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2015 Custom Shop Guitars, my first encounter with them...

roadrunner

Active member
Joined
Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
I was over at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville yesterday and I check out a few new Les Pauls, man... I'm impressed!

I played an R9, an R8 and a Waddy Wachtel model with a monkey bar on it. All three had the nicest necks, on reissues, I can ever remember playing. For me, the initial impression of any guitar is how the neck feels and I was knocked how by how "real" these necks felt. They all had a slimmer feel without any hint of the shoulders that usually are the tell-tale signs of "reissue" necks. All of them had a nice taper from the nut to body too. Most correct feeling necks I've ever felt from the Custom Shop, great job!

All the guitars had great paint jobs, seems like the painters at the factory are really hitting the note these days. The cherry burst guitar actually looked like an old burst I've worked on recently. The iced tea burst looked killer, with just the perfect amount of "implied" red in them. The Waddy guitar's sort of an "un-burst" and it looked nice; not my fave color as I like a guitar with color on it.

All three guitars were of a nice weight, the WW CC model was actually light, which was amazing for a guitar with a Bigsby.

Acoustically, all three rang nicely and played great, really nice setup on these too. With just a little tweaking and personalizing, they would be killer players. I didn't plug any of them in but I will when I go back there in a couple of days.

I liked the tops too, they looked "real" and were figured nicely, even the R8!

Only complaint I have is about the pickup covers, but I hear they're addressing that this year. So, there ya go... way to go Gibson! :dude:
 

ntotoro

New member
Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
569
I've seen pics of some tops of '15 R8's that look like they could be R9's and I wouldn't argue. My '14 R9 is so head-and-shoulders above my '06 R9 in every single way, so much to the point that I feel a little guilty loving so much at times.

Nick
 

Pearly Grapes

Active member
Joined
Jul 20, 2001
Messages
2,332
Hey RoadRunner; Please buy these guitars so I won't be further tempted. I've already overspent my 2015 budget! Carter's is a dangerous place for my credit card. Also my favorite place to go in Nashville. Unfortunately they know me on a first name basis. :hmm
 

markguitar

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Messages
2,375
I was over at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville yesterday and I check out a few new Les Pauls, man... I'm impressed!

I played an R9, an R8 and a Waddy Wachtel model with a monkey bar on it. All three had the nicest necks, on reissues, I can ever remember playing. For me, the initial impression of any guitar is how the neck feels and I was knocked how by how "real" these necks felt. They all had a slimmer feel without any hint of the shoulders that usually are the tell-tale signs of "reissue" necks. All of them had a nice taper from the nut to body too. Most correct feeling necks I've ever felt from the Custom Shop, great job!

All the guitars had great paint jobs, seems like the painters at the factory are really hitting the note these days. The cherry burst guitar actually looked like an old burst I've worked on recently. The iced tea burst looked killer, with just the perfect amount of "implied" red in them. The Waddy guitar's sort of an "un-burst" and it looked nice; not my fave color as I like a guitar with color on it.

All three guitars were of a nice weight, the WW CC model was actually light, which was amazing for a guitar with a Bigsby.

Acoustically, all three rang nicely and played great, really nice setup on these too. With just a little tweaking and personalizing, they would be killer players. I didn't plug any of them in but I will when I go back there in a couple of days.

I liked the tops too, they looked "real" and were figured nicely, even the R8!

Only complaint I have is about the pickup covers, but I hear they're addressing that this year. So, there ya go... way to go Gibson! :dude:

Are you sure they were 2015's?? As far as I know none have been released for sale yet and possibly not even made yet. Other than possible prototypes for NAMM. The Waddy guitar is a 2014. Also there are no Iced Tea 2015's in the True Historics, just 2 colors, Cherry Sunburst and some kind of Darkburst.
 

markguitar

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Messages
2,375
I've seen pics of some tops of '15 R8's that look like they could be R9's and I wouldn't argue. My '14 R9 is so head-and-shoulders above my '06 R9 in every single way, so much to the point that I feel a little guilty loving so much at times.

Nick

You must be looking at 2014 R8's that are still being shipped to dealers. No 2015's yet as far as i know of.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
All three guitars were of a nice weight, the WW CC model was actually light, which was amazing for a guitar with a Bigsby.

Acoustically, all three rang nicely and played great, really nice setup on these too. With just a little tweaking and personalizing, they would be killer players. I didn't plug any of them in but I will when I go back there in a couple of days.

I liked the tops too, they looked "real" and were figured nicely, even the R8!

There's been a lot of discussion regarding parts changes, and some process changes (e.g. rolling the neck), but what I've heard Edwin speak to - but hasn't been echoed enough [at least to these ears] is the Custom Shop improved their selection and ultimately sourcing of wood.

Hope members with more insight can weigh in on this important aspect of the 2015 specs.

And that they make more lefty guitars. Don't need CCs. Just some Rx-s.

:salude
 

Thunderchunk

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2004
Messages
164
Are you sure they were 2015's?? As far as I know none have been released for sale yet and possibly not even made yet. Other than possible prototypes for NAMM. The Waddy guitar is a 2014. Also there are no Iced Tea 2015's in the True Historics, just 2 colors, Cherry Sunburst and some kind of Darkburst.


Mark, do you know if they are going to be doing the True Historics in gloss or VOS?
 

Minibucker

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Jan 12, 2003
Messages
6,372
I thought the new '15 Customs/Historics aren't hitting shelves until April or so.
 

roadrunner

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Joined
Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
Hey RoadRunner; Please buy these guitars so I won't be further tempted. I've already overspent my 2015 budget! Carter's is a dangerous place for my credit card. Also my favorite place to go in Nashville. Unfortunately they know me on a first name basis. :hmm

Haha!! Carter's is a dangerous place, money just disappears at that place!

Are you sure they were 2015's?? As far as I know none have been released for sale yet and possibly not even made yet. Other than possible prototypes for NAMM. The Waddy guitar is a 2014. Also there are no Iced Tea 2015's in the True Historics, just 2 colors, Cherry Sunburst and some kind of Darkburst.

They came over from the factory that morning. It's 2015, I made the assumption. Didn't look at the serial numbers.

You must be looking at 2014 R8's that are still being shipped to dealers. No 2015's yet as far as i know of.

You must be right, unless I'm right... then we're both wrong.

Hope members with more insight can weigh in on this important aspect of the 2015 specs.

:salude

Geez, me too! That RR guy's a total insightless dumbass! :hee





Sorry about the initial post everyone, I didn't know it's not 2015!!! Would someone mind telling me what year it is, I'm kinda confused? Must be the old age settin' in, damn... was bound to happen sooner or later
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
No it's understandable........you saw NEW LPs and went gaga......we all do that:lol
 

Professortwang

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Dec 16, 2009
Messages
761
I think your observations speak to the fact that Gibson has been building killer guitars for a few years now.
 

Skydogfan81

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
910
Thanks for the info! Did you happen to see any Tobacco or Bourbon Bursts while you where there? I was there after the Gregg Allman/SIMO show and they had a bunch of nice Historics that I got to check out.
 

roadrunner

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Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
Thanks for the info! Did you happen to see any Tobacco or Bourbon Bursts while you where there? I was there after the Gregg Allman/SIMO show and they had a bunch of nice Historics that I got to check out.

Nope, didn't see any tobacco or dark bursts there this time. But, they seem to roll in there all the time. I'll check back early next week.
 

buckaroo

Formerly Tweedguy
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
938
I think your observations speak to the fact that Gibson has been building killer guitars for a few years now.

I have to agree with this. I have had some nice Les Pauls from the 90's and the noughties. But the recent 2014's in general have just blown me away. And in particular the 2014 Benchmark and CC's are exemplary guitars. I think they must really be paying extra special attention to the wood selection and the fit & finish on those higher end models.
 

skhan007

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Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
1,670
I've heard this from others, as well. What is it that was "incorrect" about the pickup covers until the recent change?

Only complaint I have is about the pickup covers, but I hear they're addressing that this year. So, there ya go... way to go Gibson! :dude:
 

Skydogfan81

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Dec 13, 2006
Messages
910
I'm headed to Nashville tonight to see Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ryman (be there for both shows), I'm gonna drop by Carter's and check out some Historics, stoked! :peace2
 

roadrunner

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Aug 25, 2001
Messages
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I'm headed to Nashville tonight to see Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ryman (be there for both shows), I'm gonna drop by Carter's and check out some Historics, stoked! :peace2

I was over there yesterday, they have two tobacco bursts just in... and R8 and an R9. The R8's killer, didn't plug the R9 in but it does look nice. The R8 has some very cool, very vintage, subtle flame on the top; it's a great guitar.
 

Skydogfan81

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
910
I was over there yesterday, they have two tobacco bursts just in... and R8 and an R9. The R8's killer, didn't plug the R9 in but it does look nice. The R8 has some very cool, very vintage, subtle flame on the top; it's a great guitar.

Cool, thanks for the heads up! I'm looking forward to checking those guitars out and seeing TTB at the Ryman.
 
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