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Standard 50's vs R8's

p19978

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2003
Messages
144
I'm thinking of buying another LP to refin ala "Lucy"(cherry red), since I can't find a reasonably priced OEM.

I have an R8 (plaintop ice tea burst), and I love everything about it, especially the thick neck profile. Therefore, I could easily just buy another R8 and refin it cherry red. However, the Standard 50's seem to be pretty close in neck specs to the R8... and significantly cheaper.

Anyone have experience playing both the Standard 50's and R8's... and care to compare and contrast?
 

golfnut

Active member
Joined
Apr 18, 2016
Messages
196
I'm thinking of buying another LP to refin ala "Lucy"(cherry red), since I can't find a reasonably priced OEM.

I have an R8 (plaintop ice tea burst), and I love everything about it, especially the thick neck profile. Therefore, I could easily just buy another R8 and refin it cherry red. However, the Standard 50's seem to be pretty close in neck specs to the R8... and significantly cheaper.

Anyone have experience playing both the Standard 50's and R8's... and care to compare and contrast?
I own a 2022 standard 50 and have played several R8's. The neck on my standard 50 is near identical to most R8's I've played. Other than that the tone, etc have more in common with an R9 than my standard 50. I love my standard 50 and think it sounds fantastic but it doesn't sound like the R8's and R9's I've played.
 

pqs

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2019
Messages
109
The necks on Standard ‘50 are closer in measurements to the neck on R9s. I’m on my 3rd Standard ‘50s, 4th if you count a Slash, and yes same necks. The necks on the Standard ‘50s, R9 (2019-present) and Slash fluctuate between 0.87“ and 0.89” at the 1st fret (you do see very occasionally 0.86 or 0.9, but most fall within that range) and around 0.97” and 1.02” at the 12th. A ’64 reissue neck will also be in that same range. The difference among those is in the shape/shoulders. The ‘64 are truer C shaped with more pronounced shoulders due to the roundedness of the neck. The Standard ‘50s/Slash have have less shoulders than the ‘64, and the R9 even slimmer shoulders than the Standard ‘50s/Slash. There is a hint of soft V in the R9s, and that hint is even more subtle with the Standard ‘50s/Slash. If I remember correctly, Gibson at some point referred to their 59 necks as soft Vs, not to be confused with the relatively much more drastic Fender Soft V.

Wildwoods tends to publish neck depth dimensions on their website, in case you want to check some of these figures for yourself.

With all my pedantic stuff out of the way, wouldn’t it make more sense to try if first with a Standard ‘50s? Although the neck on R8s are on average chunkier than Standard ‘50s, it is not by much as the neck on R8s slimmed down since 2018/19. I was going to suggest first trying with a Tribute, which used to be a true rounded C just between a ‘60s and ‘50s, but I feel these days they are closer to ‘60s and sometimes within range of ‘60s neck. Doing something like that to an R8 feels very risky.
 
Joined
Jul 10, 2020
Messages
20
If it were me I'd get a Standard '50s, since they are less than half the price of an R8, and has a neck that is really close. You could put boutique pickups in it and even rewire it if you really wanted to and still save money vs an R8.
 

Coachmoe

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
1,139
I bought a 21 50’s Goldtop. Gutted the electronics, did away with that goofy plate, added CTS pots, Historic Makeovers three way switch, Luxe Bumblebees and Throbak SLE 101’s. Wired it up exactly like my R9. Also installed a Faber iNserts kit, Creamtone pickguard and Gibson Historic pickup rings. Aged the hardware myself. When it’s next to my buddy’s R7, they look identical. Pseudo R7 at budget price. Works for me. The Standard 50's models are not weight relieved , and that is important to me. The quality of the workmanship on the 2021 is excellent.


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Last edited:

p19978

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2003
Messages
144
The necks on Standard ‘50 are closer in measurements to the neck on R9s. I’m on my 3rd Standard ‘50s, 4th if you count a Slash, and yes same necks. The necks on the Standard ‘50s, R9 (2019-present) and Slash fluctuate between 0.87“ and 0.89” at the 1st fret (you do see very occasionally 0.86 or 0.9, but most fall within that range) and around 0.97” and 1.02” at the 12th. A ’64 reissue neck will also be in that same range. The difference among those is in the shape/shoulders. The ‘64 are truer C shaped with more pronounced shoulders due to the roundedness of the neck. The Standard ‘50s/Slash have have less shoulders than the ‘64, and the R9 even slimmer shoulders than the Standard ‘50s/Slash. There is a hint of soft V in the R9s, and that hint is even more subtle with the Standard ‘50s/Slash. If I remember correctly, Gibson at some point referred to their 59 necks as soft Vs, not to be confused with the relatively much more drastic Fender Soft V.

Wildwoods tends to publish neck depth dimensions on their website, in case you want to check some of these figures for yourself.

With all my pedantic stuff out of the way, wouldn’t it make more sense to try if first with a Standard ‘50s? Although the neck on R8s are on average chunkier than Standard ‘50s, it is not by much as the neck on R8s slimmed down since 2018/19. I was going to suggest first trying with a Tribute, which used to be a true rounded C just between a ‘60s and ‘50s, but I feel these days they are closer to ‘60s and sometimes within range of ‘60s neck. Doing something like that to an R8 feels very risky.
Very helpful: thanks!

I'd love to try a 50's Standard but my location (Ky) makes it difficult.
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
Curious: are you going to refinish yourself, or send to a shop?

If the latter, would spec'ing a M2M exactly how you'd like it be worth the wait?
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
You want a neck or a guitar? A realistic 50's or well, it does look like one. The difference is apparent, so do you value the wood and build quality or is it just neck profile that you want? You already know what you want, a specific type of guitar or a specific type of look. Your choice, a cherry USA 50's refin or a cherry used Custom Shop R7 or 8 refin. They'll look the same but very different guitars.
 
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