• From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Topic: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Ok everyone....I'd like to get some people's opinions here on this subject.

First let me preference here that I have the JB pick-ups on order and they will be going into one guitar...the question is which one....hmmmm???

Right now i have a Goldtop Traditional with BB1 and BB2 and a 58RI with 57 classic/classic plus in it.

My first thought was to put the JB pups in the '58.

But my problem starts here...all below are contingent on selling both axes. 

I seem to be drawn to the flames of the BonaBurst or a '59RI.  So I started to think maybe I sell my 2 axes and grab a '59RI.  Then drop in the JB pups.

Then my next thought was to get a JBLP and drop the JB pups in that...or finally

Grab a BonaBurst and put the JB pups in one of those beauties.

Seeing how I don't have any of the three possible future purchases, I was hoping you guys can give me some insight on all three.  If you happen to own or have own all three at some point, which one were you drawn to the most?  which one became your #1?

Am I crazy for thinking to put the JB pups into a JBLP or a BonaBurst?...Joe, what do you think on this?

If any of you had a choice as I laid out above, what would you consider doing?

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Are you asking to sell you 58vos and your trad. goldtop to get a bonaburst or 59RI?
To me that's more of a question would you rather have two les pauls or one?

pickups are a big deal, but not that much. you might wanna try them in each if you don't mind some soldering. but G.A.S. kills.

sometimes I think of selling quantity and buying more quality.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Pickups are only one factor in the sound.....you can change them out & still not be happy with the results....

Try them out and then decide...I still like the Classic ones they used to make & the Tim Shaws from the 80's.

(on the other hand if you have the cash & money is no object ...then go for it)

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Let me clarify this...this is not a thread on PUPS...its about each of the three different LP's.  Yes I am thinking about selling two to get one of the three in the header.  I am hoping that someone who has played these can weight in on them...

the PUPs talk is just info speaking as I am looking at putting in JB pups in something.

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1

5 Reply by helrazr84 (edited by helrazr84 2012-03-05 16:57:23)

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

My advice would be to first of all, keep the guitars you have now, and leave them be. Secondly, I'd look into maybe another used LP on the cheap and putting them into it. Or if I had to decide which guitar of the 2 you currently have to put them in, I'd put them in the RI since its technically the higher end of the 2 by default. Or if you prefer it the way it is, then go with the traditional. Either way, me personally, I wouldn't sell EITHER.

If you had a mess of guitars, then I'd be more apt to pair down and with the proceeds, spend some money on a really nice LP if thats what you wanted.

Thats my advice, but do what YOU feel is right. -S

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Keep both guitars and put them in the 58' reissue.  Or Sale the Traditional for a down payment on a Bonaburst.  Keep the 58' though I just love Plain tops!

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Thanks guys for the feed back....I will definitely take your opinions very seriously...I think I maybe do just what you suggest and be patient and try the JB pups in the '58RI then go from there....but this GAS is killing me...LOL

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1

8 Reply by LesPaul4 (edited by LesPaul4 2012-03-06 10:04:24)

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Love to hear what Joe has to say on this....

Joe, what guitar would you suggest we put your JB pups into?

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Go for the '59 LP. Hands down but thats just me. Not even a question. I like artist sig stuff like pedals, etc. (I have a JBFF) but thats a lot of cake for a sig guitar (JBLP or Bonaburst). I would love to own one but for that much cash I would take the holy grail RI in a hearbeat.

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Wow...looks like Wildwood Guitars just made my decision a whole lot easier.  They raised the prices of the flamed BonaBurst another $300 and the lefties by another $400.....

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

LesPaul4 wrote:

Wow...looks like Wildwood Guitars just made my decision a whole lot easier.  They raised the prices of the flamed BonaBurst another $300 and the lefties by another $400.....

You sure?  I see $4,599 for the flametops - pretty sure that's been the price for them ever since they were released.  I know that's what I paid.

kestrou

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

I thought it was $4299 when they first came out and the lefties were $4599.  I might be wrong but I didn't think it was $700 difference from the flamed ones from the plain top ones.

If it was that then I am mistaken...

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

I thought the first run was cheaper then that.  Then they came out with these flame top deals and the price think went from around $3900 to $4200 to what ever the heck they are now.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

LesPaul4 wrote:

Wow...looks like Wildwood Guitars just made my decision a whole lot easier.  They raised the prices of the flamed BonaBurst another $300 and the lefties by another $400.....

What a dick move. This is why I always try and stick with used, especially when it comes to guitars.

  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

AD3THREE wrote:

I thought the first run was cheaper then that.  Then they came out with these flame top deals and the price think went from around $3900 to $4200 to what ever the heck they are now.

The non-flame are still cheaper than the flame.  There's one non-flame on the Wildwood site now (#123) for $3,899.  There's a left-hand non-flame (#126) for $4,299.  Right-hand flametops are $4,599 and left-hand flame tops are $4,999.

I'm not sure they've ever had lefties before, have they?  At any rate, yup it's a $400 premium - which I can believe as they'd have to rework the body manufacturing process.

kestrou

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Yes but the very first Bonabursts (first 25) were a mix of flame and non flame.  They were all the same price.  BTW Left handed guitarist always pay more.  I'm left handed but when I learned how to play I decided I could get cheaper gear if I was Right handed.  Like a CNC router costs any more to do a left handed route vs right handed route am I right?

kestrou wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

I thought the first run was cheaper then that.  Then they came out with these flame top deals and the price think went from around $3900 to $4200 to what ever the heck they are now.

The non-flame are still cheaper than the flame.  There's one non-flame on the Wildwood site now (#123) for $3,899.  There's a left-hand non-flame (#126) for $4,299.  Right-hand flametops are $4,599 and left-hand flame tops are $4,999.

I'm not sure they've ever had lefties before, have they?  At any rate, yup it's a $400 premium - which I can believe as they'd have to rework the body manufacturing process.

kestrou

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

Listen everyone...I probably made a mistake...no need to jump all over this...memory isn't like it used to be...

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • Registered: 2012-03-10
  • Posts: 265

Re: JBLP vs BonaBurst vs '59 reissue

AD3THREE wrote:

Yes but the very first Bonabursts (first 25) were a mix of flame and non flame.  They were all the same price.  BTW Left handed guitarist always pay more.  I'm left handed but when I learned how to play I decided I could get cheaper gear if I was Right handed.  Like a CNC router costs any more to do a left handed route vs right handed route am I right?

kestrou wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

I thought the first run was cheaper then that.  Then they came out with these flame top deals and the price think went from around $3900 to $4200 to what ever the heck they are now.

The non-flame are still cheaper than the flame.  There's one non-flame on the Wildwood site now (#123) for $3,899.  There's a left-hand non-flame (#126) for $4,299.  Right-hand flametops are $4,599 and left-hand flame tops are $4,999.

I'm not sure they've ever had lefties before, have they?  At any rate, yup it's a $400 premium - which I can believe as they'd have to rework the body manufacturing process.

kestrou

Taking a shot in the dark here....I'm on the hunt for a J.B. goldtop. Preferably aged....HELP!!!