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Are true R4's really humbuckers?

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
I thought buckers started as the 57 classic and that realistic 54's were P90's. Am I wrong about this?

There is an oxblood 54 on Ebay with buckers. He says it is build to exact 54 specs. Is this possible?

He later says it is a Jeff Beck R4 to explain the pups but also says it is not Brazilian Rosewood neck which I thought was also R4.

Is this guitar a fake?????

But mostly, are oxblood 54's not P90?

Thanks

Tom
 

beetlebum

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Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
31
There are two kinds of R4 models made by the Gibson CS. First one is the regular 1954 Goldtop with warptailpiece. The other one is a recreation of the modified old Les Paul Jeff Beck used during the "Blow by Blow" Sessions - it's also featured on the cover of the album. He got it rerouted for Humbuckers and refinished in that dark brown "Oxblood" colour, Schaller Tuners, and amber speed knobs.
I suppose 'cause Beck still got a deal with Fender, Gibson isn't allowed to call it a "Jeff Beck" model - though everyone knows that it' meant as one.
The Brazilian fretboards were available on most/all ?! reissue Les Pauls a few months back in 2003, until Gibson signed a contract that they will not use Brazilian Rosewood any longer.

Mat
 

sidekick

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Jun 20, 2005
Messages
3,060
songsmith1950 said:
I thought buckers started as the 57 classic and that realistic 54's were P90's. Am I wrong about this?

There is an oxblood 54 on Ebay with buckers. He says it is build to exact 54 specs.

Is this guitar a fake?????

Tom
Tom.......The Oxblood is Gibson's 'unofficial 'copy of the Dark Brown refinished '54 Les Paul that Jeff Beck had fitted with humbuckers and shown on the cover of the 'Blow by Blow' album.....They are in the current Gibson reissue catalogue and are fitted with Humbuckers....'57 Classics pre-'03 and thereafter Burstbuckers 2 & 3.....They are great guitars.......The 'feel' of a '54 wrapover reissue with 'buckers...... :salude
 

VoodooVox

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Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
634
In '03 & '04 there was also a limited run of Tonequest R4s, a GT with BB 1&2s with a wrap tail. Not to long ago VG ran a story on pafs. The original prototype pafs according to the story, were mounted on a GT with wrap tail for testing purposes. That GT was on the cover of that VG issue.

'04 R4 Tonequest:
DSCN0402.jpg
 

pepejara

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2003
Messages
2,242
Spudrok said:
The alleged facts about Jeff Beck's oxblood Les Paul.

http://www.stringsandthings.com/starzgetarz/jeffbeck/default.htm

I believe this story to be completely true. I personally saw the hot rod drawing that Jeff Beck left on the bathroom door at the original location on South Cooper in Memphis. Strings & Things was quite the guitar store in the early to mid 70's.

According to this story, the guitar was a 1955 reissue of a 1954 goldtop, chocolate painted...
 

gadzooka

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Joined
Feb 14, 2002
Messages
1,612
"She's a Woman" has some of the best-recorded Les Paul tones I've ever had the pleasure to hear. I assume it was on the original Oxblood.
 
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