So back in June 2015 on a trip to Gibson Custom I was introduced to the Phillip Whorton designed Gibson L9 archtop. I did a thread on the proto type guitar they had at the factory and even though the photos in the thread below are gone you can still read that thread. For those of you that don't Phillip write that name down cause he is now in charge of the Custom Crimson department at the Gibson Custom Shop and was Mike McGuire's successor. Phillips is in charge of all custom orders. Phillip shared the proto type with me and I played it for about a half hour. His idea and concept with this guitar was what if all the great specs and attributes of a 59 Les Paul and an L5 archtop could be combined and produce an archtop guitar that would play and feel like a solid body 59 Les Paul but would be about the size of an L5 archtop and not feedback at high volumes. The best solid body electric guitar of all time and the best archtop ever made all in one guitar.
Well okay so after playing the proto I was hooked and I ordered one that day. I told Phillip that I only had one request and that was I wanted a lemon burst color and not the cherry sunburst or vintage sunburst that its offered in. I can contest that playing this guitar through a Marshall cranked up at very high volumes it wont feed back. The proprietary top carve prevents feedback and also secures the stop tail piece firmly in place. Now sure if you crank the Marshall on 10 and stand with the guitar 6 inches away from the amp it will squeal but so will my Les Paul. But standing a few feet away from the amp cranked on high volume it wont feed back. The tone and playability is so classic and creamy its stupid. Sometimes it sounds like an old Les Paul, sometimes it sounds like a Byrdland or L5, and sometimes it just sounds like an L9. All I can say is you owe it to yourself to try and find one check it out because they are so good!
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/s...g-the-R9-Les-Paul-to-the-brand-new-L9-archtop
So after nearly 8 months of waiting look at what they sent me! Without further ado I give you the Lemon Bengal Monster L9!
Well okay so after playing the proto I was hooked and I ordered one that day. I told Phillip that I only had one request and that was I wanted a lemon burst color and not the cherry sunburst or vintage sunburst that its offered in. I can contest that playing this guitar through a Marshall cranked up at very high volumes it wont feed back. The proprietary top carve prevents feedback and also secures the stop tail piece firmly in place. Now sure if you crank the Marshall on 10 and stand with the guitar 6 inches away from the amp it will squeal but so will my Les Paul. But standing a few feet away from the amp cranked on high volume it wont feed back. The tone and playability is so classic and creamy its stupid. Sometimes it sounds like an old Les Paul, sometimes it sounds like a Byrdland or L5, and sometimes it just sounds like an L9. All I can say is you owe it to yourself to try and find one check it out because they are so good!
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/s...g-the-R9-Les-Paul-to-the-brand-new-L9-archtop
So after nearly 8 months of waiting look at what they sent me! Without further ado I give you the Lemon Bengal Monster L9!
Last edited: