Year-by-Year History of the Historic Les Paul Collection

[Steve Craw]

In 2002 the left handed Historics got the side dots added to the underside of the neck. So, are now like original 50s' left handed examples.

 

[moonpie]

The "Historic Collection" preceeded the Historic Division.
Les Paul Reissues were added to the Historic Collection in 92:salude

 

[SmallBlock]

You mentioned the flametop R8s in 1998. If memory serves, there were no R8s in 1999 and maybe also in 2000. In 2001 they reintroduced flametop R8s (sold a ton of them that year). I can't remember when they became plaintops after that. :hank

Gentlemen,

a minor correction...

1996
- "Flametop" R8 introduced in Buttersctch and Vintage Red finishes

Source 1: Link
Source 2: Bacon's Book pgs 143 & 154

 

[alexanderja]

1999
* Gibson Stops flame enhancing

 

[mikeslub]

The "Historic Collection" preceeded the Historic Division.
Les Paul Reissues were added to the Historic Collection in 92:salude

Yessir! You're right! Thanks for reminding me! Here is my "Historic Collection" certificate for my early '93 Les Paul Reissue (pre-Historic):

 

[alexanderja]

1998
Gibson builds Rob's 'Boatanchor' #9 8060 :salude

2003
Gibson builds my Braz. 'Killer187' #9 3187

.....These are major moments in 'Historic' History:rofl

 

[kink56]

Many things became "official" during a certain year, actually had their beginings in the previous year.

 

[alexanderja]

2001
38 Official Brazilian R9's

2002
8 Official Brazilian R9's

2003
674 Official Brazilian R9's

Tuberide has the figures for R7's R8's and R0's in a later post.

 

[generankin]

Les Paul Historic Collection Chronical
>[snip]

2000
* No R8 this year
* Vintage lifton style brown case for R9/R0. (made in Guatemara)
* Lemon Burst, Tri Burst.

* Very bright red sunburst.
* Faded Tabacco, Iced Tea, Washed Cherry.
* Lifton case is standard for R9/R0
>[snip]

I've got me a Y2K R9, and it came without the Lifton case, and is a plaintop darkburst. Serial number below, shows it was made (IIRC) in April of that year. 2 pics in Lilypix: http://images.lilypix.com/index.php?cat=10346

 

[Todd Louis]

Les Paul Historic Collection Chronical

1993
* Historic Collection introduced. Models include; '54 Black Beauty, '56 Goldtop, '57 Custom Black Beauty/3 Pickup, '57 Goldtop, '57 Custom Black Beauty/2 Pickup, '57 Custom Black Beauty with optional Bigsby Tailpiece, '59 Flametop, '60 Flametop
* First 25 Sunburst and first 15 Goldtops were painted by Tom Murphy.
* Deep neck joint.
* Holly wood head veneer.
* Silk screened les paul logo.
* Correct pickup routing.
* Les Paul classic aged inlay.
* 57 Classic pickups.
* Kluson replica tuners.
* Vintage letter styled serial#.
*"Historic collection" decal on the headstock.
* Indian rosewood fingerboard.
*"AAAA" grade soft maple top.
* Regular gibson usa brown case.
* Regular early 90s style cherry sunburst.
* Cherry sunburst and heritage darkburst"


1994
* Historic parts; only pickguard, pickup rings, trussrod cover.
* Regular gibson usa white pearloid inlay.
* "AAAA" grade soft maple top.
* Darker transparent orangy cherry sunburst. (1994-1996)
* First year for the R8



1995

1996
* "Flametop" R8 introduced in Buttersctch and Vintage Red finishes

1997
* ID micro chip in the neck joint.
* Brass bridge saddles instead of steel bridge saddles.
* "AAAAA" grade soft maple top.
* Brighter transparent orangy cherry sunburst. (1997-199
* Pickguard blueprinted and caused a gap, revealing improper placement of the bridge pickup
* Brighter back cherry color.
* R4 1997 up
* Junior 57 1997 up
* Junior 58 1997 up
* Special 58 1997-2000?
* Special 60 1997-up (when they discontinued the Special 58, they incoporated the SC into the Special 60)

1998
* R2 1998-2003

1999
* 40th Anniversary '59 RI - Painted and aged by Murphy (100 made?)
* No R8 this year
* COA began.
* Thin body binding.
* Thin lacquer finish.
* "AAA" hard maple top.
* new vintage taste cherry and darkburst.
* Vintage style back red filler color.
* Refined parts positions and neck shape.
* Bridge pickup moved to its proper place
* Tortoise side markers
* R9 Plaintop 1999-2000



2000
* No R8 this year
* Vintage lifton style brown case for R9/R0. (made in Guatemara)
* Lemon Burst, Tri Burst.

2001
* R9 production limited to 500 units US, 1000 worldwide due to "parts constraints"
* Custom Authentic models introduced (broken-in finish, aged hardware, Grovers)
* Dickie Betts '57 Goldtop introduced (limited edition of 114)
* R8 returns with a flametop
* Thin neck binding.
* New round edged pearloid inlay. (2001-2002 only)
* Vintage style mid jumbo size frets.
* New thick jack plate. (2001-2002 only)
* Aluminum tailpiece.
* Very bright red sunburst.
* Faded Tabacco, Iced Tea, Washed Cherry.
* Lifton case is standard for R9/R0

2002
* Genuine Kluson tuners for the early units.
* Improved tuner bushings
* More accurately shaped fingerboard inlays
* Non-wire ABR-1 bridge for the early units.
* Amber tophat knobs
* CTS pots
* Owners Card (listing name, serial number and the dealership), Certificate of Authenticity, Reissue Strap, an Embroidered Les Paul Swatch and a Custom Care Kit.
* Burstbucker type 2 & 3.
* Inlay material changed to swirly plastic, corners sharpened. (only R9/R0, later for all models)
* Vintage style thin jack plate. (only R9/0, later for all models)
* Vintage style thin toggle switch washer. (only R9/0, later for all models)
* Vintage color toggle switch knob. (only R9/0, later for all models)
* Vintage style CTS pots and oil caps. not bumblebee. (only R9/0, later all models)
* Dark deep cherry sunburst.
* R7 gets Bursrtbuckers
* Left handed Historics get side dots added to the underside of the neck.

2003
* Brazilian boards installed from January through May
* Price drop on R8s and R9s
* Truss rod cover moved away from nut
* Headstock shape changed
* Tuners arranged to be inline
* Vintage style CTS pots
* Bumblebee Caps
* Return to wired ABR
* Madagascar rosewood fingerboard.
* Eastern hard maple.
* "AA" grade eastern hard maple top.
* R9 flametop becomes less flashy due to increased use of Eastern Maple
* R8 returns with a plain top
* Burstbucker type 1 & 2.
* Gold knobs instead of previous vintage amber knobs.
* Corrected tuner positions. "V" intead of "l l" way.
* Transparent orange to regular red cherry sunburst.
* " i "dot on gibson logo moved to the correct position.
* Refined parts positions and neck shape.
* Inlays changed to swirly plastic, sharp corners on remaining models


2004
* Cloud 9 chambered models introduced in limited quantities
* Jimmy Page signature model introduced; 25 Murphy aged guitars signed by JP, 150 Murphy aged unsigned models, Custom Authentic non-Murphy aged production begins
* New custom shop black case.
* "AAA" eastern hard maple top.
* Silk screened logo moved to the correct location.
* Short Truss Rod Screws the right size


2005
* TR screws return to the wrong size

2006
* VOS finish with aged hardware introduced
* CS begins using Plek machine used for dressing frets and cutting nut slots
* Real vintage looking maple top grains/figures.

2007
* Brighter back red filler color.
* Real honduran mahogany.............
* 50th Anniversary Goldtop (Ewwww) 157 to be built

2008

Dano you have a few things wrong here

 

[lpflametop]

2001 limited run of Brazilian board R9's given to award dealers.
About 50 guitars in the 9 1203 to 9 1250 range all but 6 of them aged by Tom Murphy

2004 limited amout of R9's with exposed double cream Dimarzio's

 

[DANELECTRO]

Dano you have a few things wrong here

I'm just compiling information that has either been posted by forum members or found within articles on the Gibson website. You''ll have to be more specific about any errors and provide corrections.

 

[Mikester]

Y2K:

Black Custom Art Historic case. (TKL)
No COA.
No tortoise side markers.
Rounded fretboard inlays.
Heavyweight tailpiece.
'57 Classic PUP's.
Thick jack plate.
Thick switch plate/washer.
Fine-knurl switch nut.
Amber knobs.
Gibson label potentiometers.
Orange drop capacitors.

 

[fjminor]

I hope this post grows to become a Historic Sticky...great thread

my requested update

2007
* Jimmy Page Signature Custom Authentic Model build ends with 870 total JPP CA's built

 

[kink56]

Are you SURE your Y2K does NOT have tortoise? Both my 99s did! Sometimes you have to shine a VERY bright light to see any red or brown!! Many LOOK black with normal light!

 

[mikeslub]

Great list of the annual feature evolution for the Hysteric collection! :dude:

But does anyone remember the year they added 'mojo' to the list of features? :laugh2:

 

[kink56]

Mojo was there in SPADES in 93-96 IMHO!!

 

[tuberide]

There were 674 R9's, 256 R8's, 707 R7's, 148 R6's, 150 R4's and 163 R0's with Brazilian fretboards in 2003.

 

[fjminor]

But does anyone remember the year they added 'mojo' to the list of features? :laugh2:

But does anyone remember LAUGHTER

....sorry couldn't help myself on that one Mike.....:bug

 

[the399]

This is a great thread!! when everything gets sorted this should become a sticky IMO.