John,
Don't be too jealous of the flame on the top...it's a Photoflame job. I like it, and they copied a nice burst, but it's really a paper picture over who-knows-what kinda wood. The sound of this guitar is religious, and it could be balsawood for all I care. I got it for a "beater LP", but it's giving my Heritage a run for it's money... (Both are extreme fun to play, but the Heritage has a definite edge in overall quality and playability. They do sound about the same, though...)