Category:Gibson Les Paul pancake bodies

"Crossbanding" (or "Multipiece" construction ???) on Gibson Les Paul, sometimes incorrectly referred as "Pancake body".

[In the ECL and Norlin-era since 1969] Les Paul designs were altered and a reinforced upper neck volute to decrease headstock breaks was added. Neck woods were changed from one-piece mahogany to a three-piece maple design. The body was also changed from one-piece mahogany with a maple top to multiple slabs of mahogany with multiple pieced maple tops. This is referred to as "multipiece" construction, and sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "pancake" body. The expression "pancake body" actually refers to a body made of a thin layer of maple sandwiched between two slabs of mahogany, with a maple cap. The grain of the maple was placed at 90 degrees to that of the mahogany. The "pancake"-like layers are clearly visible when looking at the edge of the guitar. This process is also known as "crossbanding", and was done for strength and resistance to cupping/warping. Crossbanding was phased out by 1977.

— "Gibson Les Paul § ECL and Norlin-era" on English Wikipedia

• TT Zop (photos · photo sets) (February 2010). TT Zop: Gold Top Retrofit. Flickr. "Restoring a Gibson Les Paul Gold Top guitar back to a premium vintage -- and better than original -- condition."