NGD First R9 but not first historic.

[trapland]

So I went and did it. It's a new 2013 "tea honey burst" lightly aged R9. I think she's gorgeous, but I'm having concerns with 2 things.

First, most of the photos I take look WAY orangier than she really looks. The first photo in the store is more accurate but the outdoor ones show the figuring better. Any tips on better photos?

Second, compared to my other guitars (including historics) its kind of dark and muddy. I played a few other Custom buckers and they were hot clear and bright. These PU are right at 7.88k. I think I hear 2 things, one its 50s wiring and two the pots are low. The tone pots are only 440k, I suspect the volumes are too.

*** How much will it devalue the guitar to change pots? I would keep the originals of course. I like everything about it but the tone needs a little touch up. Does it totally screw the value?

Anyway....the photos.....

 

[Stoj]

That's a beauty - Congrats :cheers:

I don't believe you would devalue a historic if you upgrade it with better pots. My 2c

 

[Fried okra]

Really nice. Congrats and thanks for sharing.:rofl

 

[trapland]

Really nice. Congrats and thanks for sharing.:rofl

Thanks for that. What do you think, changing pots devalues or not? I plan to gig with it. I'll save the originals, but solder joints WILL be altered. :hank

 

[sloanthebone]

Beauty! Gratz!

 

[Pickdropper]

Thanks for that. What do you think, changing pots devalues or not? I plan to gig with it. I'll save the originals, but solder joints WILL be altered. :hank

Personally, an R9 with upgraded pots wouldn't phase me at all and I consider myself relatively picky. I know that it matters on a vintage guitar, but this is a modern production instrument and a gigging tool. I would make it the tool that best suits you. Just my 2c.

 

[tdarian]

Nice looking R9! Congratulations! If you were to ever try to sell this guitar down the line I would not be deterred at all by swapped out pots/caps if I otherwise had interest. I did it on my R7 mainly to get a better taper for my needs and have no regrets other than I should have done it sooner.

 

[DMartini]

your final photo of the guitar laying on the grass is stellar!!! it looks very very nice, congrats :salude

as the guys who own genuine 1959's will tell you, an R9 will never ever be a 1959, so don't sweat it, change what you want.
enjoy :dude:

 

[axeman565758]

So I went and did it. It's a new 2013 "tea honey burst" lightly aged R9. I think she's gorgeous, but I'm having concerns with 2 things.

First, most of the photos I take look WAY orangier than she really looks. The first photo in the store is more accurate but the outdoor ones show the figuring better. Any tips on better photos?

Second, compared to my other guitars (including historics) its kind of dark and muddy. I played a few other Custom buckers and they were hot clear and bright. These PU are right at 7.88k. I think I hear 2 things, one its 50s wiring and two the pots are low. The tone pots are only 440k, I suspect the volumes are too.

*** How much will it devalue the guitar to change pots? I would keep the originals of course. I like everything about it but the tone needs a little touch up. Does it totally screw the value?


if you upgrade the pots/caps (ie an RS kit) $ value change? - nothing, IMHO

Value to you, personally, after its done and you love the tone?.. - PRICLESS.


As for the true color not showing through in photos????....who cares.....we all post pics and most* will write the same thing....the real color is this..or that.

Play it like a mad man and enjoy the heck out of it!!!
Dave

 

[Soulweb]

I have a 2013 R9 and couldn't stand the volume drop off as is. I upgraded all pots (and caps) through RS electronics. I saved everything in case there is a need to put the old ones back in. But it's probably a lifer. I never looked back on the changed pots. All the sudden the pot sweeps were usuable across the spectrum.

Does it devalue the guitar? Not in my opinion, and I'm super picky as well. Especially if you hold on to the original pots.

As far as dark and muddy, your neck pickup looks like it's sunk in pretty deep there in the pictures. Maybe have a setup done at some point unless you love the way it plays. In which case, adjust pickups. A lot of sound complaints can be adjusted with pickup height. Though the custom buckers are relatively low output. Most modern guitars have screaming hot pups in them and that's generally what people want.

Color? Who cares. My washed cherry looks like a Clown Burst in photos, but in reality looks pretty close to the pictures of your guitar. Nobody cares about the color unless you're trying to sell it. Looks great to me!

 

[Dave71]

Wouldn't sweat changing pots on a new production guitar. There are tons of Historic RIs' out there, unlike original "Bursts". You'd have to wait many, many years for there to be a significant increase in value. Do what makes you happy! Don't like the pots, then swap 'em!!! :hank

 

[trapland]

As far as dark and muddy, your neck pickup looks like it's sunk in pretty deep there in the pictures. Maybe have a setup done at some point unless you love the way it plays. In which case, adjust pickups. A lot of sound complaints can be adjusted with pickup height. Though the custom buckers are relatively low output.

I lowered the neck pickup to reduce output and muddiness. I think these Custom Buckers are really hot. They measure 7.9. I'm used to BB1 and 2 at low 7s and MHS in the high 6s. Lowering the neck helped slightly, but the neck pickup still overpowers the bridge. I play middle position a lot and I'm having trouble getting any jangle. Brightening up the neck with new pots and lowering the pickup further will hopefully solve it.

As far as setups go, they all want to lower my action.... I'd have to redo it anyway. :laugh2:

 

[Soulweb]

The neck on my 13 R9 is 7.82k and the bridge is 7.67k. I have them adjusted just the way I like em. I don't find them overpowered at all. In fact, compared to my other guitars they are quite low powered. Especially compared to my son's Dean which is like 11k - 12k for his pickups. He loves em.

I rarely use the middle position. I love the warm, fat woody sound of that neck pickup and I love the fat, but crisp sound of the bridge. The middle position just doesn't get used too much. I try, but I find myself switching to the neck or bridge soon after.

 

[trapland]

Your pickups are even more Unbalanced than mine! I cant understand why Gibson would put them in with a hotter neck. It pretty much eleiminates the middle position. Usually you need at least a few hundred ohms more on the bridge for decent middle position balance. Sure I can get there with the volumes, but its pretty hard to find that spot in a hurry. Some people like you don't use the middle much and that's fine, but others live thier lives there.

i play a lot of Zeppelin. Pretty much everything after 1971 needs a nice boinky middle position.


you are right tho, these aren't really that hot of pickups compared to lots of others, but they ARE hot compared to what I'm used to. The BB1&2 in my R0 are way weaker than these CustomBuckers. Even the BB2&3 seem weaker but I think its just less mids. I have a 490/498 set in my Florentine and that's the only set that is noticeably hotter.

Anyway, I still love this guitar, but I will change pots. Damn if I didn't find 4 Gibson Historic spec pots dated just weeks before my guitar was built! And they all measure 535-550k! Yay! I love Les Pauls!

 

[trapland]

One more quick shot. She's naked! Without the plastic, it looks like the edge color is a little more honey on e bass side and a little more tea in the treble.

I love the flame under the pickguard and poker chip, but I put it all back. I just think bursts look right with the plastic. As far as playing with or without, I have no preference. I like them how they left the factory.