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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → I need reasons NOT to buy a...
... R9. I tried one out earlier today, and instantly fell in love with the fat neck, and the crispy überdelightly tone. However, its a little heavy on my budget, so...
Does anyone know if there's a cheaper alternative? I really want one.
R9? Help me out man..what is that?
R9? Help me out man..what is that?
R stands for Reissue, the 9 stands for '59 in 1959. No reason not to buy one man, save up, it'll be so worth it!
... R9. I tried one out earlier today, and instantly fell in love with the fat neck, and the crispy überdelightly tone. However, its a little heavy on my budget, so...
Does anyone know if there's a cheaper alternative? I really want one.
Of course there's a cheaper alternative, with the same fat neck (maybe a tiny bit fatter), and crispy "überdelightly" tone... It's an R8!
Same guitar, except for the fancy flame top. It has a beautiful plain top. I love mine! 
(see my lemonburst avatar).
Dude there is no other alternative. A copy will only dissapoint you. Save up and get the one you want. Don't settle for something less. Just my advice.
R stands for Reissue, the 9 stands for '59 in 1959. No reason not to buy one man, save up, it'll be so worth it!
Thanks...I feel about stupid now. 
Been a long week. I've been trying to figure what the heck is wrong with one of my marshalls so I've been burning the candle at both ends. 
Musicinmysoul wrote:R stands for Reissue, the 9 stands for '59 in 1959. No reason not to buy one man, save up, it'll be so worth it!
Thanks...I feel about stupid now.
Marshalls need a 59 reissue les paul to cheer it up.
Guess what!?
It has a FEVER! And the only PERSCRIPTION is LP!
... R9. I tried one out earlier today, and instantly fell in love with the fat neck, and the crispy überdelightly tone. However, its a little heavy on my budget, so...
Does anyone know if there's a cheaper alternative? I really want one.
If you don't get the guitar you want you'll always be kicking yourself for not getting it. Even if your buying it as an investment, you can't go wrong.
Personally I'm a Strat man. But I have 2 Les Pauls Standards that I wouldn't give up for a hundred Strats!
Spider
Agree with the guys. There is no real alternative. There are Copies from Burny and Tokai who should be quiet good. I have owned many Epiphones before and pimped them wit better pick-ups and the result was that I sold them again as they never sounded as I wished. When I played a Gibson CS '57 Goldtop VOS in a shop I was blown away. It does things you never think about before. The feeling of the neck, the deepness and resonance of the sound even unplugged. I could not put it down again. End of the story I bought it. It was an a$$load of money for me but it was worth evry cent. I have it 4 years now and will only give it away as heritage.
My advice, save up money and go for the real thing.
Alex
Of course there's a cheaper alternative, with the same fat neck (maybe a tiny bit fatter), and crispy "überdelightly" tone... It's an R8!
Same guitar, except for the fancy flame top. It has a beautiful plain top. I love mine!
I actually got into Les Pauls by playing an R8. I allmost bought one, but I knew, that I would never be satisfied with a plain top. A Les Paul without flames is like... Donuts without sprinkle!
donuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is no alternative.
Well, R8's and GO's are kinda the same, but teh most famous 1959 LP's are all flamey, and if you visit the vintage section at the lespaulforum , you will see some outrageous flames on original '59s.
I have 2, and would happily own more. Expensive, yes, but you will no longer lust for a better guitar.
Honestly, if you have GAS and NEED a Les Paul, you cannot go wrong with a custom shop offering. The '59s are nice, but I would personally go for an R7 or R8 over a R9 simply because you can buy 2 of the others for 1 R9! They are very pretty, flame top and all, but my R8 has MONSTER tone and actually has some subtle flaming in areas. I have heard that the tone is identical between the R8 and R9 with the only difference being the top. Check out both of them and make up your mind.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-Custom-Shop-1958-Les-Paul-Standard-Plain-Top-VOS-Electric-Guitar?sku=517980
ken wrote:Of course there's a cheaper alternative, with the same fat neck (maybe a tiny bit fatter), and crispy "überdelightly" tone... It's an R8!
Same guitar, except for the fancy flame top. It has a beautiful plain top. I love mine!I actually got into Les Pauls by playing an R8. I allmost bought one, but I knew, that I would never be satisfied with a plain top. A Les Paul without flames is like... Donuts without sprinkle!
I don't get it. First you're saying that an R9 is out of your budget and you are looking for an alternative, then you say that you're willing to pay $2500 extra for a flame top? 
If you fall in love with it ... you have to buy it 
I tried several VOS '57 '58' 59s. The goldtop '57 was what I went in to buy but the '58 I walked out with is the one that really spoke to me. I did find there was very little difference in between the 58s and 59s in feel or tone, I went with the 58' cos the neck had an awesome setup and I was at home on it right away and it sang to me. I didnt like the neck on the '57 goldtop, it might have been down to that individual guitar.
The point is there really isn't/shouldn't be much difference when it comes to custom shop guitars and I think i've seen that for myself ... there are only slight differences. Anyway GuitarGeek ... if you fall in love .... you know what you HAVE to do
Hi nightfly
The goldtop '57 was what I went in to buy but the '58 I walked out with is the one that really spoke to me. I didnt like the neck on the '57 goldtop, it might have been down to that individual guitar.
Its funny to see how different the opinions and tastes about guitars are.
I tried a VOS 58 plaintop and the VOS 57 goldtop. I liked the goldtop in every
point better. The neckshape is perfect for me. Thick and beefy. It sounded a
lot louder (unplugged) and more resonant. It has such a sweet tone.
The 58 sounded more bright and harder. And of course it was the golden veneer which really
caught me. So i' maybe a bit biased but soundwise it convinced me.
In the end I bought with no question the ´57 Goldtop. Thats 4 years ago
and I still love it.
But also I believe there will be better and worse LPs. They are all different.
You really have to be lucky to find a good one.
Rock on with your 58,
Alex
Buy the R9 if that's what does it for you! You can always sell your kids on ebay!
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