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Blacktop Historics

MikeG59

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2003
Messages
1,884
I just got one off Craigslist. Its a 2000, one of 75 made for Sam Ash as stated on the COA, but I read they only got 2 orders of 30 each...so there's only 60 out there like this...Weighs just 8 lbs 11 oz. Has '57 Classics, no bumblebee caps, but large green ceramic ones a little smaller than a dime.
1 pc back, stamped R8 in the control cavity.
Smokin' guitar.

395232703.jpg


Thats very cool
 

zx1012r

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
30
There are 2 members here with 2000 R8 blacktops that we have been trying to find info on! Looks like you have the golden ticket! What is the serial number? My friend has 0051 and there is a member with 0016. Very cool info! Thanks!
 

LPunbound

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2002
Messages
194
Dave's Guitars had a run of blacktop and cherry top R7's done in 2004. I picked one up from a forum brother about 5 years ago. Has DW timbuckers in it now. Nice guitar.
 

oldflame

Active member
Joined
Jan 11, 2004
Messages
1,142
Been looking for a R7/R8 black top too for about 3 months (worldwide). Nothing has come up so far. My next idea was to buy a gold top and do a refin on the top.

Seems to be a lot of confusion here about these particular guitars. As far as I am aware, it was only Sam Ash that ordered the black top with the plain mahogany back and neck...2000/01. Does anyone know different? I'm not talking anything that is ALL black. Only a black top.
 

JiMB

New member
Joined
Apr 4, 2009
Messages
66
Love that look with the black top/mahogany back.
Reminds me of the character painting on the sleeve of the original Aerosmith "Rocks" LP.
I think it was Brad's in the painting.
Jim
 

LPunbound

New member
Joined
Jul 19, 2002
Messages
194
Oldflame

"Seems to be a lot of confusion here about these particular guitars. As far as I am aware, it was only Sam Ash that ordered the black top with the plain mahogany back and neck...2000/01. Does anyone know different? I'm not talking anything that is ALL black. Only a black top."


As mentioned in my Post above, Dave's did a run of Blacktop R7's in 2004.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108915&highlight=R7+Blacktops
 

MIKE20

Active member
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
7,688
for anyone that is interested...there is a black top R8 and a blacktop R0 on dabay right now...
 

paul144

New member
Joined
May 5, 2004
Messages
19
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zx1012r

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2011
Messages
30
Very Nice!!!!!!!!!

It's very cool to be able to narrow down all these blacktops and the runs they had at Gibson during the different years. Seems these 2000 R8's may be the only R8's made in that year.

My friends R8 didn't have the COA and the checklist has the wrong serial number. His guitar is 8 0051 and his checklist says 8 0058.

I guess you either love these things or ya don't! I liked his R8 so much I had to have one, and luckily found an R6 blacktop that I play almost every day.

Enjoy that one!
 

oldflame

Active member
Joined
Jan 11, 2004
Messages
1,142
Oldflame

"Seems to be a lot of confusion here about these particular guitars. As far as I am aware, it was only Sam Ash that ordered the black top with the plain mahogany back and neck...2000/01. Does anyone know different? I'm not talking anything that is ALL black. Only a black top."


As mentioned in my Post above, Dave's did a run of Blacktop R7's in 2004.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108915&highlight=R7+Blacktops

Yeah cheers. I went back and saw your post the next day. We are 16+ hours ahead here in Oz and most of the time I'm tyoping at 1am....see, there you go..."tyoping". What the hell is that!:wah

Anyway, I'm still thinking buy R7.....paint top black. Could probably do it with a spray can too.
 
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ctkarslake

New member
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
49
They are out there, just not too many of them around. Here is an '07 R7 I picked up last month.
Despite the thicker neck (not much more than either of my R8s) and the factory installed bigsby she only weighs in at 9lbs 5oz. She is all black, with dark brown covers around back.
ctkarslake


Why does this forum have such a problem with posting photos? I jumped through every hoop I had to and all I get is this "?"! C'mon, what the problem with posting attachements? All I want to do is share with everyone.

If anyone REALLY wants to see it you have to go here:
http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x372/ctkarslake/?action=view&current=771729FRONT.jpg
 
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LPCollector

New member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
1,338
The Music Zoo just sent me an email stating that they just got in some Ebony/Black R0's........
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Of course the black top mahogany sides/back was a Gretsch signature. Duo Jet's look very cool in that config. I had a '98 LP Standard done as a black top many years ago as I wanted it a Gretsch look - swapped it for a Gretsch in the end.

This is very nice!

395297787.jpg
 
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