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NGD, sort of... Y2K R9

burstone

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Apr 5, 2002
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6,748
I haven't posted much for a while but this one turned out pretty well with cool story, so thought I'd share. Bought it past November 2020 from the original owner who's had it since he bought it new in April 2000. He played and gigged the heck out of it for 20 years and decided to sell it in pursuit of a vintage piece. During our conversation, turns out he's an old friend from here back in the early days! :)

When I got the guitar, it was very nice. Already well broken in after being played regularly for 20 years, easy to play with nice string tension, and sounded very good. He put Duncan Antiquities and changed the harness to CTS 500K pots and some russian oil caps (I think). Weighs 8.6 lbs and neck is full C with little or no shoulders. Kept the guitar as is and enjoyed it since it was already very good and saw no compelling reason to change anything. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Well, I had some vintage parts laying around in my parts box, so decided to put a 1960 harness and '62 - '64 Pat No pups in (7.5K neck, 7.7K bridge) for kicks. I think I boosted the tonal satisfaction quite a bit with that change and it has become possibly the best Historic I've ever owned and played. I know we all say that when we get a new one but maybe I'll keep this one longer than 6 months for change. :geek:

Enough with the babbling. Here are some indoor pics I took earlier today. It has that '99 - early '00 finish some of us like. It has faded to dark iced tea/honey burst, which I love. Back has faded too in many spots. Top has many flecks but can be hard to see when covered by the flames at certain angles. :cool:

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goldtop0

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Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
What a beauty..........lurv the fading colour and chevron top.........looks like a reasonably substantial neck also??
:cool:
 

burstone

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Apr 5, 2002
Messages
6,748
It hasn't been abused but has some battle scars along the edges on the back and the back of the neck on the bass side has areas where the finish has worn out from playing all these years.

It's a full C shape neck that feels very comfortable, no problem going up and down the neck with ease.
 

Wise Guy

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Joined
Apr 3, 2021
Messages
62
Beautiful! I do wish my Standard had the same worn color on the back instead of the cherry red finish.
 

axeman565758

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Jan 23, 2007
Messages
1,204
it doesn't looked gig'd to me....looks great actually, unless the lighting is very forgiving..!!!!
Enjoy it it!
 

El Gringo

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Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
That is one very beautiful Les Paul R9 . I love it ! You sure do have some good taste with the Patent number pickups ! I would love a tone review of the guitar with the Patent Number pickups please .
 
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Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
My favorite Historic is my Y2K R9. Became my numero una gigging axe and after buying new in May 2000 I used it all over the East Coast from Quebec to the Gulf Coast. Wore the frets out and refretted with 6100s on that most perfect neck profile. Like yours, mine has a quartersawn back and I played all the red off the neck and where it rubbed against the BABB on the back.

These are a great version R9. The 1999 & 2000 vintage are unique and for some of us they feel and sound perfect. Welcome to the Millenial Club, you're gonna luv it!!! BEAUTIMUS GUITAR!!!!!! You should see the beautiful fade on Lipton, my 99 R9. Very rusty red tea color. Pretty shades back then.
 

burstone

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Apr 5, 2002
Messages
6,748
That is one very beautiful Les Paul R9 . I love it ! You sure do have some good taste with the Patent number pickups ! I would love a tone review of the guitar with the Patent Number pickups please .

After the pickup and harness swap, the sound is bigger, fatter, and maybe louder too with noticeably more of the qualities we chase with these guitars, i.e. 3D-ness, note bloom, sustain, hollow growl, etc.
I don't know how much of all that is contributed to the pickups or the harness, likely some combination of both components effecting the outcome/differences I hear now.
 

burstone

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Joined
Apr 5, 2002
Messages
6,748
My favorite Historic is my Y2K R9. Became my numero una gigging axe and after buying new in May 2000 I used it all over the East Coast from Quebec to the Gulf Coast. Wore the frets out and refretted with 6100s on that most perfect neck profile. Like yours, mine has a quartersawn back and I played all the red off the neck and where it rubbed against the BABB on the back.

These are a great version R9. The 1999 & 2000 vintage are unique and for some of us they feel and sound perfect. Welcome to the Millenial Club, you're gonna luv it!!! BEAUTIMUS GUITAR!!!!!! You should see the beautiful fade on Lipton, my 99 R9. Very rusty red tea color. Pretty shades back then.

Yeah... All the '99s and Y2Ks I've played and owned back in the early to mid 2000s were very good guitars and had great finish on them. I'm partial to those and the '93s - '94s, being the first year Historics.
I've owned and played other years too but they didn't/don't appeal to me as much. Last time I played "new" Historics were when the 2013s came out. Played a bunch at a local shop and they didn't do anything for me, so stopped following/trying the newer ones since then.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
I like the 94 a lot but have never found a 93. I have a pair of 2013s I like but still prefer 99-00. Just feel good too me. I liked those late 90s figured top Butterscotch R8's whole bunches too.
 

ourmaninthenorth

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Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Simply gorgeous.

Thanks for posting such fantastic pictures too.

Play the paint off the bugger.

(y)(y)
 

burstone

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Apr 5, 2002
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6,748
I like the 94 a lot but have never found a 93. I have a pair of 2013s I like but still prefer 99-00. Just feel good too me. I liked those late 90s figured top Butterscotch R8's whole bunches too.
I do love those '96 - '98 lawyer tops!
 

Froggie

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2017
Messages
125
That's a stunning guitar. It's what I would think of when I picture a LP in my mind.

Congrats and enjoy.
 
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