Dove headstocks

Tannin

Speaking of Gibson Doves (as I was in another thread) are the headstocks mega-fragile like (e.g.) Les Pauls? Or are they actually reasonably robust?

Bonus question: do Gibson ever make them without the stains? I like natural timbers, and no timber is more beautiful an a nice bit of maple. Every time I see one it's been stained red. Do we get a choice?

ICBM

Tannin said:

Speaking of Gibson Doves (as I was in another thread) are the headstocks mega-fragile like (e.g.) Les Pauls? Or are they actually reasonably robust?

Much more robust if it has the historically correct laminated maple neck - I think Gibson have done some versions with mahogany though, which will be fragile.

Mine is maple, which is why I have no fear of taking it out to play .

Tannin said:

Bonus question: do Gibson ever make them without the stains? I like natural timbers, and no timber is more beautiful an a nice bit of maple. Every time I see one it's been stained red. Do we get a choice?

I've only ever seen them in natural top or sunburst, both of which have the red back, or the 'black Dove' in (obviously) all black.

I don't think it's stain though, it's a transparent colour finish, so you could probably have it stripped and refinished to natural if you wanted.

I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of the red, but it's such a great guitar that I can live with it. My (stupidly sold) CJ-165 was natural maple back and neck, which was really very pretty.

stickyfiddle

I don't recall ever seeing a Dove without the laminate maple neck so they should be very tough despite being bigger than the standard LP headstock. 

I loved the sound of my old natural & red one - I really really want a black one some day.

BigPaulie

If your heart is set on a natural maple back and sides, the Epiphone USA Frontier looks pretty special.