Ari":3vjh4ogn said:
That color is very nice, but they put out tops on cheaper guitars that are absolutely stunning that aren't even 10 tops
Yes, some lower cost guitars sometimes have really nice looking tops.
BUT, not all tops are equal in regards to the thickness of the top.
ESP makes LTD, which are lower cost guitars not made in japan.
Many LTD tops look better than many ESP tops, but the ESP maple caps are thicker and that costs more.
So with builders who use really beautiful tops the cost is higher.
Lower cost guitars often get a thin "veneer" of maple. They look great but aren't considered as high of a quality as thicker sculpted top.
Highest quality wood on a guitar would be a solid maple cap where the grain is continuous left to right.
With thinner tops they can do matched tops where the left and right are mirror images cause they are cut from the same piece of wood.
Most LP's don't have matched tops as they use thicker pieces for the top.
I recently got an ESP with a flame maple top and it's nice, but nothing really special.
It's thicker than many lower cost guitars are it's not matched either.
I've seen beautiful quilted matched maple tops on LTD's that put my flame to shame, it's a thinner top and the LTD costs a good bit less.
Does it matter?
Some say yes, and some say the thicker top actually adds to the tone where thinner veneers are more cosmetic, not enough wood to really make a difference.
But let your ears be the judge on that.