To start, I will clarify that the Les Paul used by Thom and Jonny should not be confused with Ed’s 1957 Goldtop Les Paul which was lent to him by Johnny Marr of The Smiths during the recording of In Rainbows.
The Les Paul that has been used by Jonny since the recording of In Rainbows, and which was used by Thom during In Rainbows touring, seems to have been a single late 70’s or early 80’s Gibson Les Paul Standard. The finish of this particular guitar is the one which is suspect in this case.
I have been citing the finish of that guitar as “goldtop,” but as you mention, the grain is definitely visible on that guitar under some lighting. The fact that it looks decidedly golden in certain circumstances is what made me think that it was a goldtop - I just thought that the finish was an unusually light one, one through which the grain was sometimes visible.
However, on closer comparison to actual goldtop finishes, I have realized that you are certainly correct. The guitar is a natural finish, if one with a particularly golden finish - to the point where even Jonny himself seems to call it a “gold les.”
So thank you for making me reconsider this and realize that it is indeed a natural finish guitar!
~2006
~2009.
2010.
2014.