Historic Makeovers: R7 -> R9

[TM1]

I have a 2007 R-4 Goldtop that Kim redid about 2010. The flame under the gold was sick..I’ve posted shots of it here before. I’d find a photo but I’m at my Audi dealer getting the 40,000 service done…
But Kim has done six of my guitars over the years!

 

[gmann]

Alright, photos w/ clearcoat and hardware. FWIW, I asked for the lightest patina they'll do, not into relic stuff despite owning a couple (Pre*War 000-28 and Xotic strat).

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So nice!

 

[gmann]

I have a 2007 R-4 Goldtop that Kim redid about 2010. The flame under the gold was sick..I’ve posted shots of it here before. I’d find a photo but I’m at my Audi dealer getting the 40,000 service done…
But Kim has done six of my guitars over the years!

I’ve seen pics of that guitar Don, amazing! You should post ‘em again when you get a chance!

 

[brandall10]

Alright, got a bit of patina and strung up. Shipping back today. Plenty of other photos here: https://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Work-In-Process/Randall-751361/n-53QgvZ/

 

[jb_abides]

The waiting is the hardest part. I hope all is to your liking. The photo library certainly shines. Congrats.

 

[brandall10]

Thanks! Unfortunately I won't get to check it out for a month or so. Currently traveling.

 

[axeman565758]

No matter how amazing the grain is, it would never have been an R9 or R0. I can tell you first hand. I started my 3rd M2M, a 60th Anniv R0 in late 2019. I picked out the top from numerous maple blanks. (pic # 1)
It looked great. However after the top was glued, then carved, all of a sudden the "imperfection" appeared. Under normal circumstances, this may have become either a Goldtop, a non-Historic Custom or a '68 Custom.
Notice the "knot" is circled. (pic # 2) When they called me to see if I wanted to pick another top, I said, no way, I love it. Leave it as is! Now I can pick it out of the crowd. I dare say the finished product looks just fine. (pics 3, 4, and 5) Great top, one-off color and (different) flame at all angles

 

[brandall10]

No matter how amazing the grain is, it would never have been an R9 or R0. I can tell you first hand. I started my 3rd M2M, a 60th Anniv R0 in late 2019. I picked out the top from numerous maple blanks. (pic # 1)
It looked great. However after the top was glued, then carved, all of a sudden the "imperfection" appeared. Under normal circumstances, this may have become either a Goldtop, a non-Historic Custom or a '68 Custom.
Notice the "knot" is circled. (pic # 2) When they called me to see if I wanted to pick another top, I said, no way, I love it. Leave it as is! Now I can pick it out of the crowd. I dare say the finished product looks just fine. (pics 3, 4, and 5) Great top, one-off color and (different) flame at all angles

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So it's just the knot then? I feel like I've seen knots on R9s before though?

Are you sure you didn't get that option from Gibson due it not being visible on selection rather than a general grading rubric?

In my case it seems they got to the stage of painting based on the red mist despite being visible without paint.

Crazy beautiful top btw, I'd take that over 99% of R9s out there.

 

[Dr. Green]

a knot - in this day and age where folks pay a fortune to have the manufacturer beat the crap out of the guitar to make it look extremely road worn ?

seems absurd to drop it down 3 pay grades

 

[jb_abides]

a knot - in this day and age where folks pay a fortune to have the manufacturer beat the crap out of the guitar to make it look extremely road worn ?

seems absurd to drop it down 3 pay grades

Once the knot was revealed after the carve, did Gibson give you a discount, even thought you dug it and kept it..?

 

[J.D.]

Discount?

 

[jb_abides]

Discount?

Well, they do think it's defective...

 

[Jim W]

Thread drift, but Saul was a great place for lefty stuff; he had things Gibson normally wouldn't offer.

We got a fair amount from him, and visited the shop a couple of times, once making a vacation of staying on the RMS Queen Mary, and driving a rented convertible down to the shop from Long Beach to pick up an L4.

I remember Dean that worked there as well.

 

[jb_abides]

Some drifts are good, Jim, especially southpaw ones!

Dean's got a Rossington there; one regret is I passed on one of those lefties. He turned me on to my best SG, an early VOS example!

I wonder what happened to Gibson safe, Custom, Art & Historic neon sign, and other great marketing trappings Saul had in the shop..?

 

[axeman565758]

So it's just the knot then? I feel like I've seen knots on R9s before though?

Are you sure you didn't get that option from Gibson due it not being visible on selection rather than a general grading rubric?

In my case it seems they got to the stage of painting based on the red mist despite being visible without paint.

Crazy beautiful top btw, I'd take that over 99% of R9s out there.

 

[brandall10]

Thread drift, but Saul was a great place for lefty stuff; he had things Gibson normally wouldn't offer.

Not drift at all! This was the 'birthplace' of the guitar this thread is about after all, lol. Appreciate the photos and stories.

 

[Dr. Green]

Discount?

that funny - that very funny

by the way - how do you ever replace a store like Center City music where you got both a fantastic selection and the very cheapest prices ???

 

[brandall10]

that funny - that very funny

I mean... if you get an R7 grade top you should pay an R7 price? You're not paying for the paint job

 

[uOpt]

Why would they hide such a piece of flame maple under gold?

 

[J.D.]

Why would they hide such a piece of flame maple under gold?

Easy really. Back in the early-2000s era, completely unfigured plain maple with no flaws was the spec for 58s. Heavily figured maple with no "dead" patches or flaws was the spec for 59s and 60s. "Everything else" was used on the gold tops. Most gold tops from this era have tops with some figure (still do). They've since revised the spec for the 58s from completely plain to semi-figured to use more of this grade of wood.