rayz Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Im going to try both of these out tomorrow at a music store. I know the obvious diff is the R9 has a flame top and a little thinner neck. Heres my question,im trying to get opinions on the justification of paying $1800 more for a flame top verses a plain top.Any opinions on the neck diff or anything you can think of will help out.$1800 is a lot of money just for some flame in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 In my opinion, sound and playability are the essentials. To have a nicely looking guitar can be a pretty bonus. I am not sure whether the price difference is only or mostly due to the top figuring. I think that the lighter woods of the R9 make it more expensive, too. In any case, I think I would tend rather not to buy, or to buy a different one, than to go with an instrument I am not absolutely happy with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woollymonster Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Im going to try both of these out tomorrow at a music store. I know the obvious diff is the R9 has a flame top and a little thinner neck. Heres my question,im trying to get opinions on the justification of paying $1800 more for a flame top verses a plain top.Any opinions on the neck diff or anything you can think of will help out.$1800 is a lot of money just for some flame in my opinion. It is not worth it to me. In fact, if they were the same price, I would pick the R8. I am not into fancy flamed wood and the thicker neck is what I need for my big paws. I have a Strat, 2 Tele's, and an ES-335. All are old school large necks, such as the large U on my '51 Nocaster Custom and none are flamed. I know some are totally into fancy flamed wood and thats cool too. No disputing the 1959 LP has become the "Holy Grail". Although it looks to me like the originals (Gibbons, Page, Perry, etc.) were not as heavily flamed as the Re-issues. After decades of drooling and lusting over an R8, I finally bought one. It is a 2013 in Iced Tea flavor. I pick it up on Tuesday. CANT WAIT!!!! Had to sell my Harley to get it but its time. Cheers, Woolly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayz Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 Congrats on the guitar!! Im feeling the same, I don't really care enough about a flamed out top to pay 1800 for it. I think im just going to try out a few different R8's That ice tea is sweet. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woollymonster Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Congrats on the guitar!! Im feeling the same, I don't really care enough about a flamed out top to pay 1800 for it. I think im just going to try out a few different R8's That ice tea is sweet. Thanks Ray, If I had a chance to sit down and play them side by side I surely would do so. One thing is almost a given, the R9 will always be worth more money if that means anything to you. You could really like it better especially if you are into thinner necks. For me, these guitars are meant to be kept for generations. Get the one that you like the feel, action, tone, and looks the best to you. If you really dig the R9, the $1800 difference wont mean squat in 20 years. For me, its an R8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayz Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Just wanted to give an update. I played the r9 and r8 and both are fantastic high quality guitars that played like a dream. The R8 in ice tea just kept calling my name so I took her home with me.Thanks to all who replied to my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonful Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Nice!!! Very Nice! Gibson is really doing a nice job with the current crop of reissues. Fair amount of flame on yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayz Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 I was surprised at the amount of flame on it as well. The other two R8's I played had more flame on them than my ice tea. This one just had a sweeter singing tone that had a lot of balls to it. Great Job Gibson Custom Shop, it was expensive but after playing it I would have paid more for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 It's a common misconception that all R8s are plain tops. There's plenty of R8s out there with flame from subtle to outrageous. Yours is gorgeous by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayz Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 I never realized it. I figured a plain top is just that, 'plain'. But I have seen some of the nicest flamed plain tops I have ever seen. Thanks for the comments on me ice tea. I cant put it down, my wife wishes I would have never got it. I have suddenly disappeared!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Rayz, have you seen my post regarding the review of latest R9 by Guitarist magazine here: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/105560-great-review-of-new-les-paul-r9/ They love it. Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I never realized it. I figured a plain top is just that, 'plain'. But I have seen some of the nicest flamed plain tops I have ever seen. Thanks for the comments on me ice tea. I cant put it down, my wife wishes I would have never got it. I have suddenly disappeared!! A plain top is just that "plain" (no flame, spalt, birds eye or quilt). But... Not all R8s are plain tops. Some plain tops are more plain than others.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
09_339 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 I just got a Wildwood spec 1958.. nice flamey top and 2K less than a 59! sounds awesome http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
09_339 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 My local shop just got a new Lemonburst R8 in and it has more flame on it' than some R9's I've seen lately... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesh Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 THANK YOU for this topic. I've was recently looking at buying an R7, R8, or R9. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why the R9 had a much higher price. Here in the UK; the R7 and R8 go for about £3 199, and then the R9 jumps to £4 499 (comparable to the US price jumps). Having read the specifications on numerous websites I couldn't see the differences being anything more than the flame top against "plain top"; so I figured I was missing something that retailers weren't mentioning in their product summaries. Have I missed anything about this topic? I can't believe the price for flame tops pushes it up so high. The R8 is currently holding as my favourite choice (Lemonburst FTW!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaff Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 A plain top is just that "plain" (no flame, spalt, birds eye or quilt). But... Not all R8s are plain tops. Some plain tops are more plain than others.... Really like the top ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaff Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Just wanted to give an update. I played the r9 and r8 and both are fantastic high quality guitars that played like a dream. The R8 in ice tea just kept calling my name so I took her home with me.Thanks to all who replied to my question. Fantastic ! Congratulations and enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Congrats on the new guitar! The R8 is a fine guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconbill Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Congrats on your R8. Gibson's CS is cranking out some great looking R8s these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLee Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 1st off Gratz to Ray for the New Guitar ! Looks awesome and it sounds like you love the tone. Here is my R8 in a flame top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woollymonster Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Congrats on your R8. Gibson's CS is cranking out some great looking R8s these days. Not only that, they sound and play great. Which is what it is all about. Now, I think I must have a 56 Goldtop (R6). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 Kinda like the 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBMelb Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 I had the opportunity to get a p96 Gloss R9 for the same price as a Lemonburst VOS R8. First off love the VOS it is hard (for me) to look ate the sparkle of glossy shiny guitars after seeing VOS in person. Then I picked them up and played them. The R8 was leaps and bounds better feeling and sounding to me. I base a lot on how a guitar sounds and "feels" unplugged and the R8 was like going back in a time machine for me. It was awe inspiring. The R9 had what I'd call headache inspiring pinstriped flame and it was WAY to busy for my taste. The R8 had some very pleasant even flame and beautiful smooth grain below. R8 all the way for me. Not even interested in R9. Next guitar for me will be either R4 or R6. Have to get out and try those to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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