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Gotta Ask, differences in R7, R8, and R9

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
Now that I have my R6 I have to ask this.
Seems the R9's are far more expensive than the R8 or R7.
Gotta also say that since I have an R6 Goldtop I really would prefer my next CS to be burst.
What is the real difference between the R8 and R9?
Another question. The R0 doesn't seem to be nearly as popular. Is it because of the thinner 60 neck? If so I do understand as I love the R6 neck.
Thanks in advance. Will probably have a few years to do research but you never know.

Tom

Songsmith
 

dwagar

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
4,451
Neck sizes: smallest to largest - R0, R9, R8, R7
And tops: R7 (Gold), R8 (Plain), R9 and R0 (figured)

The lower popularity of the R0 is I think in part due to the neck, but I suspect some of it is marketing (1959 as the holy grail year) and some dealer driven, ie, they stock more R9s than R0s.
 

JVIoneyman

New member
Joined
Aug 28, 2004
Messages
838
Some people say that R9's get the best/lightest wood, but from what i've seen it doesnt seem to be true.

They are all pretty much great!
 

phil47uk

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
6,534
The R0 defence league coming to the rescue.....

The R0's, other than the GC ones ( I don't know much about those, so can't comment )receive exactly the same quality of body wood and tops as do the R9's and are, or at least were the same price.

I think dwagar hit the nail on the head when he said a lot of it is to do with marketing.
Here in the UK you just can't find any R0's for sale, so there isn't much choice really unless you get one imported privately like mine. I think we have around about 8 that we know of here at the last count.

Most Brits are surprised when they try the R0 neck and say "Wow! That's not at all as I imagined it to be" I thought it was like a Classic.
After playing it, most again prefer it to the massive necks sported by some R7's and 8's... But!... At the prices they want over here they just gulp.
As I have stated many times.. The R0 neck is not really that skinny..
Oh of course it is in comparison to a baseball bat, but then anything would be.
It's the sort of neck you must really try out before you make any decisions on whether one likes it or not. It's a very unique shape and off course it's not to everyone’s liking, but certainly deserves a try.
Two years ago, you'd be hard pressed to find a thread in the LPF about R0's, but it seems that just over the past year they have been recognized and gaining popularity.

P.S... Well a lot of Kossoffs stuff and the Beano album were played on so called skinny necks... Can't be all that bad...:laugh2:

Phil.
 
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thin sissy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
phil47uk said:
it seems that just over the past year they have been recognized and gaining popularity.
I wonder who is responsible for that?:rofl
 

Redhod

Active member
Joined
May 2, 2002
Messages
540
You'd think that Clapton's remarks about his irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind, R0 Beano Burst would have sealed the deal as to it being the one.
(As if there's ever just One.)

I'm curious, though, how the R0 compares to my 99 Standard, which is .... well, molded to my hand tighter than OJ's glove, you'll pardon the expression.
 

bluesjuke

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
7,007
If you're loooking in the R7 through R9 range the R7 is ruled out as a burst unless you find a rare one finished this way or in Brockburst (there were a few of these a couple of years back).

The R8 will beat the R9 in price but unless they come back out with a burst R8 again by the time that you are ready to buy you will have to get one used.
The new ones are plaintop- my favorite by the way may be that you will consider one of these.

Necks all vary from guitar to guitar so you can't really classify any year as being any one size.
You'll have to play each one & see if you like that particular neck on one you may be interested in.
 
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