple
FM- Flame maple
these are merely adjectives to describe the granular wood pattern.
there's no 'better' here when it's merely a laminate. for any tonal contributions, it has to be at least a quarter inch, otherwise, it's merely visual candy.
FM- Flame maple
these are merely adjectives to describe the granular wood pattern.
there's no 'better' here when it's merely a laminate. for any tonal contributions, it has to be at least a quarter inch, otherwise, it's merely visual candy.
theblueark
New member
subversion said:
That's an interesting titbit but how do you know for sure?
subversion
Moderator
1. Manufacturer declaration
2. Luthier confirmation
3. Self-inspection- remove the pickup from its cavity, even if it's a mere laminate, there is a definite layer differentiation, unlike a photo top.
2. Luthier confirmation
3. Self-inspection- remove the pickup from its cavity, even if it's a mere laminate, there is a definite layer differentiation, unlike a photo top.
no need laminate laa paste sticker can liao.
got thread discuss the properties of stickers on guitar.
want more high use the metal flim sticker.
want a warmer tone paste many many sticker on same spot. no need worry abt peeling laminate. Steady!
want to make your cheap plywood guitar sound like a Custom shop instrument! Paste many many sticker over entire guitar fretboard also paste TOne is comfirm THICK THICK!
SHIOK SHIOK!
got thread discuss the properties of stickers on guitar.
want more high use the metal flim sticker.
want a warmer tone paste many many sticker on same spot. no need worry abt peeling laminate. Steady!
want to make your cheap plywood guitar sound like a Custom shop instrument! Paste many many sticker over entire guitar fretboard also paste TOne is comfirm THICK THICK!
SHIOK SHIOK!
snuffleupagus
New member
ciel21 said:
handyplast how?Wooly tone ah.
theblueark
New member
Hmm ok I guess a photo flame can be differentiated if you angle the guitar.
Though a super thin laminate may enhance the look, I still feel it's a misleading enhancement and to write "maple top" as a description is as sneaky a marketing method as planet waves' true hard bypass tuner.
Still, if you like the look, and know what you're buying, I say go for it.
Though a super thin laminate may enhance the look, I still feel it's a misleading enhancement and to write "maple top" as a description is as sneaky a marketing method as planet waves' true hard bypass tuner.
Still, if you like the look, and know what you're buying, I say go for it.
subversion
Moderator
theblueark said:
'maple top' can refer to both laminate or a substantial cap. people kinda equate this term to the latter, which is a convenient assumption.
same goes for 'floyd rose', it's taken to mean a floating vibrato bridge which need not necessarily be a floyd unit.
not trying to defend any guitar manufacturer here- they don't give me a free guitar by saying all these.
theblueark
New member
Yep I guess that's how big companies survive nowadays anyway.
And why there exists a boutique market.
Hmph just checked out my fav yamaha pacifica line and their higher end guitars are guilty of this marketing too I think.
And why there exists a boutique market.
Hmph just checked out my fav yamaha pacifica line and their higher end guitars are guilty of this marketing too I think.
bin4christ
New member
ciel21 said:
really?
hmm. i am confused. u mean those so called 'maple top' on the guitar manucfuature's spec actually is simply just a maple laminate ?
i know laminate is a thin layer of vernner to enhance look. so is a real maple top really a thicker piece of maple layered on top? means we only get these on expensive Gibson LP and PRS ?
i know laminate is a thin layer of vernner to enhance look. so is a real maple top really a thicker piece of maple layered on top? means we only get these on expensive Gibson LP and PRS ?