STADLER GUITARS
GOLDTOP
T
Few things in the average electric guitar- ist’s life thrill quite like the sight of
a goldtop—Gibson or otherwise. Classy,
sophisticated, and given to aging gracefully,
most goldtops tend to exude the same sense
of refinement and elegance that Gibson’s first
goldtop Les Paul did when it was introduced
in 1952. It’s a look that has stood the test
of time and that continues to inspire players
and luthiers alike.
Having worked for Gibson and at the
legendary Gruhn Guitars in Nashville,
Thomas Stadler is one guitar builder who
has seen his share of exquisite, exemplary,
and important goldtop specimens. And his
new Goldtop model is an homage to the
original Gibson model (and at least one
other very iconic electric), with a few modern design appointments.
Worth Its Weight in Tone
The first thing most players will probably
notice when they pick up a Stadler Goldtop is
the size of the neck profile. I was taken aback
by its massive, baseball bat-like quality, which
evoked the feel of a 1958 Gibson Les Paul
Standard reissue or even a Fender Jeff Beck
Signature Strat.
The beefy neck helps make the
Goldtop a riffing machine. It’s certainly
not a lightning-quick neck, and the
Gold Rush
Stadler’s gold-finished doublecut is striking
for more than just its finish. The butternut
body bears the unmistakable rounded profile
of a Les Paul—at least from the endpin to
the waist. But from the waist onward, the
guitar’s design is distinctly informed by Doug
Irwin’s legendary Tiger—Jerry Garcia’s go-to
axe from 1979 to 1990.
Unlike just about any goldtop Les Paul
you’re likely to see, the 24 3/4"-scale Stadler
has a two-piece maple neck, which Stadler
selected for the sonic clarity it lends a pair of
P-90s. Stadler also used small, vintage-style
fretwire and Kluson-style tuners. Other visible design enhancements for optimizing tone
include the wraparound bridge—a patented
Stadler design that’s essentially a Gibson-style wraparound with a bone saddle.
The combination of the butternut
body with the maple neck is certainly
unusual. Butternut is commonly used
by wood sculptors and model enthusiasts,
and is very similar to walnut in many
regards—including grain and response
to bending and sanding. Tonally, it’s known to
have deep overtones reminiscent of mahogany,
but with an airy, open treble response similar
