I played 3 R9's yesterday and things are NOT looking good...

[Robotechnology]

A little background history... I've never been a Les Paul guy. I think I touched a Jimmy Page that was nice earlier this year and a late eighties Studio with upgraded bridge pickup that sounded and felt nice but, BOAT ANCHOR! Out of picking up 100 or so $800-$4,600 Les Pauls over the past 15 years of my guitar playing journey, that JP model I touched recently, was the only LP I considered buying. I bought a Guild Bluesbird AAA a few years back and much prefer it over any Les Paul I have ever played EXCEPT that a funny thing happened yesterday... I went store hopping with a friend and was coexerced ;) into playing an R9 :eek: The clouds parted in the sky and the sun shined only on me for the 15 minutes or so that I played that guitar. I played 2 more (1 in the same store and one elsewhere) but, that first one that was handed to me was MAGIC! Now I know what some of you mean by your holy grail Les Paul. But, at this point in time, that is both a blessing and curse :( One look at my sig and you should understand why... I'd have to probably trade or sell 6 of my "children" to get that guitar... and there isn't a smiley sad enough to portray that thought as I'm already selling 6 other guitars to free up some cash for expenses as it is. I don't know haw some of you guys do it!

[Johnnytone]

I can pick out more than 6 from that list that I'd trade in a heartbeat for a good LP.:rolleyes:

[OldSchool]

I don't know haw some of you guys do it!


I hear that.........Some of the prices on some of the guitars hear blow me away.........but somebody somewhere is buying them , becuase they all sell.

But if your spending $2-3000 on a guitar I'd much rather see it go to a small luither hear like heatley or driskill, or even John Suhr then support Gibson. I think your hands and ears would thank you as well.

[VaughnC]

Personally, "the one" would mean more to me than a dozen guitars that were "ok". You can always replace the "ok" guitars later as you save up some funds but I've learned the hard way that "the one" doesn't come along very often. In my 40 years at this silly guitar stuff, there was only one guitar that was extra special to me and, sadly, I let it get away :(.

[Hoss]

the important thing is that the guitar does "speak" to ya...it doesn't happen often, but when it does you better do something about it or you will always wonder..."what if"

[Rock Fella]

i got my R9 on 9 jan 2001 , it weighs 8 lbs 5oz , i sold the classic 57s that were in her and i fitted voodoo 59 pafs , everything else is stock.

that gtr absolutely rings like a tuning fork and id never ever even dream of letting it go. if you are ever lucky enough to have a gtr that speaks to you , you should never part with it. i could have saved myself some cash and bought a R7 or R8 , both magnificent gtrs, but ive never regretted spending what my R9 cost me, she is worth every cent.

jimmy

[Robotechnology]

Johnnytone, I don't see a ;) in your post but, you're entitled to your opinion... free country and all :p

OldSchool, I have a Suhr and an Anderson. My Falbo is actually a custom handmade one of a kind 7-String. So I have what I consider 3 small luthier made guitars.

VaughnC & Hoss, after I pair down the 1st set of 6 guitars... ALL of the guitars left speak to me in one way or another. But, I know what you mean about the one that got away... happened to me :( with a superstrat type Fender Custom Shop last year but, it was used at a local GC and you know how that goes pricewise :rolleyes:

Rock Fella, what tonal differences did your notice after your pup swap?

I guess the max characters allowed in sigs was recently restricted... when I went to delete a piece of gear that I sold it wouldn't let me save it... so I decided to change my sig to something more appropriate :AOK

[matte]

I can pick out more than 6 from that list that I'd trade in a heartbeat for a good LP.:rolleyes:Exactly. I have very few guitars. They all if they don't get play, they don't stay.

[fast ricky love]

Prices on R9's are all over the map... not sure where you played that 'one', but if the price is over $3600ish it is overpriced. I'm assuming this isn't a 'Page' or 'Murphy' or any other specialty LP.

[matte]

I would look for a 2001 R8 (the Authentics I had were my favourites of all the RI Lesters).

[fast ricky love]

I would look for a 2001 R8 (the Authentics I had were my favourites of all the RI Lesters).

Agree! Every '01 R8 Authentic (with Grovers) I've played was a very good Historic LP...

(Cool website btw!)

[matte]

Agree! Every '01 R8 Authentic (with Grovers) I've played was a very good Historic LP...

(Cool website btw!)I've had several of the "01s and every one rocked. Glad you dug my site.
:)

[Mr.Hanky]

Hey Robo, Normally I'd tell you to get a used R7 or R8.

BUT.....if this guitar really spoke to you as you explained grab it, there is no substitute for that. Although it is a shame you have such expensive taste.

Welcome to the darkside, bwoo harrr harrr harrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[matte]

Hey Robo, Normally I'd tell you to get a used R7 or R8.

BUT.....if this guitar really spoke to you as you explained grab it, there is no substitute for that. Although it is a shame you have such expensive taste.

Welcome to the darkside, bwoo harrr harrr harrrrrrrrrrrrr.Expensive is relative term. There are guys on this board (and no I won't name names)that have several Bursts(not to be confused with RIs).

[HHB]

I think the historics really are a different breed from the Norlins we all grew up with ( most of us anyway ). I used to think that LP's had zero clean tone, only good for dirty rock and nothing else, after playing several Historics and then buying my 68' LP Custom I can tell ya that the one piece neck, long tenon make a huge difference, I understand people not digging LP's after playing Norlins for years, but give the reissues a try, a totally different beast. I gig every week , week in and week out so a few grand for a tool I use everyday seems reasonable to me.

[OldSchool]

Prices on R9's are all over the map... not sure where you played that 'one', but if the price is over $3600ish it is overpriced. I'm assuming this isn't a 'Page' or 'Murphy' or any other specialty LP.

Thats what pisses me of the most about Gibson besides their Horrible Coustomer relations and the way they screw loyal dealers............WTF is a Page or a Murphy besides a R9 with cosmetics? WTF is a R9..........really its just a R7 with a fancy Top.

I guess the company is entitled to make as much money as possible, and as long as people are paying them............they would be nutz to stop doing it..........but I'll be damned if I'll be a part to it. :NUTS

[alguit]

Oh, go one, sell the other guitars!:angel

I found a "Holy Grail" Les Paul a few years ago myself. I had no intention of even buying a guitar that day, but I sat down with seven R9's and walked out with a plaintop (actually, some birdseye in it, but head on it's pretty plain), a 7lb, 5oz wonder! (My back has not stopped thanking me!).

These guitars are terrific-one-piece backs, quality tops, authentic Holly veneers cut correctly for the headstock face. Most importantly, they have the long-tenon neck joint which transfers so much more vibration throughout the guitar than does the modern LP.

It has proven itself on stage and in the studio, and I consider it among the few keepers in my collection.

[sanhozay]

I think the 2001 & 2002 Historic Lester’s are the money ones. The one I shipped over to Procos {2002} was the most resonant and sweetest sounding Les Paul that I ever played. It had all the right moves; resonant unplugged tone, perfect weight, comfy neck, clarity on the bottoms and chime & cream on the bridge pickup, not harshness. A real tone wonder. I just purchased a $1600 dollar snow blower and need cash otherwise I would have never sold it. Like I told Chuck, I’m praying for lots of snow this season so I don’t have any regrets. Although, I think it’s already to late.
Anyway, the new Historic’s that I’ve played sound stiff and too bright and most of the necks I’ve demo’d are far to clubby and D-shaped for my hands.

[johnspeck]

I tried several guitars with the intention of finding an inspiring instrument, regardless of make.

The last guitar I tried is the one I went home with... a Gibson R7. I preferred this over a killer Rosewood McCarty, an R8, R9, CS SG... It was 'the one', and everytime I play it, I feel good. If this guitar makes you feel anywhere near how I do when I pick mine up, go get her!

[EunosFD]

It's a tough dilemma for sure. This past Tuesday I went out with the family for dinner for my b-day & the restaurant just happened to be 1/2 a block from GC. So of course to kill time I had to stop in there. :) I too am GAS'ing for a LP so I tried a few out & the very first one the salesguy handed me definitely struck a chord with me. '05 Standard in some dark red color (black cherry?) with gold hardware & a 50's neck. Rationality got the better of me thankfully, but I could've walked out of there right then with it & been totally content. That is until reality set in & I realized how much I would've spent. :) Still, if it's the right piece at the right time & it works for you then it very well may be worth weeding out the collection for.

[Mr.Hanky]

I think the historics really are a different breed from the Norlins we all grew up with ( most of us anyway ). I used to think that LP's had zero clean tone, only good for dirty rock and nothing else, after playing several Historics and then buying my 68' LP Custom I can tell ya that the one piece neck, long tenon make a huge difference, I understand people not digging LP's after playing Norlins for years, but give the reissues a try, a totally different beast. I gig every week , week in and week out so a few grand for a tool I use everyday seems reasonable to me.

I agree 100%, I grew up on my 82 Silverburst and I love it, but it is SO VERY different from my R7. The 82 is about 11LBS, maple and ebony neck, sandwich body. I have never met a guitar with more bottom end then the 82, the RS kit and holmes pups really helped clear up the mud but it is still no R7.

[buddastrat]

You can get an equally good R8 (used) for under $2K. Just without the flame. The flames are a few hundred more. I've been through at least a half a dozen R8's and R9s. Two R8's stood out as being the best out of the bunch and they both were plaintops. I wonder if there's something to the myth.....?
.....
...
. nah.

[Robotechnology]

The look of the R9 has nothing to do with why I would like that one particular example. It was the tone! The Bluesbird AAA I own was picked over 2 others with stunning flame but, I brought home the mild flame hands down tone winner because that is where my head is at. Trust me, I wish it just a regular plain jane model that I could score for $2K or below... it'd have been in my house right now ;)

[matte]

It was the tone!There's only one?

[Robotechnology]

The tone of that particular guitar was right up my alley. There were 2 R9, 2 R8, and others. I went elsewhere and tried out another R9. So out of 5 R8's and R9's, only the 1st R9 that was put in my hands, made me think about ditching 3 or 4 guitars and getting it. For whatever reasons the others didn't do much for me. It sustained longer without much gain and coaxed some very pleasing overtones out of the 2 amps involved. It also had a special ordered slightly bigger neck :jo Most of my guitar's necks are HALF as thin but, as long as the guitar doesn't have vintage frets and my hand fits around the neck, I'm cool ;)

[cr8z4life]

It reallly is a shame that Gibson has no consistency ......My Historic R7 Brazilian wasnt an intended purchase. A friend came into town to visit and brought it with him....I picked it up and played it and I looked at him and he looked at me.....and I told him he wasnt leaving with the guitar!! I was a true believer in only buying boutique guitars until this one........It is unfortunate that so few have this magic! So I would say if you found one......it is worth selling others to own it!

[bjm007]

Don't feel bad, I've gone through about 47 R8's and R9's trying to find the "right" one. Yep, you heard me correctly... Forty seven guitars... Turned into a little business there for a while. It was fun before the market dropped out. I got to play a bunch of different guitars and found some nice keepers over a period of about 6 years. Lots of work, but in the end I didn't lose too much money and my kid and I had some fun. My living room looked like this a lot of the time.... :rolleyes:

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/bjm007/Les%20Paul%20Group%205.JPG

[Robotechnology]

bjm007, WOW! That's all I can say, Just wow :AOK

[soldano16]

I'm a huge believer that for many people (and I know for me for sure) those guitars that do the "speak to you" thing are VERY special and should be bought somehow at almost any cost. You cannoy lose a lot of money buying that guitar. It costs a lot but can be resold at close to what you might pay (assuming you play basic market range).

Just remember - a great instrument is truly inspiring. What the heck else would you want to spend money on.

They all if they don't get play, they don't stay.

I believe in that one too. Learn what you like and if a guitar doesn't do it to you enough to make you wanrt to pick it up on a regular basis, best to try something diffrerent.

Happy New YEAR all!!!

[mike@switchback]

I had a similar "clouds parting" experience with one R9 out of the two-dozen or so R7's, R8's, and R9's I played. I ended up balking at the price and getting an R7. The R7 is an excellent guitar, but I really should've gotten THAT R9 and figured out how to pay for it later. The one that got away....

[THROBAK]

I have several historic Les Pauls and love them but if cost is a consideration you should really try a Heritage H150CM. The new ones I have played recently have plenty of mojo and the price is right.

[* velcro-fly *]

... I've never been a Les Paul guy.

My very first guitar was a Les Paul copy thay I played into the ground...total plywood POS - but I loved that guitar....then I discovered Strats, the Floyd Rose was invented, and it was all over...

Flash forward 25 years or so and I played a buddies LP Standard through my then Bogner Ecstacy and I got it in a big way - at least the tone part of it. After so many years of Strats I couldn't and still can't get around the ergonomics of the Les Paul...

I did take the plunge though last year and scored this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/speedmonkey1/R0plaintop.jpg

Historic R6 plaintop w/ Brazillian board....that was a pretty sick guitar, heaps better that my 04' Standard Premium Plus and about 5 lbs lighter....in the end I sold it and bought an Anderson Cobra that has turned out to be my "THE ONE"....I do occasionaly jones for a R8 / R9 and nearly pulled the trigger on one recently....we'll see, I've even toyed with unloading my remaining two GMW Stratheads for one.....

I'm feeling for your dilema and support you whole heartedly:AOK

Steve E

[tonedaddy]

I'm a huge believer that for many people (and I know for me for sure) those guitars that do the "speak to you" thing are VERY special and should be bought somehow at almost any cost.Very special, and for me very rare. For me, maybe half a dozen in my lifetime.

Sell a kidney.
You can live with just one kidney, but can you live with only one guitar?
I don't think so...
:D
I had a similar "clouds parting" experience with one R9 out of the two-dozen or so R7's, R8's, and R9's I played. I ended up balking at the price and getting an R7. The R7 is an excellent guitar, but I really should've gotten THAT R9 and figured out how to pay for it later. The one that got away....Like they say:

"Buy the best, and cry once.
Settle for less, and cry and cry again."

[fast ricky love]

Like they say:

"Buy the best, and cry once.
Settle for less, and cry and cry again."

Nice one, I gotta remember that!