Gibson Historic R's

All things guitar, Les Pauls, Strats, Teles, Tokai, Ibanez etc. etc. etc.

Moderators: Slowy, Capt. Black

User avatar
olegmcnoleg
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 5542
meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:26 am
Location: Awkland
Has liked: 860 times
Been liked: 741 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by olegmcnoleg »

GrantB wrote:That R7 does look great.What pickups? Those aren't Gibson covers from what I can tell.
Well spotted Grant. Certainly not the same as modern Gibson pickup covers.

This guitar was created by the luthiers at Lays guitar store, Ohio--they build replica LPs for rock stars. I posted a picture of it in Grant's recent real '57 LP thread, and I think I got away with it, it looks identical to the real thing.

It was not built from scratch, it started life as an R7, but it has been extensively reworked, including Brazilian fretboard, '57 reproduction hardware throughout, refinish + relic in nitro, replaced all binding with Royalite, real 50s inlays, truss rod replaced with a thicker vintage one, hide glue (LOL), Lifton case..etc. it even has the Gibson logo moved slightly lower on the headstock. Complete overkill. It is also light and it sounds great: old and bluesy.

Here are some more pics, last one is the spec sheet:
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

I've always had a soft spot for old goldtops. I know I'll never afford a real one, but this is close enough for me.
[/quote]

MrDINO
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1321
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 9:00 am
Has liked: 21 times
Been liked: 92 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by MrDINO »

olegmcnoleg wrote:
GrantB wrote:That R7 does look great.What pickups? Those aren't Gibson covers from what I can tell.
Well spotted Grant. Certainly not the same as modern Gibson pickup covers.

This guitar was created by the luthiers at Lays guitar store, Ohio--they build replica LPs for rock stars. I posted a picture of it in Grant's recent real '57 LP thread, and I think I got away with it, it looks identical to the real thing.

It was not built from scratch, it started life as an R7, but it has been extensively reworked, including Brazilian fretboard, '57 reproduction hardware throughout, refinish + relic in nitro, replaced all binding with Royalite, real 50s inlays, truss rod replaced with a thicker vintage one, hide glue (LOL), Lifton case..etc. it even has the Gibson logo moved slightly lower on the headstock. Complete overkill. It is also light and it sounds great: old and bluesy.

Here are some more pics, last one is the spec sheet:
lotsa photos
Image

I've always had a soft spot for old goldtops. I know I'll never afford a real one, but this is close enough for me.
[/quote]
Wow that's cool

User avatar
Jim.h
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1130
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:34 pm
Has liked: 64 times
Been liked: 88 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Jim.h »

there are some sexy beasts here! and the guitars look nice too......

Not a fan of gold tops or bursts... so that writes off most of the line up. Grants old R4 for the win. followed closely by mollys ex black R7.

My two les paul customs are a dream for me. Would love an R series one day!

User avatar
GrantB
ADMIN
Posts: 15843
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:04 am
Location: Where I need to be
Has liked: 1353 times
Been liked: 2087 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by GrantB »

Nice work oleg - full makeover.

One thing I'd really like to see, and this remake on a 1957 reminded me, is proper reproduction pots. I've tried TVT or whatever they're called from CrazyParts, I've used Alpha, CTS, Bourns...but none of them *sound* like old pots. Modern pots, even the TVT, don't taper the same but moreover they lack the Unicorn Tears the old ones have. I'll bring an example at the gear fest.
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he's destroying is this god he's worshipping." - Hubert Reeves

MrDINO
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1321
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 9:00 am
Has liked: 21 times
Been liked: 92 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by MrDINO »

Molly wrote:My old R9. Sold it but it's nice so I'll post a pic anyway.

Image

MrDINO
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1321
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 9:00 am
Has liked: 21 times
Been liked: 92 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by MrDINO »

Way cool

MrDINO
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1321
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 9:00 am
Has liked: 21 times
Been liked: 92 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by MrDINO »

Molly wrote:R6 (left)

Image

R7

Image

RSole

Image
Hard to make out....Flying V ?

User avatar
Dharmajester
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:44 am
Location: Dunedin
Has liked: 273 times
Been liked: 377 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Dharmajester »

GrantB wrote:I've used Alpha, CTS, Bourns...but none of them *sound* like old pots. Modern pots, even the TVT, don't taper the same but moreover they lack the Unicorn Tears the old ones have. I'll bring an example at the gear fest.
You'll be craving Centralabs (?)
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench - a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Hunter S. Thompson

User avatar
GrantB
ADMIN
Posts: 15843
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:04 am
Location: Where I need to be
Has liked: 1353 times
Been liked: 2087 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by GrantB »

Dharmajester wrote:
GrantB wrote:I've used Alpha, CTS, Bourns...but none of them *sound* like old pots. Modern pots, even the TVT, don't taper the same but moreover they lack the Unicorn Tears the old ones have. I'll bring an example at the gear fest.
You'll be craving Centralabs (?)
Yes.

The techo's will tell me they're only variable resistors...but...my ears hear Unicorns.
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he's destroying is this god he's worshipping." - Hubert Reeves

User avatar
Jay
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 7760
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2010 9:35 pm
Has liked: 1630 times
Been liked: 1297 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Jay »

GrantB wrote:That R7 does look great.What pickups? Those aren't Gibson covers from what I can tell.

Here's another take on an R7 - ex RSole above.

Image
Luverly... But, what's going on with the finish next to the binding bottom right corner?
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

User avatar
Molly
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 24937
Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2013 12:17 pm
Has liked: 2482 times
Been liked: 2794 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Molly »

jvpp wrote:
GrantB wrote:That R7 does look great.What pickups? Those aren't Gibson covers from what I can tell.

Here's another take on an R7 - ex RSole above.
Luverly... But, what's going on with the finish next to the binding bottom right corner?
It's aged. Just part of the relic thing.

User avatar
Darth Sabbathi
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1588
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:43 pm
Has liked: 195 times
Been liked: 374 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Darth Sabbathi »

Slowy wrote:
olegmcnoleg wrote:Here's mine, for the eagle-eyed, it has quite a few changes.

Image
I was starting to think I'd dreamed that beast. But it's real, isn't it. :D
That is insanely awesome. We really need a drool emoji... Homer will have to do.

Image

Could use a touch of green though - I guess that is hard to replicate?

User avatar
Dharmajester
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:44 am
Location: Dunedin
Has liked: 273 times
Been liked: 377 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Dharmajester »

GrantB wrote: The techo's will tell me they're only variable resistors...but...my ears hear Unicorns.
Like Mac vs Pc, same components but crucial differences in the user experience.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench - a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Hunter S. Thompson

User avatar
Lespaul92
Stagg
Stagg
Posts: 82
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:42 am
Location: Auckland
Been liked: 16 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by Lespaul92 »

This is my 2014 R9. Plan was to due a pickup change but after playing it I really like it as is so its going to stay completely stock.
14 R9.jpg
Sold this a few years ago but this 08 R9 was my first Gibson Custom Shop. It was good but no where near as good as my current R9.
R9.jpg

MrDINO
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1321
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 9:00 am
Has liked: 21 times
Been liked: 92 times

Re: Gibson Historic R's

Post by MrDINO »

Quite something how individual and unique they can sound.

Post Reply