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HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:57 am
by Molly
I didn't think I'd be getting another R9. They've become so expensive and I just couldn't contemplate spending $10k on one. Came close with Grant's earlier this year but hesitated and lost... Anyway, wasn't making that mistake twice so when I was offered this Chicago Music Exchange edition last week I jumped at it.
Smells lovely. Very light (compared to the Traditional I'm used to). VOS Kindred Burst (Joe Perry?), Carmelita neck profile (I don't know what that means - feels jolly nice), underwound custom buckers. A keeper!
- CME R9.jpg (959.41 KiB) Viewed 2769 times
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:23 am
by MikeC
Looks lovely. Not having owned or played one I've gotta' ask - is it the "mystique" or do they play/sound so much better than "regular" LP's?
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:28 am
by bluesierra
Beautiful. Very Jealous. An R9 is on my wish list and I find myself constantly looking.
My understanding is Carmelita is a Joe Bonamassa owned 59 LP. I believe they used computer magic to replicate the neck from that guitar.
Enjoy!
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:07 am
by Lyle
Molly wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:57 amA keeper!
Dibs
Looks awesome, that's the type of burst I'd go for. Did it come from someone in NZ?
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:20 am
by griff
Will the pickguard be coming off? Love it mate.
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:25 am
by vintage52
MikeC wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:23 am
Looks lovely. Not having owned or played one I've gotta' ask - is it the "mystique" or do they play/sound so much better than "regular" LP's?
This.
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:53 am
by Molly
MikeC wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:23 am
Looks lovely. Not having owned or played one I've gotta' ask - is it the "mystique" or do they play/sound so much better than "regular" LP's?
I've just sold a particularly good Traditional on TradeMe today. That guitar is really resonant, all the 'things'. Acoustically maybe more brittle but plugged in you'd have no reason to complain. If you were being wholly rational you'd probably go with that as it's a perfectly good guitar. But then so is many an Epiphone.
The R9 is much lighter. Tone, dunno. I've only played it through my office Blackstar. Besides, I wouldn't want to sound like one of those guys from an Anderton's review. It's just a lovely thing. Anything else I say would just be wank. It has nice pickups but anything can have nice pickups. And the finish .... If money was no object I think anybody would choose it over my LP Traditional. What price that smell and look each time you open the case?
Can't rationalise every decision. Where's the fun in that?
As with all Custom Shop stuff, you pay a big premium for it being better. Even if it's only a bit better. Because better is better. Then some guy buys the original vintage one for a completely different premium and his is even betterrer. Even if it's only a bit betterrer. Whatever that is.
Lyle wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:07 am
Looks awesome, that's the type of burst I'd go for. Did it come from someone in NZ?
A chap I know in Taranaki brought it in and it came into the forum via him.
griff7628 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:20 am
Will the pickguard be coming off? Love it mate.
Thanks. I don't think so.
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:04 pm
by MikeC
Molly wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:53 am
MikeC wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:23 am
Looks lovely. Not having owned or played one I've gotta' ask - is it the "mystique" or do they play/sound so much better than "regular" LP's?
I've just sold a particularly good Traditional on TradeMe today. That guitar is really resonant, all the 'things'. Acoustically maybe more brittle but plugged in you'd have no reason to complain. If you were being wholly rational you'd probably go with that as it's a perfectly good guitar. But then so is many an Epiphone.
The R9 is much lighter. Tone, dunno. I've only played it through my office Blackstar. Besides, I wouldn't want to sound like one of those guys from an Anderton's review. It's just a lovely thing. Anything else I say would just be wank. It has nice pickups but anything can have nice pickups. And the finish .... If money was no object I think anybody would choose it over my LP Traditional. What price that smell and look each time you open the case?
Can't rationalise every decision. Where's the fun in that?
As with all Custom Shop stuff, you pay a big premium for it being better. Even if it's only a bit better. Because better is better. Then some guy buys the original vintage one for a completely different premium and his is even betterrer. Even if it's only a bit betterrer. Whatever that is.
Lyle wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:07 am
Looks awesome, that's the type of burst I'd go for. Did it come from someone in NZ?
A chap I know in Taranaki brought it in and it came into the forum via him.
griff7628 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:20 am
Will the pickguard be coming off? Love it mate.
Thanks. I don't think so.
Yeah I fully get it. One day Roger Phipps, one day...
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:46 pm
by GrantB
Nice - what year is this?
Mystique? There always will be, regardless what anyone says...that's the whole '59 thing. Being totally objective, you could probably achieve, with stock parts, similar or same tones with any good Les Paul. What Gibson should have done ages ago was do a deal with someone like Throbak to produce PAF cloned pickups and use them exclusively on their R series, with VI Pots. That way, it becomes less mystique and more actual tonal profile shifts from say a LP Standard, and right in proper vintage zone. Instead, being corporate focused, they use their regular p/ups to save money. Like the 2lt motor you can get in your Kia Stinger (instead of the V6 3.6Lt twin turbo). It's just not quite right.
Visually, R9's will be more premium. And what price the smell!???!!!
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:00 pm
by sizzlingbadger
'59 Les Pauls had regular Gibson pickups though - just saying'
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:14 pm
by GrantB
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:26 pm
by godgrinder
GrantB wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:46 pmWhat Gibson should have done ages ago was do a deal with someone like Throbak to produce PAF cloned pickups and use them exclusively on their R series, with VI Pots. That way, it becomes less mystique and more actual tonal profile shifts from say a LP Standard, and right in proper vintage zone.
They'd add another $2000 to the price tag if they do so though.
I don't mind them coming with Custombuckers. You can sell these to guys who want to upgrade their Standards at a premium because Gibson don't sell them at retail. They go for more than BKP's in the used market so you'd even have change in the pocket after a pickup swap...
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:48 pm
by GrantB
godgrinder wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 1:26 pm
GrantB wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:46 pmWhat Gibson should have done ages ago was do a deal with someone like Throbak to produce PAF cloned pickups and use them exclusively on their R series, with VI Pots. That way, it becomes less mystique and more actual tonal profile shifts from say a LP Standard, and right in proper vintage zone.
They'd add another $2000 to the price tag if they do so though.
I don't mind them coming with Custombuckers. You can sell these to guys who want to upgrade their Standards at a premium because Gibson don't sell them at retail. They go for more than BKP's in the used market so you'd even have change in the pocket after a pickup swap...
I reckon their margins on the R9's are insane. or they could add another $500 for the Thro's (bulk pricing) and call it the R9 Authentic or something silly....
Good call on the CB's...yeah, I've seen them sell for interesting $.
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 4:10 pm
by Bg
Re: HNR9D
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:39 pm
by Molly
GrantB wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:46 pm
Nice - what year is this?
Pretty sure it's 2018. It's a Chicago Music Exchange one. Serial number starts CME 8.
