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2017 R9 Historic Makeover Dirty Lemon Tiger Flame-- believe the HYPE!

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
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1,762
Well I was in NYC for a conference a few months ago and I decided I needed to check out Rudy's Music in Soho. I literally had to take a knee when I walked in because there was a V, two bursts, and a 56 burst (yes. there was one) in the little case inside the door. Just crazy. I could post pics of that but... well not gonna.

There was this Doggie in the Window though-- an R9 that had the best top I've ever seen... and so I decided to try it and it was one of those guitars you play for a bit, then you hold it out and you say "WTF" and then repeat. Its a WTF guitar. Up until that time I'd always thought these makeovers seemed crazy. No longer. I BELIEVE!!!! Just perfect in every way (for me). The top is the craziest 3D top I've ever seen, I love the colors, the relic, the neck carve, and the bridge pickup is perfection to me. this is my keeper (for now:rofl)





 

PeteNJ75

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Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Messages
109
That is a gorgeous guitar - great top and I love the aging. I may have to stop by Rudy's this weekend!
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Yes sir that sure checks the boxes for flame and figure and color as well . My sincere compliments !
 

JPP-1

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Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
1,336
Congrats! Sweet LP. I think I might’ve played that one, Rudy had a couple of historic makeover that were really nice. Great store too. Enjoy!


Well I was in NYC for a conference a few months ago and I decided I needed to check out Rudy's Music in Soho. I literally had to take a knee when I walked in because there was a V, two bursts, and a 56 burst (yes. there was one) in the little case inside the door. Just crazy. I could post pics of that but... well not gonna.

There was this Doggie in the Window though-- an R9 that had the best top I've ever seen... and so I decided to try it and it was one of those guitars you play for a bit, then you hold it out and you say "WTF" and then repeat. Its a WTF guitar. Up until that time I'd always thought these makeovers seemed crazy. No longer. I BELIEVE!!!! Just perfect in every way (for me). The top is the craziest 3D top I've ever seen, I love the colors, the relic, the neck carve, and the bridge pickup is perfection to me. this is my keeper (for now:rofl)





 

Pellman73

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Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Congrats! Sweet LP. I think I might’ve played that one, Rudy had a couple of historic makeover that were really nice. Great store too. Enjoy!

i bet you did! I got it back at the end of October

it was so fun. Rudy was there, got to kind of meet him and geek out a little bit. Rob Nuovo was the guy who helped me ... also great. I really had no plans to buy a guitar.

i was just at gruhns, Carter’s and rumbleseat last week and they were not in the same league as rudys in terms of stuff or how nice people were.

the weird part was I’ve been wanting to try Steve Carr’s new Telstar and I was like - hey can I try the R9 and then Rudy said “have him play it thru the Carr”... it was weird, like being on candid camera or something.

There was a blonde 335 HM there too — did you play that ? That guitar was sick ...
 

JPP-1

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Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
1,336
i bet you did! I got it back at the end of October

it was so fun. Rudy was there, got to kind of meet him and geek out a little bit. Rob Nuovo was the guy who helped me ... also great. I really had no plans to buy a guitar.

i was just at gruhns, Carter’s and rumbleseat last week and they were not in the same league as rudys in terms of stuff or how nice people were.

the weird part was I’ve been wanting to try Steve Carr’s new Telstar and I was like - hey can I try the R9 and then Rudy said “have him play it thru the Carr”... it was weird, like being on candid camera or something.

There was a blonde 335 HM there too — did you play that ? That guitar was sick ...

Rudy has always been a very congenial host anytime I've been by his shop and you can tell he still truly loves guitars. He has some amazing gear. I played the 2 HM Les Pauls he had there but that was sometime last Spring. So no HM 335 that I could remember. But he did fix a little issue I was having with my 1966 345 and never charged me. Turned out to be just a little dirt in the Volume pot but still very nice of him.

How did you like the Telstar? I was considering picking up a Merc V there but the amp sounded bright and stiff to my ears. Maybe I shoulda tried the Telstar. I had a couple of Carr amps years ago, really high quality stuff, great looking and the ideal spec but they both felt and sounded a bit sterile to me. Not enough bounce and shimmer and too much note attack. As soon as I bought a 1965 Vibrolux and 1968 Princeton reverb I sold the Carrs. I thought the Merc V would be different. JD Simo and Ed King playing through it sounded great. Yeah of course both hugely talented, RIP Ed King, but it sounded far more supple. Maybe a vintage greenback or an alnico blue would smooth it out. I'll stop buy Rudy's again and give it another run through maybe the Telstar too.

Again congrats on a sweet looking and playing HM LP!
 

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
Messages
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Rudy has always been a very congenial host anytime I've been by his shop and you can tell he still truly loves guitars. He has some amazing gear. I played the 2 HM Les Pauls he had there but that was sometime last Spring. So no HM 335 that I could remember. But he did fix a little issue I was having with my 1966 345 and never charged me. Turned out to be just a little dirt in the Volume pot but still very nice of him.

How did you like the Telstar? I was considering picking up a Merc V there but the amp sounded bright and stiff to my ears. Maybe I shoulda tried the Telstar. I had a couple of Carr amps years ago, really high quality stuff, great looking and the ideal spec but they both felt and sounded a bit sterile to me. Not enough bounce and shimmer and too much note attack. As soon as I bought a 1965 Vibrolux and 1968 Princeton reverb I sold the Carrs. I thought the Merc V would be different. JD Simo and Ed King playing through it sounded great. Yeah of course both hugely talented, RIP Ed King, but it sounded far more supple. Maybe a vintage greenback or an alnico blue would smooth it out. I'll stop buy Rudy's again and give it another run through maybe the Telstar too.

Again congrats on a sweet looking and playing HM LP!

i have both the merc v and the Telstar. They are both incredible. I’d probably sell all my amps before I sold those two. The merc V is all Marshall. The Telstar is just so good. It’s more of a fender and I’d say it’s closer to tweed than blackface but you can get great cleans. There’s no bad setting. It’s a simpler amp than the merc v but it’s more like Steve kind of got it right.
i highly highly recommend it. Also note you Almost never see merc vs or telstars for sale used!
 

corpse

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Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I give this 18 months and it will be living in my house.

BTW- JPP is right- you need some old iron. I know a guy, who - at this VERY moment- is selling a Brown Vibrolux.
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
i bet you did! I got it back at the end of October

it was so fun. Rudy was there, got to kind of meet him and geek out a little bit. Rob Nuovo was the guy who helped me ... also great. I really had no plans to buy a guitar.

i was just at gruhns, Carter’s and rumbleseat last week and they were not in the same league as rudys in terms of stuff or how nice people were.

the weird part was I’ve been wanting to try Steve Carr’s new Telstar and I was like - hey can I try the R9 and then Rudy said “have him play it thru the Carr”... it was weird, like being on candid camera or something.

There was a blonde 335 HM there too — did you play that ? That guitar was sick ...

It's funny you mentioned Gruhn Guitars in Music City . I purchased a wish list guitar of mine a 1969 Fender Custom double bound alder body , one piece flame maple neck Telecaster which surprisingly had a huge neck in early August in dead mint condition . I got to meet Mr. Gruhn who was as nice as could be and sat down and had a real nice chat and visit with him and I found him very accommodating with his time and attention to all my questions and comments and I was actually impressed at the depth of his knowledge as one of the foremost vintage guitar experts in the community . It's not like I didn't know of him from reading his columns going back over 40 years ago in GP magazine . I found the entire staff to be so super helpful to me .
 

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
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It's funny you mentioned Gruhn Guitars in Music City . I purchased a wish list guitar of mine a 1969 Fender Custom double bound alder body , one piece flame maple neck Telecaster which surprisingly had a huge neck in early August in dead mint condition . I got to meet Mr. Gruhn who was as nice as could be and sat down and had a real nice chat and visit with him and I found him very accommodating with his time and attention to all my questions and comments and I was actually impressed at the depth of his knowledge as one of the foremost vintage guitar experts in the community . It's not like I didn't know of him from reading his columns going back over 40 years ago in GP magazine . I found the entire staff to be so super helpful to me .

You know— you are right! Gruhns WAS great in that aspect. They were very nice and the people were cool. And the guitars were great. (Just not mind blowing like Rudys) And if you look down a little further in this part of the forum you’ll see two weeks after being there I bought the Rossington SG that I had played. Corey (if you ever go he’s got a long straight grey beard) was really nice and accommodating and gave me a great deal on the shipping.
 

AA00475Bassman

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Apr 26, 2016
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I think this might be a keeper for you Peter the guitar is not something you buy again if you sell it !
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
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You know— you are right! Gruhns WAS great in that aspect. They were very nice and the people were cool. And the guitars were great. (Just not mind blowing like Rudys) And if you look down a little further in this part of the forum you’ll see two weeks after being there I bought the Rossington SG that I had played. Corey (if you ever go he’s got a long straight grey beard) was really nice and accommodating and gave me a great deal on the shipping.

Was Corey the Guy with the Steve Earle look that was manning the Fender section ? Yes I did see your Rossington SG which sure is a beauty and a Tom Murphy build as well !!!
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
You know— you are right! Gruhns WAS great in that aspect. They were very nice and the people were cool. And the guitars were great. (Just not mind blowing like Rudys) And if you look down a little further in this part of the forum you’ll see two weeks after being there I bought the Rossington SG that I had played. Corey (if you ever go he’s got a long straight grey beard) was really nice and accommodating and gave me a great deal on the shipping.
It's interesting you made the comment "just not mind blowing " and I seem to remember way back that they had a larger volume and inventory and that was one thing that struck me ! At the same time there Martin section was as large as ever .
 

ourmaninthenorth

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Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Superb Peter, nice work indeed.

A great Pal of mine has a Goldtop with the full HM thing, that I've played a lot, it is little short of astonishing. If this one is only half as good, grab a hold and don't let go...even though the book seems to be running at 6 months...:hee

Our mutual Pal is dropping heavy hints on that Vibrolux, I'm sure you don't need anyone to tell you what's what, but worth a call methinks?


All the best mate.

:salude:salude
 

Red Baron

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Jul 14, 2004
Messages
6,773
I'm generally not into big flame tops but this one is stunning, congrats! :jim
 
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