Gibson Les Paul RI's what the heck is the difference?

[supar6]

Ok - so I'm sorry if this is coming off as a dumb question and if it's been asked a million times. I did a search and there's so much stuff out there I couldn't decipher the difference. So here's my questions.

What is the difference between a Gibson Reissue, VOS or Historic? I've gotta be honest I'm so confused about it all. I see some of my local dealers selling a '56, '57, '58 reissue for about 3K. Then I see a used '59 go for 4k. Then here on TGP I see someone here asking $3,400.00 for a '58 reissue. The only thing I can do is to try and associate this with my understanding of Fender models since I have mostly been a Fender guy. The only thing I can figure out is there are reissues, then custom shops and then lastly masterbuilt.

I'd like to think I'm not an idiot as I've had a '57 before but didn't understand it then and certainly don't now. I'm asking because I'd like to pick up a gold top with P-90's but I want to investigate all before I make the purchase.

Please help I just don't get the differences. Why one is more expensive than the other etc. I'll definitely be out playing them but in the event I have to buy online I'd like to at the very least have a clue!

Thanks for everyones help in advance!

[gkoelling]

I'm a Fender guy too so what I do if I'm looking for a Gibson is buy the least expensive guitar I can find that sounds good.

I'm sure the hard core Gibson guys do the same thing when shopping for a Tele.

[tietjen]

I'm a Fender guy too so what I do if I'm looking for a Gibson is buy the least expensive guitar I can find that sounds good.

I'm sure the hard core Gibson guys do the same thing when shopping for a Tele.

Ha ha thats what I did :BEER

[Matt F]

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=154215

Some info here for ya ;)

Depends on the R9 and R8 as far as values. The 01-02 R8s seem to bring higher dollars because the are pretty close to how the R9s were back then as far as tops/weight/ect.

[Tripower455]

If you are looking for a P-90 goldtop, you have 3 relatively common choices. The R2 (52 reissue) which has the trapeze tailpiece, the R4 (54 reissue) which has the wraptail or the R6 (56 Reissue) which has the tune o matic.

I have an R4...... It's a wonderful guitar......

[wingwalker]

Has there ever even been a reissue 52 with the trap??

[wingwalker]

In answer to the original question Gibson used to have Reissue guitars then the reissues became Historics and a few years the Historics becamse the VOS series...they are all reissues. On the second hand cost question depending on the year of production there might be different features...

Example...right now a 57 is a Gold Top, a 58 is a plain top sunburst and an 59 and 60 are flame top sunbursts...a few years ago there were flame top 58 reissues and those bring more money than a newer 58 wiht a plain top. Also, a few years ago there were sopme reissue/historic guitars wiht Braz RW Fingerboards...those bing a pretty penny siomply because of that feature.

If you want a GT with P-90s get a nice 54 or 56 reissue (I have never seen or even heard of a 52 reissue but I might be wrong...) If you get one from a few years ago it will be sold as a Historic if you get a newer one it will be a VOS...more or less those are the same guitar and if you search around you can read up on all the differences...the biggest things are the dulled finish and a pleked fret job but there could be some others...

[soldano16]

I see some of my local dealers selling a '56, '57, '58 reissue for about 3K. Then I see a used '59 go for 4k. Then here on TGP I see someone here asking $3,400.00 for a '58 reissue.

Fairly simple First divide into

group A = goldtops and plaintops

group B = flametops.

Group A has fairly consistant pricing, both new and used. Last time I looked GT's and plaintops were just over 3K at Musician's Friend. Used the go from say 1,700 to 2,200 ballpark.

Group B is more expensive, both new and used. Asking for a new R9 flametop is 4,500ish.

Some of the confusion comes with R8's as they have been both flametop and plaintop over the years.

[supar6]

Thanks a ton guys... this actually helps quite a bit. I figured it was pretty simple but as sad as it is everyone I asked local here seemed more confused than I did.

So if I may ask another quick question. Is the '56 the best P-90 LP that I can buy without obviously going for the real thing? I'm sure they do but does Gibson do a relic'd LP?

I'm basically looking for one of the nicest LP's I can find for under 4k with a pretty fat neck. I had a stanard LP which was nice but I hated the Burstbuckers and the neck was a '60s neck so it was a little thin for me. I realize I could pick up one with a '50s neck but if I'm going to spend the $$$ then I'd like to get something really nice. Make sense?

Thanks again!

[geddins81]

The R6 is going to have a TOM setup, where the R4 is going to have a wraptail bridge. Other than that, they are pretty much the same guitar. I can't tell you which of those 2 typically have a fatter neck.

IF a fatnecked humbucker equipped guitar is what you're after, the R8 is a great choice.

If I wanted a relic job, I'd probably buy the Rx, and send it off to someone like RS Guitars for the relic job...

JMO :banana

[Mr. Crow]

Can I add to this, and ask if there is any difference between the fret sizes on the different year models of the Historic/VOS series?

For example, someone told me that a 59 RI has jumbo frets, whereas the 57RI and 58RI comes with medium-jumbos. Is this correct? I searched Gibson site and they don't answer this question.

I'm looking for the fattest neck with the largest frets for the best price, among the Historics/VOS series. I had though this would lead me to a 57 RI Goldtop, but this new info has throw a monkey wrench into my calculations.

[Rusty G.]

I've got a Flaming translucent red top R-7, with a LARGE neck. I believe that the R-7's have the largest/thickest neck.

Also, it's not the gold top. And another thing. . .On the R-7 goldtops, you can get them in dark back or a regular colored back (more tan).

[Troubleman]

I'm looking for the fattest neck with the largest frets for the best price, among the Historics/VOS series. I had though this would lead me to a 57 RI Goldtop, but this new info has throw a monkey wrench into my calculations.

If this is your criteria, look for an Historic Reissue '54 Oxblood. I own one. It has the fattest neck on a Les Paul I've ever encountered - bigger than the Historic '59s. Oxbloods don't command the stupid-high prices of the flametops, they're the acoustically-loudest solid body guitar I've ever picked up (wrap tail piece) and they sustain like a Bosendorfer grand piano.
If only they came in a medium-flame Brockburst or caramel apple finish.:drool


jb

[wingwalker]

Can I add to this, and ask if there is any difference between the fret sizes on the different year models of the Historic/VOS series?

For example, someone told me that a 59 RI has jumbo frets, whereas the 57RI and 58RI comes with medium-jumbos. Is this correct? I searched Gibson site and they don't answer this question.

I'm looking for the fattest neck with the largest frets for the best price, among the Historics/VOS series. I had though this would lead me to a 57 RI Goldtop, but this new info has throw a monkey wrench into my calculations.

Yes this is true. R4-R8's all have around the same neck (BIG!) and MJ Frets the R9 necks are a tad smaller and the frets are bigger and an R0 has an even smaller neck than the R9 and the same jumbo frets.

[Mr. Crow]

Yes this is true. R4-R8's all have around the same neck (BIG!) and MJ Frets the R9 necks are a tad smaller and the frets are bigger and an R0 has an even smaller neck than the R9 and the same jumbo frets.

Thanks wingwalker, that cleared up the fret size question on Historic/VOS series for me.

Unfortunately, it may have cost me some more money!! I really do want the jumbo frets as opposed to the medium-jumbo, and I've read that some R9 neck sizes can be quite large if you try a bunch, so now I'm leaning toward the R9 vs. the R7 or R8. And of course, this leaning is going to cost me!