Music Machine "Real Feel" R9 revisited

[eliot323]

Hi there
I'm curious about the necks on these lovely looking R0s. I've looked at all the threads and can't quite work out whether they're bigger, smaller or just a different shape from the usual R9s, especially the "soft V" description.

Can any of the happy owners of these models comment? Thanks.

eliot323

 

[C-4]

I don't own one but was seriously looking at them and asking questions of Rick Van Heel concerning them. They start out with a neck similar to the model year they represent. Then the necks are "V"'d in the back, similar to what you feel on the "V" neck of a Fender (just the feel, not the physical size). They claim that certain original bursts had this feel to them.
The necks are graded by MM as V1, V2, or V3, V-3 being the most radical "V" in the neck.
I wound up getting from MM, a superb Cloud Nine R9, and not the Real Feel, but I was told they are a wonderful feeling guitar IF you like the V neck feel.
Stephen

 

[Goodgrain]

I have one... The "v" neck situation, from what I have gathered, is based on a particular neck shape that was present on a lot of 50's les pauls... From what I have heard from the experts though, on very few 'bursts'. I have a '56 LP that is a v neck and I like it myself personally. I also own an old martin acoustic that has a v neck... And a '57 strat that has a similar shape. It is perfect for me because I like variety. I have thin necks, thick, whatever as long as it sounds good to me. On the 50's gibson's I have felt it on, it is very subtle as opposed to an actual v shape. Mine mellows out around the 8th fret anyway, which I like.

I would buy one because it is a good sounding guitar, not because of the neck shape. If it just happens to have a cool feeling neck to your hands... Great.

Humans adapt a lot more than they give themselves credit for.

Rick will ask you about the sound you are looking for mostly... Go with that on one of these. There is a heavier one (over 9lbs. HA!) that I would buy if I had more dough right now... Ask him about the heaviest one... It sounds good from what he told me.

 

[JP'59]

I have had my R9 "Real Feel" for about a month now and it's the only Historic I have ever really loved. I bought this guitar because of the neck shape flat out. I really don't like the way regular production R9 necks feel. I have owned a 99, 02 Rossington, 03 Murphy R9 & R8. I have sold every one . This is a keeper. the neck shape fits my hand perfectly and I can't put the thing down! through my Marshall 18watt amp and fulltone echo I am in tone heaven :biglaugh:

 

[eliot323]

Hi there
Thanks very much for your responses. The comparison with the 57 Fender Strat is a useful one, as I can check that out a lot more easily (living in the UK...). I do unfortunately have smallish hands and stubby fingers (I feel like Lisa Simpson sometimes) and have had problems with tendinitis using certain neck styles.

One other question about the Real Feels: the photos on the MM website look quite orangey. Is this merely an artefact of digital photos + internet or are they finished in a particular shade? I have an Iced Tea R0 and I would be looking for more of a washed cherry 'burst in an R9.

eliot323

 

[C-4]

When I recently bought my R9 from MM, I asked Rick about the actual color and for mine, it was the same as on the site, but I have a Tea Burst R9.
The coloring appears to be close to the picture on the site, but your particular computer screen colors may alter the actual coloring slightly, depending on the color of the guitar. Some of the bursts are just closer looking to the actual guitar's coloring then others due to the lighting inwhich the guitar was photographed.

 

[Albert F]

I don't own one but was seriously looking at them and asking questions of Rick Van Heel concerning them. They start out with a neck similar to the model year they represent. Then the necks are "V"'d in the back, similar to what you feel on the "V" neck of a Fender (just the feel, not the physical size). They claim that certain original bursts had this feel to them.
The necks are graded by MM as V1, V2, or V3, V-3 being the most radical "V" in the neck.
I wound up getting from MM, a superb Cloud Nine R9, and not the Real Feel, but I was told they are a wonderful feeling guitar IF you like the V neck feel.
Stephen

Hi Stephen,

Any chance you could post some pics of your Cloud 9??? Just for drooling purposes! What does it weigh in at?

Albert

 

[stonertone]

I have a Jackson Scott Ian model with a V neck and its really comfortable. Not sure if the cut is the same on the Gibson but when I first picked it up it felt totally different because the angle of the neck is so much sharper as opposed to rounder so theres less wood for your fingers to have to wrap around but the depth is about the same. I got used to it pretty quickly.