Flame top grading ?

[Yetimonstor]

LP STD Premium Plus

LP Custom

Hi Guys !

Would like to get your help on my LP STD Premium Plus and LP Custom here.

I have bought this 2 guitars brand new back in 2006 and the shop told told me:
The STD is a AAA
The Custom is a AA

Are they ?

 

[rockstar232007]

Yes, according to Gibson specs, which are very subjective.

The whole "grading system" is about marketing; An "AAAA" top is going to command a higher premium, than an "AA", or "AAA".

 

[Yetimonstor]

Yes, according to Gibson specs, which are very subjective.

The whole "grading system" is about marketing; An "AAAA" top is going to command a higher premium, than an "AA", or "AAA".

Thank you very much. I always think that my LTD is a AA and my Custom is just and A

 

[GeeJay]

FWIW I think that the PP is an AAA top, but it's not easy to assess just by photos.

 

[Yetimonstor]

FWIW I think that the PP is an AAA top, but it's not easy to assess just by photos.

Thank you for your comment, I will get some more pictures.

What is the PP stand for ?

 

[rockstar232007]

Thank you for your comment, I will get some more pictures.

What is the PP stand for ?

Premium Plus.

 

[musicmaniac]

Yes

 

[rock4ever]

As an aside, someone graded this AAA quilt.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Quilt - Honeyburst Perimeter | Sweetwater.com

 

[DesolationBlvd]

As an aside, someone graded this AAA quilt.

Gibson Les Paul Standard Premium Quilt - Honeyburst Perimeter | Sweetwater.com

As an aside to the aside - I saw a PRS DGT "10-top" quilt that looked very underwhelming in the photograph. In person, it was definitely worthy of the "10-top" designation.

I'm not sure I like the new grading system. By using B and C grades, it's implying they're using crap wood. Though I do see knots in some of the lower-grade mahogany...

The old Gibson system could line up with PRS:
A -> non-figured
AA -> standard
AAA -> 10-top
AAAA -> Artist

 

[ToneasaurusRex]

Yes, according to Gibson specs, which are very subjective.
. . .

Almost exactly what was in my mind when I read the OP. The AA on the red guitar looks just like an AA top I had once. So the ratings here are consistent with my experience, at least.

 

[Left Paw]

All subjective, even at the factory.

 

[Yetimonstor]

Thank you very much guys. Play les paul for over 20 years, and have just learned a lot of things today.

So, the beautyful top equal high quality wood. Does it create the better sound too.

I have a 1991 STD wine red with plain top, it is my no.1 guitar. neck broken twice, pots and tuners replaced 3 times. own it from 1992 brand new. Love this axe, will never sell it.

Someone tells me, the early 90's gibson are good no matter what model.

 

[KevinB]

The figuring of the maple top has absolutely no influence on the sound. It only has an aesthetic value.

Well, maybe it has some miniscule effect that only a dog or a bat could hear!

I'd like to think that whoever grades these tops has a lot of experience and maybe even some training, but as the others have said, it all remains extremely subjective.

 

[Yetimonstor]

The figuring of the maple top has absolutely no influence on the sound. It only has an aesthetic value.

Well, maybe it has some miniscule effect that only a dog or a bat could hear!

I'd like to think that whoever grades these tops has a lot of experience and maybe even some training, but as the others have said, it all remains extremely subjective.

Thank you very much