I don't get gold tops..

TimmyO · February 11

m_c said:

I don't get the gold top thing either.

To me they're like some kind of relic from the 60/70s, and look like they would go nicely in somebody's brown and beige interior.

Surely that’s sunburst Strats and butterscotch Teles?

AK99 · February 11

Musical_Mystery_Tour said:

I can take or leave the appearance of the Gold Top, but the sound they make is the real reason it is worth having one: You've got single coils but with a lot better and fuller tone, plus the additional sustain you get from the set neck and heavy body.

That combination can give you cutting, wailing lead tones which come through complex mixes with ease and the flat radius means you can have bends up at the dusty end ring out for ages. It makes it one of the best rock guitars you can get your hands on to the point where you won't really give a flying feck what the paint job is.

Forgive the ignorance, but is that actually part of the 'Gold Top' spec - not just the gold colour, but mandatory P90s plus a flat(ter) radius neck ?

Sporky · February 11

bertie said:

on a goldtop, extra creamy P90s obviously

And then jam?

NCo · February 11

I can't stand new Goldtops, but there is something magical about old/aged ones.

Double black, uncovered humbuckers or nickel/P90s with a bigsby for me.

TimmyO · February 11

NCo said:

I can't stand new Goldtops, but there is something magical about old/aged ones.

Double black, uncovered humbuckers or nickel/P90s with a bigsby for me.

Now, Bigsbys - there’s something I don’t get

p90fool · February 11

Philly_Q said:

^^ That guitar has had more lives than a cat!

It has, it's still a joy to gig though, it seems to handle whatever I throw at it.

NCo · February 11

TimmyO said:

NCo said:

I can't stand new Goldtops, but there is something magical about old/aged ones.

Double black, uncovered humbuckers or nickel/P90s with a bigsby for me.

Now, Bigsbys - there’s something I don’t get

Bigsby on a black Custom or Goldtop, heaven.

robgilmo · February 11

Musical_Mystery_Tour · February 11

AK99 Forgive the ignorance, but is that actually part of the 'Gold Top' spec - not just the gold colour, but mandatory P90s plus a flat(ter) radius neck ?

Generally speaking yes, but Gibson have produced Gold Tops with PAFs on occasion.

TTBZ · February 11

TimmyO said:

m_c said:

I don't get the gold top thing either.

To me they're like some kind of relic from the 60/70s, and look like they would go nicely in somebody's brown and beige interior.

Surely that’s sunburst Strats and butterscotch Teles?

Yes, the worst colours for both models

Dominic · February 11

robinbowes said:

relic245 said:

Maybe controversial but I don't like the look of goldtop Les Paul's.

Intellectually I feel that I should find them cool but I just don't.

Conversely I find firebird's cool as fuck but I know not everyone does.

Nothing again gold tops but they're just not for me.

Am I the only one or am I about to get banished from the forum for my herecy?

It's totally a personal taste thing.

That said, you're clearly wrong and have no taste.

Conversely ,I have no taste but I'd like a Goldtop with a diamond bezel and jewel encrusted strap

m_c · February 12

TimmyO said:

m_c said:

I don't get the gold top thing either.

To me they're like some kind of relic from the 60/70s, and look like they would go nicely in somebody's brown and beige interior.

Surely that’s sunburst Strats and butterscotch Teles?

Bursts are equally dull to me.
I do have a butterscotch Tele though

There is something about that era of guitars that just doesn't appeal to me. I suspect it's because during my teenager years, those kind of guitars were only played by old men. So I've always preferred brighter colours, and appreciate some nice figured wood.
My Tele is probably something of an outlier, as I can't remember seeing a Tele during that era, so I've probably never built that same association. Plus I like the whole plain workhorse Tele thing, so to me they should just be simple understated workhorse.

stickyfiddle · February 12

TimmyO said:

My opinion on then varies greatly with the type of gold finish - some are anaemic looking (imo) and I really don’t like them but the ones with some actual metal-seeming content to the colour or just a deeper colour to them I absolutely love.

e.g. My ‘96 R7 looks ace (again, imo) but the old LP Classics in gold look washed out - the finish is very different

Agreed. I have it in my head that the 2013 ones were a little bit more green than usual, which was really good. Not sure I’ve ever seen one in person though!

guyinlyon · February 12

relic245 said:

Maybe controversial but I don't like the look of goldtop Les Paul's.

Okay.

Philly_Q · February 12

m_c said:
There is something about that era of guitars that just doesn't appeal to me. I suspect it's because during my teenager years, those kind of guitars were only played by old men.

Blimey, you must be young! In my teenager years those old men were probably in their mid-30s.