# a Les Paul with no cutaway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856 "2009-01-18T14:45:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/1 "2009-01-18T14:45:38Z")
I was watching Foo Fighters on Austin City Limits last night and something caught my eye. On one song the rhythm guitarist was playing what looked like a gold top Les Paul, but without the cutaway. I’ve never seen one like that. It had the Gibson name on the headstock, and what looked like the Les Paul signature, but I couldn’t say for sure on that. It had the Les Paul pickguard, but the rhythm/treble switch was below the strings, where the cutaway would be. I’m not very familiar with Foo Fighters- it looked like they had several musicians sitting in, including a violinist, a keyboard player, and an extra percussionist. They, along with the rhythm guitarist, only appeared on certain songs. There was another guitarist, besides Dave Grohl, who played on every song- lead and rhythm. The credits listed Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear on guitar. So, are any of you guitar experts familiar with this model of Les Paul? A custom-made, or limited edition version, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/2 "2009-01-18T17:51:55Z")
Hmm - - In Vintage Guitar Magazine, there was a piece about non-cutaway LP’s made by special order back in the day - jeez, the photos were _hideous_…an LP needs that cutaway. - The Foos, especially Grohl, are known guitar geeks and collectors. Grohl’s used the clear Armstrong guitar, a real cult item, and currently favors his Signature Gibson model, a variant of a mid-60’s Trini Lopez model - basically a niche form of a semi-hollow ES-335 with diamond f-holes (really not attractive, IMHO) - a cult guitar, updated in a VERY obscure Gibson custom color, Pelham Blue (basically a sky/powder blue pearlescent finish). See [here](http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/09/27/its-official-gibson-unveils-the-dave-grohl-inspired-by-dg-335/) - So, yeah, it is conceivable that the Foos got something quirky out of Gibson, but I would have to check…can you find a link to a video still? ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/3 "2009-01-18T18:26:25Z")
Given the treachery of memory, the non straight dope is the axe was either a 120-T or perhaps a Ranger. The 120 was hollow body thinline. Or, a branded LP. There was a time when lots of Gibsons bore that name. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/4 "2009-01-18T18:34:50Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Hmm - > > - In Vintage Guitar Magazine, there was a piece about non-cutaway LP’s made by special order back in the day - jeez, the photos were _hideous_…an LP needs that cutaway. > > - The Foos, especially Grohl, are known guitar geeks and collectors. Grohl’s used the clear Armstrong guitar, a real cult item, and currently favors his Signature Gibson model, a variant of a mid-60’s Trini Lopez model - basically a niche form of a semi-hollow ES-335 with diamond f-holes (really not attractive, IMHO) - a cult guitar, updated in a VERY obscure Gibson custom color, Pelham Blue (basically a sky/powder blue pearlescent finish). > > See [here](http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/09/27/its-official-gibson-unveils-the-dave-grohl-inspired-by-dg-335/) > > - So, yeah, it is conceivable that the Foos got something quirky out of Gibson, but I would have to check…can you find a link to a video still? Agreed, the Les Paul needs that cutaway. It just didn’t look right! Grohl mostly played his blue Signature model, but he had a black one that he played on one song. He also played acoustic guitar on a few songs. I’ll look for a still to post. I’m sending you a PM, **WordMan**. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/5 "2009-01-18T19:07:16Z")
> [@Carson\_O\_Genic](#): > > Given the treachery of memory, the non straight dope is the axe was either a 120-T or perhaps a Ranger. The 120 was hollow body thinline. > Or, a branded LP. There was a time when lots of Gibsons bore that name. It wasn’t a 120-T. I couldn’t find a picture of a Ranger, but that’s an acoustic-electric, isn’t it? It looked exactly like a Les Paul, but with no cutaway. I’ve owned a couple of Les Pauls, so I’m pretty familiar with them. Like I said, it had the LP pickguard, and a rhythm/treble switch, but located below the strings. It had what looked like P-90 pickups, with the row of screws down the center, not off to one side. It had the trapezoidal inlays on the fingerboard. It had the four knobs in a diamond pattern. And the gold top finish. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/6 "2009-01-19T00:28:51Z")
I have a Telecaster with 2 humbuckers, I guess a lot of people think that looks weird. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/7 "2009-01-19T04:29:35Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > I was watching Foo Fighters on Austin City Limits last night and something caught my eye. On one song the rhythm guitarist was playing what looked like a gold top Les Paul, but without the cutaway. I’ve never seen one like that. > > It had the Gibson name on the headstock, and what looked like the Les Paul signature, but I couldn’t say for sure on that. It had the Les Paul pickguard, but the rhythm/treble switch was below the strings, where the cutaway would be. It couldn’t have been a left-handed strung right-handed, could it? (or a right-handed strung and played left-handed…) It’s easy to change where the pick guard is, but not so easy to change where the pickup switch, volume knobs and tone knobs are. Do you remember noticing the location of the knobs? Just my WAG. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/8 "2009-01-19T07:23:44Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > It couldn’t have been a left-handed strung right-handed, could it? (or a right-handed strung and played left-handed…) It’s easy to change where the pick guard is, but not so easy to change where the pickup switch, volume knobs and tone knobs are. Do you remember noticing the location of the knobs? > > Just my WAG. It wasn’t a left- handed model played right-handed. Then the cutaway would have been on top. And he was definitely playing right-handed. Besides the lack of a cutaway, the location of the switch was the thing that stood out most. And the knobs were on bottom; I just watched it again to make sure I wasn’t imagining things. I recorded the show on DVD; if someone can tell me how to capture a still and post it, I will. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/9 "2009-01-19T15:11:51Z")
[Here is a video](http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/flash/video/player2/index.php?xml=/klru/austin/images/stories/ACL/Episodes/2000s/2008/foofighters/video/3409_song.xml) of one song from the show. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show the guitar in question, so it’s not really much help. It does show the rhythm guitarist- he’s the guy on the far left, with the short bleach blonde hair, playing what looks like a Fender Mustang. This is starting to bother me! Although I’m sure **WordMan** is right, it’s a special order, custom-made model. And thanks to everyone who has replied; your help in trying to solve this mystery is appreciated! I think I’ll start a GQ thread on how to capture a still from a DVD. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/10 "2009-01-19T15:36:09Z")
I am stuck on BBerry right now but did try Googling Foo Shifflet (however its spelled) Austin Gibson, etc, with no joy over the weekend. When I am back at a laptop I’ll see if I can find anything… ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/11 "2009-01-19T18:02:21Z")
I think I got it! [Here](http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/various/?action=view¤t=lespaulguitar.jpg) is a still from the video that shows what I’m talking about. I can try to capture an image of the whole guitar if anyone wants to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/12 "2009-01-19T18:23:46Z")
[Here](http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/various/?action=view¤t=lespaulguitar2.jpg) and [here](http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/various/?action=view¤t=lespaulguitar3.jpg) are a couple of shots that show the whole guitar. They’re not the most clear images, but they’re the best I could find. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/13 "2009-01-19T18:24:16Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > I think I got it! [Here](http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/Bumbershoot-pics/various/?action=view¤t=lespaulguitar.jpg) is a still from the video that shows what I’m talking about. > > I can try to capture an image of the whole guitar if anyone wants to see it. Well done, sir!! That TOTALLY looks like a hideous, special-order, no-cutaway Les Paul like I saw in Vintage Guitar. I gotta find a pic from the mag… But near as I can tell, case closed - and I wish is was closed on that hideous beast. And I suppose I am curious if that is newly-made or one of the old special orders… ETA: well, my Google Fu is weak - I can’t find a combo of “no cutaway, Les Paul, Vintage Guitar magazine,” etc that doesn’t just get me millions of hits on the words cutaway, les paul, vintage, etc…any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/14 "2009-01-19T19:50:57Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > It wasn’t a 120-T. I couldn’t find a picture of a Ranger, but that’s an acoustic-electric, isn’t it? Nah, Ranger was the name for early developmental solid bodies around the time of Les Paul inception, no cutaway, and solid. Early Pauls came in a variety, and I think that’s what’s in the link you gave. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/15 "2009-01-19T20:27:13Z")
> [@Carson\_O\_Genic](#): > > Nah, Ranger was the name for early developmental solid bodies around the time of Les Paul inception, no cutaway, and solid. Early Pauls came in a variety, and I think that’s what’s in the link you gave. Ah, I see. No wonder I couldn’t find a picture of it! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/16 "2009-01-19T20:42:04Z")
My, what a boring-looking guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/17 "2009-01-20T12:40:47Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > My, what a boring-looking guitar. Again, with the senior memory, but I think it was Ted McCarty who specced the sharp juncture on the cutaway to make it more “aggresive” as opposed to the simply giving more access style of other guitars extant. Boring or not, gold top axes would have been the bling 'o the day. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-les-paul-with-no-cutaway/481856/18 "2009-01-20T15:43:34Z")
> [@Carson\_O\_Genic](#): > > Again, with the senior memory, but I think it was Ted McCarty who specced the sharp juncture on the cutaway to make it more “aggresive” as opposed to the simply giving more access style of other guitars extant. > Boring or not, gold top axes would have been the bling 'o the day. I can go back and check my copy of Gibson: The McCarty Era if it would help! 😉 **CO’G** - I think you are right, coupled with Lester William Polfuss’ (aka Les Paul’s) need for upper fret access, like any other fast-playing gunslinger who worked on his own guitars… And yeah, Les asked for a Gold finish on the Standard (as it became known after the Custom came out) because he had recently seen an ES-295, an all-gold hollowbody/rockabilly guitar that Scotty Moore played with Elvis and a friend of Les’ had. The Custom was released two years later, in black - so it would look good with a Tux on jazz dates and because the black finish and black ebony fingerboard would showcase a (white) jazz guitarist’s hands and how fast they were moving - gotta love Les Paul; always thinking!!