Gold Top reissues: '54 or '57?

[Peppy]

Which one? Reasons? Thanks.

[RV52]

I'm very pleased with this one.
To me P90 + Wraparound is the way to go for a Gold Top.

2003 R4 Gold Top, Brazilian Board, 8,34 lbs.

[Kaka's]

Maybe a 56?

[AaeCee]

Originally Posted by Kaka's

Maybe a 56?

That's what I was thinking. 57s (R7s) have humbuckers, 56s (R6s) have P-90s.

[Marty s Horne]

I've always loved the sound of Goldtops with P-90s and have owned 2.

[Peppy]

Originally Posted by Kaka's

Maybe a 56?

Nah, year my sister was born...I was born in '54. Seriously, it's a matter of "all the way" with humbuckings and the 'new bridge' or "old-school old-school" with the P-90s and wraparound.

[Last]

Originally Posted by Peppy

Nah, year my sister was born...I was born in '54. Seriously, it's a matter of "all the way" with humbuckings and the 'new bridge' or "old-school old-school" with the P-90s and wraparound.

Ya sure about that?

[pauly-ray]

R4.

[gtraddict]

54's for me, I like the sound of a simple wrap around, I do not care for a few cents off at the 9-15 frets my hands vibrations does that much plus some

[FadedLP]

RV52-That GT is a beauty! I would love to have 1 one day.

[RV52]

Originally Posted by FadedLP

RV52-That GT is a beauty! I would love to have 1 one day.

Thanks. The top carve is exactly how it ought to be. Just like the originals from the 50s.
You don't find that on too many Gibson Historics.
Together with it's light weight and the Brazilian Board it's something special.
And after a really talented luthier did a set up it sounds and plays awesome.

[Shnook]

I've already got this so I'd go with the R7!

[Peppy]

Great pic pauly-ray.

[Tim Plains]

Originally Posted by Peppy

Which one? Reasons? Thanks.

Just a suggestion - why don't you put the differences aside and simply play them? Play an R4, R6 & R7...or a few of each...and go with the one you like best.

I have a 2008 R6. This is one of the best Les Pauls I've ever played. I didn't buy it because it's specifically an R6. I bought it because this one has has good wood and sounds like a million bucks both plugged in & unplugged. If this was an R4, I would have still bought it. If it had humbuckers, I would have still bought it. There's no substitute for good materials. That's how I think you should look at it. Who cares if the serial number begins with 4, 6, or 7. They're all essentially the exact same guitar with one or two differences. The differences being a) bridge or no bridge, b) P-90s or humbuckers.

Good luck with whatever you go with.

[Peppy]

Originally Posted by Are Nine

Just a suggestion - why don't you put the differences aside and simply play them? Play an R4, R6 & R7...or a few of each...and go with the one you like best.

I have a 2008 R6. This is one of the best Les Pauls I've ever played. I didn't buy it because it's specifically an R6. I bought it because this one has has good wood and sounds like a million bucks both plugged in & unplugged. If this was an R4, I would have still bought it. If it had humbuckers, I would have still bought it. There's no substitute for good materials. That's how I think you should look at it. Who cares if the serial number begins with 4, 6, or 7. They're all essentially the exact same guitar with one or two differences. The differences being a) bridge or no bridge, b) P-90s or humbuckers.

Good luck with whatever you go with.

I've played some R6s and they didn't do it for me. Played a few R7s and like them. (Actually owned an R9 for a short time this past year.) Haven't played an R4 thus want opinions...you know, thinks like neck size/shape, intonation, wrap bridge's effect on tone, etc. See, I live in a city of only 1,000,000 population...with nothing else really around. There are no R4s here..at least not in the half-dozen local music stores.

I disagree where you seem to say it doesn't matter if it's humbucking pickups or not...it does to me. A: One "bucks" noise, one doesn't. B: They are indeed somewhat different tonally. It's why I'm asking specifically about those two versions. Glad you love your R6, that is what I'm looking to achieve as well with either an R4 or an R7.