What mods have you done to a 2013 R7,R8,R9

Bugman58 · Jun 30, 2013

Seems everybody is so happy with there new 2013 Historic"s and rightly so. What changes have you made? I have not herd any talk of throbaks any more? I just bought a 13 R8 plain top that sounds good but I might want to have a little fun and change the pickups and wiring.

Red Baron · Jun 30, 2013

I haven't changed a single thing on mine. Maybe I'm just becoming complacent and don't care about swapping parts anymore... or perhaps these 2013's are the best guitars Gibson have made since the 1950's. :hmm

One thing is for certain, since I bought my new Historic I've stopped thinking about vintage guitars for the first time ever. :2zone

Big Al · Jun 30, 2013

Red Baron said:
I haven't changed a single thing on mine. Maybe I'm just becoming complacent and don't care about swapping parts anymore... or perhaps these 2013's are the best guitars Gibson have made since the 1950's. :hmm

One thing is for certain, since I bought my new Historic I've stopped thinking about vintage guitars for the first time ever. :2zone

I came to that conclusion a few years ago, Manfred. I never bought vintage guitars or amps as an investment or comodities thing. There are those that do, and that is exactly what has made the vintage guitar market so out of reach, and frankly overhyped as well as priced.

I bought and used vintage guitars and amps, because as a player there was really no modern equivalent.

That certainly isn't the case now. High quality modern gear built to the classic vintage standard, and sometimes exceeding it, are affordable (when compared to bloated overhyped vintage), and more importantly available, right now. That certainly includes Les Pauls. For me it's a done deal.

electricwally · Jun 30, 2013

Big Al said:
I came to that conclusion a few years ago, Manfred. I never bought vintage guitars or amps as an investment or comodities thing. There are those that do, and that is exactly what has made the vintage guitar market so out of reach, and frankly overhyped as well as priced.

I bought and used vintage guitars and amps, because as a player there was really no modern equivalent.

That certainly isn't the case now. High quality modern gear built to the classic vintage standard, and sometimes exceeding it, are affordable (when compared to bloated overhyped vintage), and more importantly available, right now. That certainly includes Les Pauls. For me it's a done deal.

Gibson is making the most beautiful Historics ever. No doubt from just bouncing around this forum. My gosh I've seen some of the most beautiful Historics ever! And if we want to go that extra mile (ok, extra 10 miles) then ship our historics to Kim at Historic Makeovers. Done! Otherwise yes, as a player, I'm very happy with what's being manufactured at the Historic division.

Bugman58 · Jun 30, 2013

Big Al said:
I came to that conclusion a few years ago, Manfred. I never bought vintage guitars or amps as an investment or comodities thing. There are those that do, and that is exactly what has made the vintage guitar market so out of reach, and frankly overhyped as well as priced.

I bought and used vintage guitars and amps, because as a player there was really no modern equivalent.

That certainly isn't the case now. High quality modern gear built to the classic vintage standard, and sometimes exceeding it, are affordable (when compared to bloated overhyped vintage), and more importantly available, right now. That certainly includes Les Pauls. For me it's a done deal.

All so true and agree on all points, Man the after market guys must be really sad,,,, But I still wonder what a good set of throbaks will sound like, I like the new custom buckers but dont like the under wound custom buckers in the benchmark series as much.

MIKE20 · Jun 30, 2013

Bugman58 said:
,,,, But I still wonder what a good set of throbaks will sound like...

the Throbies MXV sound great in a '13...so do the Shed Zepps.

goldtop0 · Jul 1, 2013

All I did was change the caps in both of mine......don't like the not so good stock bumblebees.

LSGoCards7 · Jul 2, 2013

Mojoaxe guard is on, and DiMarzio White Rings are on their way to be dyed. The guitar sounds great as is, but I'd love to throw some Throbaks in there, along with new pots and caps.

CoolGuitarz · Jul 2, 2013

MIKE20 said:
the Throbies MXV sound great in a '13...so do the Shed Zepps.

...so do the custom buckers

Bugman58 · Jul 3, 2013

CoolGuitarz said:
...so do the custom buckers

I agree, The new 2013s are great and so are the pups, But some of us just like to tinker:rofl

GeetarGoul · Jul 3, 2013

I modded my 2013 with .11's . I usually play .10's but the neck is so solid on my 13' R8 that the elevens play like tens. I may eventually do new pots and caps from Kim at HM.

Big Al · Jul 3, 2013

THESE GUITARS NEED ZERO MODS.

They play, sound and look wonderful. They NEED nothing.

But some of us just NEED to.
Some would change every cosmetic detail because it allows for a greater enjoyment of thier guitars. Why not?

Some will replace every single component in an effort to upgrade tone.

Most will key in on certain aspects to tweak the guitar, just right. Remember, changing string gauge or brand, top wrapping, removing pick up covers are all mods, though minor.

No they need no mod, but some of us just have too. The need is ours.

Big Al · Jul 3, 2013

my flippin playstation however needs a mod to stop double posting.

CharlieS · Jul 3, 2013

I haven't changed a thing on mine, and don't see a need to. I have plenty os pickups and parts that can go in other guitars, but I'm not playing the other guitars anymore.

DoctorMO · Jul 3, 2013

no changes although i wish it had paper in oil caps , I can get a better tone out of these compared to the gibson faux bees. However given the overall changes i dont feel compelled to mess with anything.

poon99 · Jul 3, 2013

Big Al said:
my flippin playstation however needs a mod to stop double posting.

hahaha.
It was good to see ya and hang awhile last Saturday.I had a great time.Love your Norlin.

Big Al · Jul 3, 2013

poon99 said:
hahaha.
It was good to see ya and hang awhile last Saturday.I had a great time.Love your Norlin.

POON!!! It was great to hang at the HOG. I ended up picking up a Tobacco Sunburst R9 that was just screaming my name. I'm glad you got to play Bad Betty. Thanks for the good words, most people just stick their noses up at anything Norlin.

ROCK ON BROTHER!!!!!

eace2 :headbange

cfljames · Jul 4, 2013

For my 13 R9 I just changed the rings,pickguard,chip,tip,nut,truss rod cover,jackplate,knobs..As far as mods all I did was change to brass thumbwheels instead of the steel it came with...
I also as many others have no desire to start tearing the pickups out of it like all the others I have done in the past because Gibson got it right this time and they sound great....
As far as the plastic its still blows...

corpse · Jul 4, 2013

I have a Dimarzio dyed rings, blue collar switch tip and selector ring and will get a PG soon.
Anybody else notice that the strings that come on the 2013 are really nice feeling? They are Gibson Vintage Reissue strings (made by D'Addario I hear). Thinking about buying a few sets- Strings and Beyond is having a sale this 4th. On the fence as I have been using Pyramid Classics but the feel is way different in a good way.

tangerine · Jul 9, 2013

@dfljames, just curious.. given the changes you already made, do you think the pickup covers are authentic enough, or did you change the covers too?

What mods have you done to a 2013 R7,R8,R9

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