NGD: Les Paul ES

[barryflan]

I have been curious about these for some time, but they seem to be very rare, especially the MIK 1999-2000 models. One came up in a local shop and once I played it I had to have it. Really light and resonant, asd well as being very pretty!

 

[syco]

HNGD ! Love that color !!

 

[Davis Sharp]

Those are gorgeous and hard to find (last time I looked). Congrats.

 

[Paruwi]

Congrats on the LP-ES


That is one I really regret selling....

 

[Eagle 56]

Wow, nice find! Congrats!

 

[Darkness]

Is that different than the Flourentine?

 

[BlueSquirrel]

I have been curious about these for some time, but they seem to be very rare, especially the MIK 1999-2000 models. One came up in a local shop and once I played it I had to have it. Really light and resonant, asd well as being very pretty!

View attachment 20010 View attachment 20011

Congrats! It's stunning!

 

[EQ79]

Is that different than the Flourentine?

The ES is semi-hollow body, The Florentine is a hollowed-out mahogany body, so technically chambered rather than semi-hollow body.

 

[Noodling Guitars]

Oh I love that color. I've always been interested in getting one of these to mod for EMGs, but ended up holding off at the thought of having to work on the electronics thru the f hole.

 

[Charles Carter]

Beautiful!
I'd love one of those myself, probably in a natural finish.
I understand some have a centre block in a hollow body and others are chambered?
Who can fill me in on this?

 

[Norton]

the ES les Paul is a semi hollow body built just like a 335.
the older Korean Florentine models are chambered solid bodies moret like a duo-jet,

 

[John]

Beautiful guitar.

 

[barryflan]

the ES les Paul is a semi hollow body built just like a 335.
the older Korean Florentine models are chambered solid bodies moret like a duo-jet,

The build on this is interesting. It is not built like a 335. There is no full centerblock - only a block under the bridge/tailpiece.
The sides appear to be approx 3/4" think, and routed out of a solid block (probably two) the back is glued to the sides - no reinforcement needed due to large glue area.
The top appears to be a solid mahogany - not ply, carved and thick compared to a 335.
The back is also mahogany but I am unable to tell whether it is ply, but I assume so.

Here are some detail pics, including internals as best I could. From the manufacturing process I can see why they dropped them after two years - looks very labour intensive!

 

[barryflan]

Oh I love that color. I've always been interested in getting one of these to mod for EMGs, but ended up holding off at the thought of having to work on the electronics thru the f hole.

The 1999/2000 models do not have a full centerblock, so access is relatively easy. See my post above.

 

[28 Flathead]

Happy New Guitar Day

 

[Darkness]

Oh wow, so the block placements are similar to a wildkat but the built itself is a bit different. Nice to learn the build differences from so many models. Cool pictures.

 

[barryflan]

Two weeks in and I love this guitar more and more. I was unhappy with the bridge - it was old and rattley and the notches seemed very deep. The D string had a dissonance I could not fix. Bought the Faber posts and bridge - perfect now!

I keep picking it up like your do with a milk carton, where you think it is full, but when you lift it, realise it is not. Your mind says "Les Paul, 10lbs" but the reality is quite different!

 

[Charles Carter]

the ES les Paul is a semi hollow body built just like a 335.
the older Korean Florentine models are chambered solid bodies moret like a duo-jet,

Thanks Norton. Cheers for that.