Topic: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
..Joe's signature Goldtop? I mean, I'm sure it's a great guitar, but I don't want to pay hundreds extra for the name if there isn't a significant difference.
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
That is a great question. I hope Joe replies to this question. I cannot find a JB Les Paul at Musician's Friend, Guitar Center or any dealers in my State. So, I think a Gold-top Standard may be the best I can do.
Tom
#275 JB LP
3 2008-08-28 22:53:11 (edited by Steve E 2008-08-28 22:55:50)
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
The answer is pretty big difference....
Better quality wood
Long neck tenon
Lighter weight (with the better wood...)
Aging / Relicing
Limited numbers with real collectors potential
A "Budget Bonamassa" Recipe:
Get a used R7 gold top and have the neck shaved to R9 specs, change out the plastic to black, replace the lower two knobs with reflectors, put Grovers on it...of course the back won't be black, but it will run appx $2000 - 2200 with the neck shave and parts...heck, $2500 tops if you got the back shot black
Or find a 2000 / 2001 R9 plaintop and have the top refined gold...
The best bet is the R7 route...
I'm not at all condoning the subverting / bypassing picking up one of Joe's sig models - but if you're not one of the lucky 300 or don't have the $$$$, modding an R7 is an easy and affordable route to go.
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
I like the JB a lot better than the R7
the 59 neck alone would do it for me
factory Grovers
BB2 and BB3
aging, less sticky
I have played a few, I really, really like the guitar
and can play it a lot easier than a 57 Gold Top
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Sounds like it's hard to even track one of those puppies down! Ah well, maybe I'll get a custom Suhr instead...
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Sharkface wrote:
Sounds like it's hard to even track one of those puppies down! Ah well, maybe I'll get a custom Suhr instead...
Centre City Music, ask for Saul, tell him Rick sent you
I know he's getting another one in
He has the best prices on Gibsons
7 2008-08-29 02:18:26 (edited by Sharkface 2008-08-29 02:22:34)
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Rick wrote:
Sharkface wrote:Sounds like it's hard to even track one of those puppies down! Ah well, maybe I'll get a custom Suhr instead...
Centre City Music, ask for Saul, tell him Rick sent you
I know he's getting another one in
He has the best prices on Gibsons
Not sure where that is...State? Province? I'm up in Canada....Know any Gibson Custom Shop dealers up here? I should say I've had zero experience with Les Pauls besides noodling in a guitar shop once every few years....I've always been a Strat and Ibanez JS guy....I'd have to try out a JB LP to be converted...:) Thanks!
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Rick wrote:
I like the JB a lot better than the R7
the 59 neck alone would do it for me
factory Grovers
BB2 and BB3
aging, less stickyI have played a few, I really, really like the guitar
and can play it a lot easier than a 57 Gold Top
Well, you just pointed out all of the things I suggested changing about the R7 to turn it into a "Budget Bonamassa" - and still have an extra $2000 in your pocket 
If you're on a budget that extra $2k would buy a whole lot of seeing Joe live.
also - I would still yank the BB's out a drop in some Wolfetone Legends or Dr. V's.
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Steve E wrote:
Well, you just pointed out all of the things I suggested changing about the R7 to turn it into a "Budget Bonamassa" - and still have an extra $2000 in your pocket
also - I would still yank the BB's out a drop in some Wolfetone Legends or Dr. V's.
How would you turn and R7 neck into an R9 neck ?
10 2008-08-29 11:20:13 (edited by Sharkface 2008-08-29 11:21:16)
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Steve E wrote:
Rick wrote:I like the JB a lot better than the R7
the 59 neck alone would do it for me
factory Grovers
BB2 and BB3
aging, less stickyI have played a few, I really, really like the guitar
and can play it a lot easier than a 57 Gold TopWell, you just pointed out all of the things I suggested changing about the R7 to turn it into a "Budget Bonamassa" - and still have an extra $2000 in your pocket
also - I would still yank the BB's out a drop in some Wolfetone Legends or Dr. V's.
I'm assuming you mean Burst Buckers? I haven't heard of the WOlfetone Legends or Dr V's before....What do you like about their tone/character that is better than the BB's? Also, what is an R7 Gold Top?
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Below is a link to a 57 Goldtop
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/produ … ldtop.html
They are known to have Huge necks
specs as "early 50s"
some find them difficult to play.
I do not like them
With the dealer I get my Gibsons from, the diff in price is only
about 1200, but the time you swap out pickups and tuners....
- gingerpaul
- Gold Member
- Offline
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Sharkface wrote:
Steve E wrote:Rick wrote:I like the JB a lot better than the R7
the 59 neck alone would do it for me
factory Grovers
BB2 and BB3
aging, less stickyI have played a few, I really, really like the guitar
and can play it a lot easier than a 57 Gold TopWell, you just pointed out all of the things I suggested changing about the R7 to turn it into a "Budget Bonamassa" - and still have an extra $2000 in your pocket
also - I would still yank the BB's out a drop in some Wolfetone Legends or Dr. V's.
I'm assuming you mean Burst Buckers? I haven't heard of the WOlfetone Legends or Dr V's before....What do you like about their tone/character that is better than the BB's? Also, what is an R7 Gold Top?
I really like the Bare Knuckle Mules. They're worth checking out if you want a PAF type sound. You can call the guy who makes them and actually spec what exactly you want. They're in the UK, so probably no good for those of you in the US I'm afraid.
Their website is good because lots of users put demos on their forum. It's worth popping over for a listen. 
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Rick wrote:
Below is a link to a 57 Goldtop
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/produ … ldtop.html
They are known to have Huge necks
specs as "early 50s"
some find them difficult to play.
I do not like themWith the dealer I get my Gibsons from, the diff in price is only
about 1200, but the time you swap out pickups and tuners....
Rick -
I'm well acquanited with R7's and offer the advice from my own experience.
To answer all of your questions, my point was to purchase a USED R7 for the going rate of between $1700 - $2000 (max)
Even a new set of BB's will be appx $150
A new set of Grovers is $42
Black plastic: pup rings, poker chip, pickguard - appx $75 max
Your big concern, how to turn an R7 neck into an R9 ? simple - as I said have it shaved / reshaped. This is a basic alteration done all the time by people like RS Guitarworks and moreso by Dave Johnson at Historic Makeovers. Cost will seldom be more than $300 total, most of that is allocated to the refinishing of the back of the neck.
So, taking the low figure on the used R7, you're looking at appx $2267 - less if you sell the parts you took off the R7....
If this sounds like way to much work for you or you don't have the experience to pull it off, I understand....I will reiterate that at least to me "only $1200" is a pretty big difference / chunk o' change, and equates to at least another guitar or amp. YMMV
I would reccomend spending some time here for a glimpse into what people are willing to do to their Historics:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20
Bottom line - if a JB Model is in your attainable future, that kicks ****. If not, there are options.
14 2008-08-29 12:12:17 (edited by Steve E 2008-08-29 12:23:27)
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Sharkface wrote:
I'm assuming you mean Burst Buckers? I haven't heard of the WOlfetone Legends or Dr V's before....What do you like about their tone/character that is better than the BB's? Also, what is an R7 Gold Top?
Hey Shark -
Yes I mean the Burstbuckers. My experience is that they are very hit and miss, more miss for my ears. Wolfetones are wound by Wolfe MacCleod in Seattle. He learned his craft from Jason Lollar. Specifically - the Dr. V's are a result of a guy going through a few dozen sets of real PAF's and discovering the properties of what seemed to make the good ones good and vice versa. Lots of it has to do with the magnets. The magnets in the Dr.V's are hand measured and selected, pups are hand wound - no two are alike. I'm using Wolf's Dr. V's and Marshallheads and don't see myself ever changing them out. Here's a link:
http://www.wolfetone.com/productsandpricing.html
What's an R7? Historic Reissue 1957 Gold Top - "R" as in Reissue / "7" as in 1957
So and R9 is a 59' Reissue, R0 is a 60' Reissue, R8 is a 58' Reissue. Joe's model is essentially a modified R9 - Gold top / BLack Back, Grovers, black plastic, aged finish & hardware.
Hope that helps ~
Steve E
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
thanks for the info Steve, I would love to know someone who would do
quality neck reshape,
that Historic Makeover site is showing that package to be $1750
yikes
I'm in the wrong business
I'd love to put a Fender style V-neck on a Les Paul
hmmmmm
and I've spent way to much time on the Les Paul Forum
those guys that are buying Murphy aged then doing
and inlay replacement ....man
those guys arent shy about taking a drill to the neck
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Rick wrote:
that Historic Makeover site is showing that package to be $1750
yikes
That's for the full HM package: complete refin of the entire guitar, reshape neck, roll fretboard, replace inlays....A simple neck reshape is appx $300. RS Guitar Works is right about the same cost. Dave is semi local to me and has done some mind boggling work to my stuff - I can't say enough positive things about the whole experience. I can't say that I get the Historic Makeovers deal - it's kind of absurd, but having seen lots of guitars he's done in person they sure look unreal. I would rather beat up my own guitar rather than pay for "aging", but thats just me. I'll put a link sto some before and after shots of my R8 that he did.
FWIW - last I was up at Dave's shop there were two Murphy's that had been sent to him to "re-do"
Let us know if Saul hook's you up with a JB Model.
Cheers ~
Steve E
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Saul is hooking me up big time, he is significantly lower than anyone else.
I just bought this one from him, you may have seen it on the LP Forum
http://rick-connelly.com/cherry2.jpg
And I am not about to pull the inlays out on this guy
One thing I have to say about Gibson, I LOVE their fret work
they play like butter
don't know if it's the plek job, or some skilled fret guys
but hats off to you Gibson
- ken
- Titanium
- Offline
Re: How close is a standard reissue Goldtop in tone and playability to...
Rick wrote:
and I've spent way to much time on the Les Paul Forum
those guys that are buying Murphy aged then doing
and inlay replacement ....manthose guys arent shy about taking a drill to the neck
My favorite part is when the guy takes his brand new $5000 historic and puts it in the freezer for a while, then pulls it out into the warm room to crack the finish, for that authentic checked look. Now that takes guts!