black beauty/ 58 ri

[dgk]

having owned and happily gigged with a 01 58 ri since april, last nite a buddy brought his 00 or 57 BB to a gig and let me use it alternately with my 58 ri...WOW...i have found these BB to be more powerful in the stores and it really translated on stage as well...several people commented on how different it sounded to the 58...my question is, anybody else have some experience with these and found this to be case??...i've played 2 and they both exhibited these qualities, so i assume they're all like this....is it just that solid piece of mahogany that is so much louder?? fuller??..anyway, thanks for any input...! dgk.

 

[Crazy Carl]

'57j RI Customs

Dude, those '57 RI Customs are B-A-D! Myself & Jato (& probably some others) have em & they are schweet!

I have no experience w/R8's or 9's, but that 'BB' is killer. I dunno if it's the solid mahogany or the ebony 'board or what, but that guitar kills. Thru my Recto or the JCM 800 2204 I recently sold, that guitar had the warmest, 'raspiest' tone I'd ever heard. Big, full neck, plays like a dream & tone for days.

For the money, they can't be beat. Hell, they could cost significantly more & still be worth it. Mine's a leftover '99 in vintage cherry (gorgeous, btw), 2 p/u, tom/stoptail that I snagged from Garret Park in Jan of this year for $1900. I've seen production Standards going for more than that. Deffo worth having one in the arsenal.

 

[hank]

'57 BB

I've got a Y2K '57 Black Beauty, three pickup model. I believe the "fuller" sound you're sensing is the darker sounding mahogany. I am eventually going to get a '59 RI, but the '57 BB will stay.

Note that many of the heavy metal guitars have all mahogany bodies that produce the fuller yet darker sound. That's hank's take on it anyway.

 

[Jato]

'57 LP BB RI is B.T.T.B.

I agree with the above assessment of the '57 BlackBeauties...they are tonal beasts, and play as nice as any LP out there, IMO. My Blackie has held her own with an R8, an R9, and a '69 Standard with Antiquities. Again, my ears and hands, but I love the top and bottom ends that the BB puts out consistently. For the money, you wont find a better LP.
Steve

 

[Jato]

'57 LP BB RI is B.T.T.B.

I agree with the above assessment of the '57 BlackBeauties...they are tonal beasts, and play as nice as any LP out there, IMO. My Blackie has held her own with an R8, an R9, and a '69 Standard with Antiquities. Again, my ears and hands, but I love the top and bottom ends that the BB puts out consistently. For the money, you wont find a better LP.
Steve

 

[lure555]

I PRAY my fav store doesn't get one, or else I'm in huge trouble! Those guitars are ALIVE!