PSA: 1996 R9 with a RIDICULOUS top

Steffo

ICBM said:

WezV said:

Dude, its wood!!

I see a nicely matched, but slightly riftsawn top. The two side react differently to the light, but they are clearly both reacting quite a bit.

To me that's a near perfect top, in fact it probably looks nicer than it would if it was not rift sawn


Not for you maybe. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with it

Not for me, definitely.

I see a top with significantly mismatched grain between the two sides. I actually like 'uneven' flame - I find perfectly parallel, equal-width stripes boring - but in the sense of unevenness across the length and width, not from one side to the other .

In any case, this is *far* from the most spectacular top I've ever seen on an R9, even if you like that sort of thing (I don't really), so I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about - it's just an average, not-very-perfectly chosen or finished piece of wood. Very typically Gibson, which is fine.

But then I tend to prefer goldtops and black Customs anyway .

I prefer the left side but overall not quite my cup of tea, too busy and clearly over optimistic price.

Gassage

I so disagree re the price. These are some of the greatest LP's ever.

My 1997 R8 sold for 3900 in auction!

thomasross20

I was tempted by that £6k true historic a while back. Sounded fantastic and was ultra light

fretfinder

I didn't think they generally did Braz boards in the 90s and personally I think that the 'Goodwood' era theory is largely sellers' hype. They certainly made some R9s with spectacular flame tops in the 90s, but they don't look like real 59ers so they're not everyone's cup of tea. I don't particularly like this top either, it is too one-sided for me and I don't like the 'barbecue grille' nature of the vertical pinstripes. Daft money as well, if you ask me.

andyoz

I think this is a more impressive top. Still overpriced for an R8 (sellers had it up for months) http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=291722357163&alt=web

johnonguitar

andyoz;1033222" said:

I think this is a more impressive top. Still overpriced for an R8 (sellers had it up for months) http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=291722357163&alt=web

If I paid £4k for a guitar that JoBo had graffitied that back of I would get the police involved

Brize

Horrible top, stupid price.

andrew

Very interesting comments all!

I'm not usually one for a fancy top either, I much prefer plain tops. That being said, this one really caught my eye - not that I have that kind of money stuffed down the back of the sofa!

Deijavoo

On my various travels I came across this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Gibson-Historic-R9-Les-Paul-BIG-TOP-Reissue-w-hard-case-and-papers-/122215572577?hash=item1c749da461:g:FgEAAOSw8gVX2jNN

When I say travels what I meant was sat in my own stink staring at a screen.

fretfinder

Deijavoo said:

On my various travels I came across this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Gibson-Historic-R9-Les-Paul-BIG-TOP-Reissue-w-hard-case-and-papers-/122215572577?hash=item1c749da461:g:FgEAAOSw8gVX2jNN

When I say travels what I meant was sat in my own stink staring at a screen.

It's spectacular that's for sure, but personally I think the big gap in the flame directly below the bridge is 'orrible!

Deijavoo

I really like it.