Devil's advocate question: 54 Oxblood,wraptail R7, Tonequest R4 with humbuckers....

[Jim Sloves]

I'm puzzled.

Most if not all LPF threads about Les Pauls outfitted with humbuckers and wraptail bridges highly praise these guitars. Some have commented about the unwieldly neck size of Oxbloods but nearly all have applauded the tone of these types of LPs, "the best LP I ever played....it blew the R8 and R9s out of the water...", etc.

If they are so fantastic, then how come I have never seen any famous LP players with them? The only one I can think of is Jeff Beck. And he could make anything sound great. Nearly every LP player I can think of used a TOM or less commonly a Bigsby. Surely they must have the opportunity to grab a wraptail. Can some make heads or tails of this?

Off the top of my head: Kossoff, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Doug Aldrich, Joe Perry, Mike Landau (rarely), old Santana, Page, Neil Young, Zakk Wylde Randy Rhoads, Betts, Allman, Rossington, Zappa, Slash, Robben Ford, etc.

:hmm

.

 

[huw]

Short answer: "back in the day", the HBs + wraptail was never (correct me if I'm wrong, someone) a real model in the Gibson line. People just played the guitars that Gibson did sell, which meant HBs + TOM (I know about P90s, just skipping around that diversion).

If Gibson had made the wrap/HB guitar I'm sure lots of folks would have used it.

The Oxblood reissue is relatively unknown, exept for amongst people like us, on the LPF, and that's a reproduction based on a single, customised instrument that Seymour Duncan made for Beck.

Personally, if I were CEO of Gibson, wraptails & P90s would be standard no cost options on all new Les Pauls. Then everyone could play whatever combination worked best for them.

 

[Jim Sloves]

I did not know that. Thanks!

:salude

 

[SealNYC]

Seymour Duncan did not make Jeff's oxblood.
It was done by Strings and Things in Nashville TN. It started as a 54 goldtop p90 les paul that was routed for buckers and painted oxblood at the request of the original owner.
I can't find the link right now and have to get going, but if you do a search on this forum or google search you should find the real story.

I own an R4 oxblood and it's my main guitar. I've seen Joe Perry and Michael Ward use them.

 

[John B.]

I had an Oxblood. I wanted so much to like it, because I used to have a killer Melody Maker wraptail - back in the day. I didn't like it. What can I say? I traded it for a LP Custom, which I love.

 

[P.Walker]

Seymour Duncan made the tele-gib for beck, not the oxblood

 

[Jim Sloves]

Seymour Duncan made the tele-gib for beck, not the oxblood

And that's where the JB pup was born. Tangential, I know.

.

 

[P.Walker]

actuallly, i think i've seen perry with an oxblood.
let me dig up a pic

 

[P.Walker]

 

[TBird]

Don Felder plays a sunburst '54 wrap with HB's since mid 70's. I asked him about it last fall when I met him and he says he still has it and is one of his fav's.

 

[P.Walker]

then again, perry must have about a billion guitars...

 

[Jim Sloves]

Killer photo of Perry and Tyler!!!

Thanks, P. Walker.

.

 

[P.Walker]

Don Felder plays a sunburst '54 wrap with HB's since mid 70's. I asked him about it last fall when I met him and he says he still has it and is one of his fav's.

that conversion looked very nice...

 

[65fastbk]

I like my 04 oxblood so much i couldnt pass up this 06 R7,the neck size is alittle smaller than my ox and its about 2 pounds lighter.
Its been said many times here but these guitars really do sound awsome,i also have a 69 custom and a 68 standard & few other T.O.M les pauls.
This gold top iam sure will be my new #1 and the ox my #2

 

[Jim Sloves]

Are the Oxblood necks, in general, larger than the GT R4 necks, which I love?

.

 

[65fastbk]

Are the Oxblood necks, in general, larger than the GT R4 necks, which I love?

.

I cant say for sure... however the oxblood necks are as big as any R8 ive ever played!

 

[65fastbk]

I had an Oxblood. I wanted so much to like it, because I used to have a killer Melody Maker wraptail - back in the day. I didn't like it. What can I say? I traded it for a LP Custom, which I love.

Just wondering...what didnt you like about it????

 

[John B.]

Just wondering...what didnt you like about it????

It's hard to describe but it just sounded too new and metallic. I'm not saying they would all be this way, but it just didn't have the warmth I was looking for.

 

[Indiana Erick]

My Tonequest (scored from a forum member) has an acoustic tone that beat out a real '54 and a '59 burst in side by side tests. It's a very cool guitar.

 

[huw]

Seymour Duncan did not make Jeff's oxblood.
It was done by Strings and Things in Nashville TN.

My mistake - thanks for the correction.

The Tony Bacon book says that Seymour "aquired" the guitar for Beck. I must have remembered his connection to the guitar & assumed he'd done the work too.