Gibson Raw Power Series - Maple infests Nashville ...

[uwe]

What a weird combo, what are inherently classic mahogany guitars put out with maple bodies and maple boards, but - wait for it - maho necks?  

"Both the Les Paul Studio Raw Power and SG Raw Power feature unbound solid maple bodies, with a traditional carved top on the former. This sturdy tonewood offers a clear, well-defined sonic response, as well as looking great with minimal cosmetic treatment. Their solid mahogany necks are topped with unbound maple fretboards, which are dressed with simple dot position markers, and graced with a traditional trapezoid marker at the 12th fret."

Never mind how Gibson isn't quite sure what wood they are really using on these:


"For the first time, the SG is available with a three-piece solid maple neck, topped with a maple fingerboard. With the world's fastest-playing neck, the notes you play on the SG Raw Power are vividly clear, and chords are purely expressive. Play it and you immediately feel the difference between the SG Raw Power and any other SG. The maple makes each note literally jump off the fingerboard. The tone is snappier, the response quicker, and the clarity in unmatched."








While the natural models still have some appeal to me visually (kind of albino guitars!), once you get to the finned versions it looks plain weird and cheap in my eyes:






http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/NewModels/the-new-raw-power-guitars-401/

[Highlander]

Maybe they had an excess of maple knocking about...

"Gee... what're we gonna do with all this maple we've got out in the yard, Mack...?"

[Chris P.]

British Guitar & Bass Magazine reviewed one, one issue ago. A LP Goldtop. They disliked the gold hardware, but they liked the guitar. It was very gooed in clean sounds, but they didn't liked it overdriven that much.

[chromium]

Brilliant!  Now they have a contingency plan for raw materials sourced for the Authorized Hendrix Gibsoncasters!

[Dave W]

I'll bet the bodies are one of the soft maple species, which would still be harder and heavier than mahogany.

Gibson has been big on using sustainable North American woods, so this is a logical move. Still, they're not about to do away with mahogany or korina as long as they're available at a reasonable price.

[uwe]

A maple board on an SG or Paula looks inherently wrong, that's all I can say, even if it might have aural benefits for some purposes.

[jmcgliss]

They look like something that belongs in tropical umbrella drinks.

[uwe]

One day, only the Custom Shop models will be made from mahogany ... They've already reached that stage with korina, not aware that they have used that outside of the Custom Shop on anything recent.

[Freuds_Cat]

Maybe they had an excess of maple knocking about...

"Gee... what're we gonna do with all this maple we've got out in the yard, Mack...?"

My first thought too. Or they were offered a deal on Maple that they just couldn't refuse.

[Dave W]

My first thought too. Or they were offered a deal on Maple that they just couldn't refuse.

The Corleone Maple Farms... buy or else you'll wake up to find a broken mahogany headstock in your bed.

[SKATE RAT]

Maple body,necks and syrup are cool.but they should throw on a rosewood or ebony board! it just doesn't look right

[Chris P.]

I always wondered how Pete Townshend could throw a Les Paul 9 ft in the air. Kick it away in mid flight, pick it up again and play it again without neck breaks... Later I discoverd he used the mini-humbucker/maple neck ones.... So for some people maple necks have an advantage:)

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Maple body,necks and syrup are cool.but they should throw on a rosewood or ebony board! it just doesn't look right

Mmmmmmmaple syrup

Signed,
Homer Simpson

[Highlander]

"Don't go breaking my neck, doop, do-do, do-doop-doop, I couldn't if I tri-ied..." 

Don't think I'll try that with my RD, Chris... 

[Chris P.]

No please, don't throw the RD or throw it so far I'll catch it here!