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Prehistoric Gibson les paul R9 any good?

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hopkinwfg

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Joined
Oct 26, 2023
Messages
57
Howdy people !! Just wonder how many of the guys here thinks that a 1986 era prehistoric R9 be a good buy?

Not talking about those 80s norlin timeline guitars with pancake bodies but that i saw seems to be an early R9 with a deep tenon joint....

I just wonder how many of the guys here who knows the LP R9 during that time well enough?

My concern is does it has the good wood catergory during the time of built? Or could a 90s era R9 be a better one? And secondly does it have weight relief being weighing 9.5lbs ?
 
Z

zacknorton

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Aug 26, 2011
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I've got an 86 pre-historic. most of them have pretty nice tops, decent bursts and those Tim Shaw pickups are pretty good too. The neck profile is what sold me. sort of a wide flat meets '59 shape. Most of them are in that 8.5lbs range.

Doesn't 9 hole weight relief become more likely as you move into the later 80's?? and then a standard operation into the 90's?

is a 90's one better? That depends on what you think is "better" or what particular things you're looking for. Nothing wrong with an R9 from any of the eras, really.

I know I'd like to have a couple more.
 
H

hopkinwfg

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Oct 26, 2023
Messages
57
zacknorton said:
I've got an 86 pre-historic. most of them have pretty nice tops, decent bursts and those Tim Shaw pickups are pretty good too. The neck profile is what sold me. sort of a wide flat meets '59 shape. Most of them are in that 8.5lbs range.

Doesn't 9 hole weight relief become more likely as you move into the later 80's?? and then a standard operation into the 90's?

is a 90's one better? That depends on what you think is "better" or what particular things you're looking for. Nothing wrong with an R9 from any of the eras, really.

I know I'd like to have a couple more.
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But i find it quite strange... especially the serial number...

From far as i know da serial number during the 80s was inked stamped dating the Y as year first ie 1986 era 6 xxxx

But that piece i saw has the serial dated 6xxxx but the pots are dated year 95... but it could be swapped during the phase in time...

So could a LPC R9 during the time of 90s has the 80s serial stamped dated YXXXX instead of modern Model number 9 XXXX ?
 
corpse

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
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4,886
The one in my avatar is an '86 and the one next to it is an '88- both have been out of the harem for a while. The finish was heavy and urerethany-feeling- and the guitar was 9.2lbs IIRC. It was a very good guitar. More aggressive than the '88 which had thinner finish- much thinner- and somebody has put 57 classics in it. I like my modern R9's better but wish my more experienced ear could give it them a listen. This is funny- I put the '86 on ebay- somebody pinged me right away and asked if i would hold it for him for 90 days and duh what did I know. So I did and he sent me the money.
I would never do that now. i am jaded.
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

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AA00475Bassman said:
I really like my Guitar Trader .
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I am officially jealous ! I remember those from Guitar Player magazine way back in the early -mid 80's and the mom and pop shop . Seeing them either in person or in the magazine always had me drooling back then . Can you give me a tone report please ?
 
S. Weiger

S. Weiger

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Joined
Nov 25, 2002
Messages
1,771
hopkinwfg said:
Howdy people !! Just wonder how many of the guys here thinks that a 1986 era prehistoric R9 be a good buy?

Not talking about those 80s norlin timeline guitars with pancake bodies but that i saw seems to be an early R9 with a deep tenon joint....

I just wonder how many of the guys here who knows the LP R9 during that time well enough?

My concern is does it has the good wood catergory during the time of built? Or could a 90s era R9 be a better one? And secondly does it have weight relief being weighing 9.5lbs ?
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I don't think so, but if it were mine it should have, with that weight..
 
H

hopkinwfg

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2023
Messages
57
corpse said:
The one in my avatar is an '86 and the one next to it is an '88- both have been out of the harem for a while. The finish was heavy and urerethany-feeling- and the guitar was 9.2lbs IIRC. It was a very good guitar. More aggressive than the '88 which had thinner finish- much thinner- and somebody has put 57 classics in it. I like my modern R9's better but wish my more experienced ear could give it them a listen. This is funny- I put the '86 on ebay- somebody pinged me right away and asked if i would hold it for him for 90 days and duh what did I know. So I did and he sent me the money.
I would never do that now. i am jaded.
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Whats ya modern R9 highlight which you liked it better than both ya previous prehistorics ?

Care to share about it ? Tone, fresher look?, feel or closer the appointments to a 59 LP than those prehistorics
 
corpse

corpse

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I feel more connected to the guitar- it is woodier- and I spend more time just playing guitar into a clean old fender (ok- with some trem) with a lot of enjoyment. The neck is better and the construction feels better.
I think the CNC they are using now has more ergonomic factoring and Gibson definitely has done more research into the pieces they are reproducing. The
 
H

hopkinwfg

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Joined
Oct 26, 2023
Messages
57
corpse said:
I feel more connected to the guitar- it is woodier- and I spend more time just playing guitar into a clean old fender (ok- with some trem) with a lot of enjoyment. The neck is better and the construction feels better.
I think the CNC they are using now has more ergonomic factoring and Gibson definitely has done more research into the pieces they are reproducing. The
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Woodier means it has a more organic warm non trebly but with good lowend girth and high mids?
 
jimmi

jimmi

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hopkinwfg said:
But how do you describe as woody?
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I really don’t know what people mean by that phrase. Not really. And what amp are they using? My interpretation may be (and probably is) different than yours. I do know a good guitar when I play it and I look for different special flavors when I pick one up. Some end up only being really good for one thing and some are good for many.
 
H

hopkinwfg

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Joined
Oct 26, 2023
Messages
57
jimmi said:
I really don’t know what people mean by that phrase. Not really. And what amp are they using? My interpretation may be (and probably is) different than yours. I do know a good guitar when I play it and I look for different special flavors when I pick one up. Some end up only being really good for one thing and some are good for many.
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To be honest many says tone is subjective.... i am still looking out and hope somebody with a more specific description of the gibson tone.... for me i heard Gary moore and his live tone was impressive that sweet fat yet tight with aggressive mid girth and 'light crunch" resonant?

But i dont have the luxury of trying many gibsons LP historics out there....

I merely own an R8 2008 era, a BB 2001 era, a Heritage H150 oxblood and i just placed an order on a nice used R9 ....
 
corpse

corpse

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Woody to me has a finishing tone to it beyond the note itself. More than the musical tone and accompanying distortion echo or modulation. Harder to hear with modulation. The amp is a huge part of this- I am playing 1960-63 Fenders for the most part with reconed period Jensen’s.
 
El Gringo

El Gringo

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AA00475Bassman said:
AS good as any historic I've owned I still looking for pictures .
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Hey Buddy I just remembered asking you that exact question a while back . Your tone report reminds me of my childhood Ebony LPC which to me sounds as good as any one of my historic R Series instruments .
 
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