What's your craziest or plain dumbest Historic story ?

[c_wester]

Had a 2013 R7.
That thing almost had a built-in booster. Just roared forced the amp into som vild tones. High and angry tones.
But it had dead spots from 12 and up.

Which annoyed me to no end.
Still, that thing was most certainly in Burst tone area if not better.
I should have learnt to love it . Had a repaired headstock also.

Even had a shitty seyomur duncan pickup in the bridge.
On my other R8 i tried just that pickup.... sounded horrendous.

But this thing just screamed.

Eff me.....

 

[ADP]

just curiosity ,,,,,, what is the name of the attacked guitar ?

Not everybody names their guitar.

 

[brandall10]

Not everybody names their guitar.

Alas I haven't named my guitars... mostly because I had a stable of 15-20 for the longest time. I might start doing it now I'm down to a handful.

 

[jimijam33]

My some what crazy story starts with a 1995 R9 that I paid $7,000 (purchased used in July 1995 from east coast guitar shop). It had a phenomenal flamey top and huge '58 profile neck nick-named "The New Kid". Long story short I traded it to Joe Ganzler in 2000 for another 1996 R9 (flamey), cash, and 2 original double white PAF's. A good cash/trade but I do miss 9-5068...

 

[brandall10]

My some what crazy story starts with a 1995 R9 that I paid $7,000 (purchased used in July 1995 from east coast guitar shop). It had a phenomenal flamey top and huge '58 profile neck nick-named "The New Kid". Long story short I traded it to Joe Ganzler in 2000 for another 1996 R9 (flamey), cash, and 2 original double white PAF's. A good cash/trade but I do miss 9-5068...

Any chance you have photos of it? I first fell in love w/ Les Pauls due to seeing some of the more wild 'killer' mid-90s Murphy tops at guitar shows in the LA area. Pretty sure I recall seeing an actual burst for something like $30k circa '91 or so at one of those shows.

Today I feel they're a bit gaudy w/ the flame enhancer and all that but still hold a fond place in my heart.

 

[Dr. Green]

My some what crazy story starts with a 1995 R9 that I paid $7,000 (purchased used in July 1995 from east coast guitar shop). It had a phenomenal flamey top and huge '58 profile neck nick-named "The New Kid". Long story short I traded it to Joe Ganzler in 2000 for another 1996 R9 (flamey), cash, and 2 original double white PAF's. A good cash/trade but I do miss 9-5068...

I am curious as this is before the point I jumped in around 2002
seven big ones seems like ALOT of dough for a historic back in 95
( example - I bought a house in southern California for 100 grand back then )

was that what a crazy Begal Tiger top went for back then ?
if you would be willing to take a moment to extrapolate I am quite interested .

 

[Dr. Green]

time for musical interlude from the "Velvet Frog" -

presented by the mean Dr Green :

Let our hearts take wings'
'Round Midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing,
For your returning.....
Till our love is safe and sound.
And old midnight comes around.

 

[jimijam33]

Any chance you have photos of it? I first fell in love w/ Les Pauls due to seeing some of the more wild 'killer' mid-90s Murphy tops at guitar shows in the LA area. Pretty sure I recall seeing an actual burst for something like $30k circa '91 or so at one of those shows.

Today I feel they're a bit gaudy w/ the flame enhancer and all that but still hold a fond place in my heart.

Here are a couple of photos. The dealer was asking $7,500 and a Japanese collector had placed a hold on it. I talked the dealer into selling it to me as the Japanese collector had a history holding out. That was in July, 1995 and Joe contacted me in August 1995 and made an offer (that I passed on).

 

[brandall10]

I am curious as this is before the point I jumped in around 2002
seven big ones seems like ALOT of dough for a historic back in 95
( example - I bought a house in southern California for 100 grand back then )

was that what a crazy Begal Tiger top went for back then ?
if you would be willing to take a moment to extrapolate I am quite interested .

The Historics of that era were relatively rare so the market dynamics were quite different. Special guitars like this likely went to dealers who had their own clientele that they would alert (like an art dealer), not shops you could just walk in off the street. I only saw these guitars at vintage shows around the LA area - you might see a booth or three with one on display and people would ooh and ahh over them.

IIRC '99 was the demarcation point where Gibson mainstreamed the concept and upped production considerably making them widely available for reasonable cost.

 

[jimijam33]

The Historics of that era were relatively rare so the market dynamics were quite different. Special guitars like this likely went to dealers who had their own clientele that they would alert (like an art dealer), not shops you could just walk in off the street. I only saw these guitars at vintage shows around the LA area - you might see a booth or three with one on display and people would ooh and ahh over them.

IIRC '99 was the demarcation point where Gibson mainstreamed the concept and upped production considerably making them widely available for reasonable cost.

I would disagree with this. I've owned five 90's Historic LP's (1994, 1995, 2 1996's, 1997). I still own the 1996 that I got from Joe on trade. One thing I can say about the 90's historic's is that they all (for the most part) don't sound that great. Fairly dull sounding guitars w/not much top end. I played one cherry 1996 historic LP (one of two made that year) that sounded great. Disagree with me all you want but the fact is they don't sound good. Gibson used yellow glue on all joinery and the truss rods came with the elastic cover (sound deadening material).......

 

[brandall10]

I would disagree with this. I've owned five 90's Historic LP's (1994, 1995, 2 1996's, 1997). I still own the 1996 that I got from Joe on trade. One thing I can say about the 90's historic's is that they all (for the most part) don't sound that great. Fairly dull sounding guitars w/not much top end. I played one cherry 1996 historic LP (one of two made that year) that sounded great. Disagree with me all you want but the fact is they don't sound good. Gibson used yellow glue on all joinery and the truss rods came with the elastic cover (sound deadening material).......

I have no idea how great they sounded or played, just commenting on the relative rarity and perception. They were at the time the best reissues Gibson had done (ie. long tenon) and they went all-in on having incredible tops and coloring. AFA glue/condom, I think for those that covet these that perception is countered by it being the 'good wood' period but have no idea if that is true at all.

While I think being more historically accurate will on the whole trend to producing a better guitar my opinion is to always defer to evaluating each guitar on its own merits. A 2005 R7 that I recently sent off to Historic Makeovers - with titebond, condom and all - is a dramatically better sounding guitar than a 60th Anniversary R9 I had in my possession earlier this year.

 

[Dr. Green]

I remember that near my house was a Guitar center. I did not play at all at the time . They got in what are known as Heritage 80s .... it must have been around the same time as what you guys are talking about - are those any good ?

 

[rialcnis]

Ouch!

 

[El Gringo]

Here are a couple of photos. The dealer was asking $7,500 and a Japanese collector had placed a hold on it. I talked the dealer into selling it to me as the Japanese collector had a history holding out. That was in July, 1995 and Joe contacted me in August 1995 and made an offer (that I passed on).



View attachment 18667
View attachment 18668

That's what it's all about for me right there -perfection !

 

[corpse]

I remember that near my house was a Guitar center. I did not play at all at the time . They got in what are known as Heritage 80s .... it must have been around the same time as what you guys are talking about - are those any good ?

Heritage were in the early 80's- sadly you are older than you think.

 

[brandall10]

I remember that near my house was a Guitar center. I did not play at all at the time . They got in what are known as Heritage 80s .... it must have been around the same time as what you guys are talking about - are those any good ?

The history of Gibson's reissues is messy. Everything prior to the Historics in '93 were short tenon, so most feel the Historics were the first 'true' reissues, but they were doing some shade or type of reissue since the mid 70s, mostly as custom runs for specific guitar shops or things like the Heritage series that they didn't explicitly call a reissue but implied were in some way.

Trogly gives a nice rundown in this evaluation of what appears to be first 'official' reissue.

 

[Dr. Green]

Heritage were in the early 80's- sadly you are older than you think.

fortunately that is compensated by being older then I look

 

[Dr. Green]

The history of Gibson's reissues is messy. Everything prior to the Historics in '93 were short tenon, so most feel the Historics were the first 'true' reissues, but they were doing some shade or type of reissue since the mid 70s, mostly as custom runs for specific guitar shops or things like the Heritage series that they didn't explicitly call a reissue but implied were in some way.

Trogly gives a nice rundown in this evaluation of what appears to be first 'official' reissue.

amazing - you have literally posted the " History of Historics " -
it just dont get no better than that

 

[jimijam33]

I have no idea how great they sounded or played, just commenting on the relative rarity and perception. They were at the time the best reissues Gibson had done (ie. long tenon) and they went all-in on having incredible tops and coloring. AFA glue/condom, I think for those that covet these that perception is countered by it being the 'good wood' period but have no idea if that is true at all.

While I think being more historically accurate will on the whole trend to producing a better guitar my opinion is to always defer to evaluating each guitar on its own merits. A 2005 R7 that I recently sent off to Historic Makeovers - with titebond, condom and all - is a dramatically better sounding guitar than a 60th Anniversary R9 I had in my possession earlier this year.

How did your 2005 R7 sound before the Historic Makeover? And what did you notice about the sound after Historic Makeover? Curious to know because I was considering going through the Historic Makeover process. If it is just barely noticeable then it is not worth the high price tag. If it was a huge night & day difference in brightness and volume then I may consider it..

Gibson's good wood period was in the 50's - not the 90's (great flamey tops though - 1995-1996 were the best years for Les Paul flame tops IMHO)...

 

[Flogger]

I remember that near my house was a Guitar center. I did not play at all at the time . They got in what are known as Heritage 80s .... it must have been around the same time as what you guys are talking about - are those any good ?

I have one since new. At the time they were a revelation: mahogany neck, flamed bookmatched top, reasonable PAF facsimile , thin cutaway binding. I remember the first time I clapped eyes on it, I was breathless. I recently had a refret, and the luthier to the stars remembered it on the wall more than 40 years on.

It's the best LP I've owned ( including a 58 TV Special ) but not the best I've played. That honor goes to a magical, beat up 57 Goldtop with a chrome Plymouth Sattelite badge glued to the top.

It came into its own when I changed the pots and caps, 300k was not cutting it. That's the guitar that I'll usually show up last with, if I'm in a recurring situation because once they hear it, they don't want to hear anything else.

Compared to a modern reissue it's 57 kinds of wrong but I love mine.