canon_mutant Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Since I turn 50 this year, as some of you already know, I've been considering the 50th R9 as a completely self-indulgent purchase. Well, I ran across a CognacBurst, one of my favorite 09 reissue finishes, with a top that I certainly love, that actually has my birthday month and year in the serial number. Pulled the trigger . . . Guitar plays like a dream and just like the side by side comparison I did earlier between a DB R9 and a new Traditional, these R9s are superior. Of course, you can't justify 2.5X superior, but it is superior. Need to retake these with my image stabilized [iS] lens. They'd be much better given the low light shots. This will at least give you a general idea. A couple of quiet moments alone with its new buddy, my CS6. Enjoy,
dmeds Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Oh boy, now you did it! I too join the bi-centenial club in a couple of months and the same thought crossed my mind. I just got my HB Trad last month and then 2 weeks later a gloss cherry burst R8 joined the family. How can I resist such a fitting reason to adopt a 50th Anniverasry R9? =D> You sir, have a stunning example of what an R9 should be! Play on!
Silverbursted Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Absolutely gorgeous!!! Congratulations, may you have another 1/2 century to enjoy her.
LPguitarman Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Awesome Top. Congratulations and happy 50th, whenever it happens.
rocketman Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Gee I wish I was turning 50 this year! Stunning guitar...
canon_mutant Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 Gee I wish I was turning 50 this year! Stunning guitar... Thanks all . . . Turning 50 of course would be the only reason I would consider such an expensive one time self indulgence guitar purchase. Though I did get a really good price, I would have been perfectly happy with a Traditional Plus and that Florentine is catching my interest the more I read about it. When you combine me and the legendary R9 both turning 50 this year with running across this particular axe that had my birthday month and year in its S/N you can't help but think it was somehow meant to be. Guitars are to be played, however, not looked at so rest assured, this axe, just like my KOA CS6, Lifeson, DG-EMG equipped Strat, etc. all see and will continue to see regular duty here at home at least.
BigKahune Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Gorgeous! Excellent flame. And the finish really pops. Congrats!
yoda Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 WOW!! Nice! Good thing they called it cognac burst, cause brandy burst doesn't have the same ring.
Tim Plains Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 I'll drink to that !! Beautiful guitar, much nicer than that DB you showed me a while ago. How much does it weigh, roughly? Glad to see that it all worked out for you. I don't know how many posts I read about you wanting one of these. They're truly amazing instruments, not just the '09s but all historic LPs, and I'm sure you'll find that the more you play it the better it gets. Take some pictures in natural sunlight and post them whenever you get a chance.
bobv Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Beautiful guitar. Tim would've gotten one but they don't call it rye-burst or Canadian whiskey-burst.
Wild_Rose Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 I cannot think of a better gift for your 50th birthday! congrats!
Tim Plains Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Tim would've gotten one but they don't call it rye-burst or Canadian whiskey-burst. Gibson should have hired you to come up with names for all those limited edition 50th R9s colours. The names they came up with suck. Not Cognac.
rocketman Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Oh, I just noticed that you have the Gibson AL-230 ES-355 too. NOW you really have me GASsing...
canon_mutant Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 Oh' date=' I just noticed that you have the Gibson AL-230 ES-355 too. NOW you really have me GASsing...[/quote'] Yeah, the Lifeson ES-355 is no doubt the "tone monster" of the collection. Still play it every single week. I will admit it is getting harder to decide which one to pick up and play. And, with this on it now . . . http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_Tune-o-matic_bridges/Locking_Roller_Bridge.html the noted tuning issues of the AL 355s and being unable to use the Maestro are GONE! These Maestro trems need a roller bridge but I do believe I've gotten off on a tangent, haven't I? Sorry. Back to our regularly scheduled program . . .
rocketman Posted June 1, 2009 Posted June 1, 2009 Thanks for the info. I almost pulled the trigger on an AL 355 but didn't do it for a number a reasons. I'm going to settle for a 339 instead. Anyhow, congrats again on the R9! There we are back on topic...
fast fret Posted June 1, 2009 Posted June 1, 2009 My new favorite burst! It's just that bit darker than the sunburst and a lot more subtle than tobacco burst. sweet find sir!
asmith9509 Posted June 1, 2009 Posted June 1, 2009 Wow, that's a beauty. Sounds like a happy 50th birthday!
canon_mutant Posted June 4, 2009 Author Posted June 4, 2009 OK, for those that have been wanting to see the sunlight shots . . . and thank you for wanting too! Sadly, I've got a COA problem with this guitar that we're trying to get straightened out. Though it's in the serial number range for the 1 of 25 Cognacs and is obviously a Cognac, the COA just says 2009 R9 Reissue with no mention of the special run of 25 Cognacs or the 50th Anniversary Seal. Let's hope they just screwed up and sent the wrong one. If Gibson "just decided" to make some more R9 Reissue Cognacs and retailers sold them under the same “1 of 25, 50th anniversary” false pretence, then we've got a problem no matter how good it looks and plays . . .
dodgytoo Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Serously considering one of these too... Because like you and your guitar I am about to have a 50th anniversary Maybe in a Sweet Southern Tea Burst Where did u get yours and can u give me a ball park figure u paid ...if it is not too rude to ask I am still procrastinating but I can't do that for ever if I want one in the limited colours now you own one and have obviously played it... is it worth the extra coin over something like a Black Beauty 57 LP
dodgytoo Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Question is this guitar the 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard Cause the website says only 500 to be made and only in Heritage Cherry Burst and Heritage Dark Burst. So are there now special runs of 25 in limited colours OR it is total 500 made in a variety of colours. ???????????? Which is it? Cause I'm confused :-)
pippy Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Absolutely gorgeous! (X10...) I, too (what's going on here? That's four or five of us already!) turn 50 this year and was considering one of the Anniversary '59s but 'new-house-purchase' seems to have come along at the same time. Hmmm.... Question is this guitar the 50th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard Cause the website says only 500 to be made and only in Heritage Cherry Burst and Heritage Dark Burst. So are there now special runs of 25 in limited colours OR it is total 500 made in a variety of colours. ???????????? Which is it? Cause I'm confused :-) I think there were officially going to be 350 Heritage Cherry S/B and 150 Tobacco S/B 2009 '50th anniversary' '59s. Gibson Custom Shop is carrying on building the '59 re-issue in 2009 but these are separate from the '50th Anniversary' instruments. I suspect that the Cognac-bursts are part of the 2009 re-issue production.
Tim Plains Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Even though they may not all say "50th anniversary" on the COA, any R9 made in 2009 is an anniversary model, if you think about it. dodgytoo, the '57 Custom has a mahogany top and will sound a bit different than an R9. Quality wise, they're both on the same level. It just comes down to which one you like more. There have been 10 or so "limited edition" runs of 25 guitars in different colours. Gibson is also making the usual VOS R9s this year. 2009 is a good year for Gibson, that's for sure!
pippy Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Even though they may not all say "50th anniversary" on the COA' date=' any R9 made in 2009 is an anniversary model, if you think about it.[/quote'] Absolutely correct. That's why I put the official anniversary models in quotation marks when referring to them. To be fair to Gibson the 500-off run were not that much more than the regular R9's when they reached the streets and if, as is likely, the limited edition units become more collectable then that seems fair.......
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