Why the large price difference between the 1958 and 1959 VOS LP?

[Reeek]

So what are the factors that make the VOS 1958 and VOS 1959 so different in price?

 

[michaelprice83]

I believe its just the flame top. There isn't anything functionally superiour about the 1959 that I've heard of.

 

[teddy boy]

They weigh less... Not worth the price difference tho IMO.

 

[The Golden Boy]

The "9" stamp takes more highly skilled labor, and thus those costs are passed on to you.

It's pretty much all about the wood- the body weight and the aesthetic of the top.

 

[bubbagomez]

I'm quite happy with my 2006 R8! The top is covered with subtle flame, and it weighs a whopping 8.5 lbs!

 

[AaeCee]

Better looking babes are attracted to the R9s. Well worth it IMO.

 

[Calloway]

R9 neck is a bit smaller and the flame top, I think the frets are bigger too, according to musician's friend.

 

[Tapp]

R9 neck is a bit smaller and the flame top, I think the frets are bigger too, according to musician's friend.

+1 yep, the neck on the '59 feels different, or at least the one's I played did. The '58 has a real thick feeling neck.

Tapp

 

[jspax7]

The '59 is the Holy Grail of Les Pauls. Is it any surprise that the reissue '59 should have an unholy grail price tag.

 

[jakob]

I like the 60's neck, is the 59 similar ?

 

[Mayflower]

Eary 58's are the best bargain...They have the same amount of flame and that monster neck.

 

[Rich]

I like the 60's neck, is the 59 similar ?

No. A "60's" neck is slimmer.

You could go with an R0 ('60 Reissue). Flametop, also big $$.

 

[martins3325]

I like the 60's neck, is the 59 similar ?

60's is a bit thinner..hence they tend to have worse resale..people tend to go for the '59 which many --myself included feel just right-- '58s are bigger than 59's, many find them too big to be comfortable, and I think 57's are same as 58's, maybe even a hair bigger. Best buy i think, if you can find one for the right price..is a 1999 --only year made-- '59 Plaintop. Kinda rare since only made one year, not big bucks usually if you can find one really because not flamed --though much rarer than a flametop '59--, and have that great just right sized '59 neck. Mine kicks ass. Outside of that '97-'00 seems to be the golden era of flame for the RIs, alot of those period '58s have way better tops than most of the '59s you see Gibson producing today.

 

[jakob]

I don't want to hijack this thread but what is the difference between
a Standard Les Paul and a Standard Faded Les Paul, is it just the finish
and the pickups ?

 

[DiazDude]

My 58 VOS has PLENTY of flame...

 

[Guitar James]

My 58 VOS has PLENTY of flame...

Sweet, you don't need a 59 with that baby.

 

[wilder]

Below is a copy/paste of my reply in this thread:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/141515

I think it's very important to debunk this neck size myth that Gibson has encouraged with their own marketing materials. People are making multiK$ decisions based on misinformation.

There is no difference in the size of the fretwire on any of the Historics I have played. There is also no consistant predictable difference in neck sizes based on model designation (expet for the R0 of course). I have owned 15+ R7s, R8s, and R9s made in 2003 and later so this is the sample group I'm basing this statement on. I realize that Gibson's own marketing materials and common "internet" wisdom contradicts this. In actual practice a blindfolded player would have a zero percent chance of correctly identifying a decent sample size of historics by model.

Chris

 

[The Golden Boy]

My experience is the same. That experience is only based on the 3 R8s I've owned and spending a few afternoons at Dave's Guitars (when they were still a Gibson dealer).

 

[Laroosco!]

Better looking babes are attracted to the R9s. Well worth it IMO.

LOL!!

Everybody knows that women love Strats.

 

[fjs1962]

I'm another who hasn't seen a big difference in weight or neck size between R8s and R9s. I guess if anything you might be more prone to find a slimmer neck and lighter weight on a R9, but there's no guarantee. My current R8 has a neck that measures .885-.990, which most would say should be on a R9. I've measured R9 necks that were in the .910-1.010 range, bigger than what you'd expect on a R9. As for weight, I've seen plenty of 8.5 lb and under R7s and R8s. So to me the $1500 you pay for a R9 is all about the top, Lifton case, and the "prestige" of owning the top of the line version of the Historic Lester.