Yamaha LP Series — All-Mahogany Model

Many guitars in the Yamaha LP series show headstock whitening with age,
and this particular instrument is no exception—
its headstock, too, bears a noticeable white haze.

What makes this guitar distinctive is its all-mahogany construction.

Most Les Pauls feature a carved maple top over a mahogany back,
with the neck made of maple or mahogany.
In that design, the mahogany contributes a warm, rich midrange,
while the hard maple provides brightness and snap in the upper register.
Together they produce the thick, luxurious tone
that defines the traditional Les Paul sound.

In that sense, this instrument could be described as a Les Paul in shape only.
However, it’s worth remembering that the pre-1968 Gibson Les Paul Custom
was also built entirely from mahogany.
So in a way, this guitar’s tone might be closer to that of an early Les Paul Custom
than to the more common maple-topped Standard models.

Sonically, it feels somewhat like a heavier, thicker Gibson SG.
It lacks the lush, multi-dimensional overtones
of a maple-topped Les Paul,
but offers instead a plain, dry harmonic texture—
something reminiscent of Michael Schenker’s Flying V tone.

(Updated December 22, 2020)