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Re 'V' meaning

New Teaboy

New member
Joined
Sep 25, 2021
Messages
19
I'm new to this so would appreciate an authorative opinion. I've just bought a R9 and asked whether it was V1;2;3 or 4. But I thought this letter referred only to 1960 re issues. Help anyone?
 
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Gino753

Guest
The “V” refers to the 2020 R0 1960 Burst reissue. The V1 i believe is basically an early 1960 burst, so 1960 attributes, like the mirror reflector volume and tone knobs, but more of a 1959 profile neck, then v2 and so on gets a little thinner.

I thought that the V1 might of even had some more asthetic 1959 attributes like maby Amber top hat knobs instead of the reflector knobs, but still double ring Klusons, but i am not sure.I think its mainly the neck profiles though
 

Tim Plains

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
823
V = version and it only refers to R0s.

V1 is the R9 neck.
V2 is the typical R0 neck.
V3 is slimmer.
Never heard of a V4.
 
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Gino753

Guest
V = version and it only refers to R0s.

V1 is the R9 neck.
V2 is the typical R0 neck.
V3 is slimmer.
Never heard of a V4.
Wow, thanks for replying, thats interesting, so the V3 , R0 gives you an even thinner neck than a typical R0? So would this resemble an player modded example? Or is this something that Gibson did in the production of the 1960 Les paul?

My 2018 R0 neck is only a touch smaller than my 2019 R9.My 2016 Custom Shop Historic SG is the same size as my R0, as well, barely noticeable
 

guitarbob123

Active member
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
217
Wow, thanks for replying, thats interesting, so the V3 , R0 gives you an even thinner neck than a typical R0? So would this resemble an player modded example? Or is this something that Gibson did in the production of the 1960 Les paul?

My 2018 R0 neck is only a touch smaller than my 2019 R9.My 2016 Custom Shop Historic SG is the same size as my R0, as well, barely noticeable

1960 Les Paul Standard changed spec throughout the year (without being named as different variants, they were all still just the 'Les Paul Standard').

They started with the same spec as the 1959 Standard, many of them probably receiving 1960 serial numbers but having had the body manufactured in late 1959.
As the year went on, neck profiles changed, gradually getting slimmer and the finishes started to change towards the 'tomato soup' burst that most associate with the final 1960 spec.
You also see the gold reflector knobs start to enter use and the double ring Kluson tuners.

The V1 reflects the 59 spec guitars from early in the year, the V2 represents the transition models with slightly slimmer necks and then the V3 reproduces the late 1960 spec Standards with the much thinner neck and all the hardware and finish changes.
There is no V4.

Now whether Gibson Custom Shop can be consistent in their current manufacturing is another question, so I'd imagine you'll find some V1s with slimmer necks than some of the V2s.

The above applies to the 1960 Re-Issue/R0, as far as I'm aware there is no V1, 2 or 3 variants of the R9, R8 etc.
 
G

Gino753

Guest
I remember Joe Bonamassa mentioning,that the 1960 Burst also has a Shorter Tenon? Thats interesting,
 

CAPT CRUNCH

Active member
Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
1,391
V1 is identical to a 59 with 1960 ser#
V2 has a slightly thinner neck profile and incorporates reflector knobs but retains the same finish/color as a 59
V3 goes to the slim taper neck profile but also includes the change to the much redder tomato finish that they did back in the day to keep the finish from fading
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
7,763
Tomato Burst started in V2. The official R0 60th Anniversary finishes:

V1
-- Deep Cherry Sunburst
-- Antiquity Burst

V2
-- Tomato Soup Burst
-- Orange Lemon Fade

V3
-- Wide Tomato Burst [more red from perimiter inward, i.e. inner yellow teardrop effectively shrank]
-- Washed Bourbon Burst


Here's my V2 Tomato Soup Burst

1748351347621.png

 

CAPT CRUNCH

Active member
Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
1,391
Tomato Burst started in V2. The official R0 60th Anniversary finishes:

V1
-- Deep Cherry Sunburst
-- Antiquity Burst

V2
-- Tomato Soup Burst
-- Orange Lemon Fade

V3
-- Wide Tomato Burst [more red from perimiter inward, i.e. inner yellow teardrop effectively shrank]
-- Washed Bourbon Burst

nice............I guess there are no rules with Gibson.......
 
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