Author Topic: Gibson Custom Shop (Read 7833 times)

goddamn electric · « **on:** January 29, 2008, 02:02:57 PM »

Hi Guys, i keep seeing the les paul reissues going on ebay for fairly decent prices and i know that with les pauls you should really try them out before buying them, but im wondering if the custom shop reissues eg r8, r9, r0 are a bit more consistent than the standard production models and it may be worth buying from ebay to save some money.

thanks in advance.

Mr Ed · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2008, 02:07:46 PM »

The Custom Shops are gonna be way more consistent in terms of quality (in theory) because they actually take time to make the instrument rather than just slapping together any old cr@p and scrawling "Gibson" on the headstock.

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2008, 02:10:39 PM »

All guitars vary in quality with Gibson, there are good and bad examples of each type. I've played cheaper USA Faded Series guitars that were nicer to play than Custom Shop models. The Custom Shop now is more like another production line rather than a true Custom Shop. You can't order special finishes any more (like you used to be able to) for example.

I personally wouldn't spend £1500+ on a guitar without trying it first unless it was for a collection, or seriously underpriced.

Generally the Custom Shop guitars are made from better woods, but there are still average or poor guitars made by them.

goddamn electric · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2008, 02:12:05 PM »

yeah thats what i thought, im just a bit iffy about buying a les paul without playing it, i need to try each model out first to see which one year suits me the most before i even think about it anyway.

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2008, 02:50:25 PM »

I've read that the R8 has a huge neck, the R9 slightly smaller and the R0 smaller still. I'd love an R0 with a vintage looking plain top :)

CUBE · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:05:34 PM »

the r9 has the bigger neck , the r8's are pretty much the same but plain topped and a bit cheaper, the r0 has a thin neck
of all of those the 59 is my fave , i have played a few they are pretty consistant

goddamn electric · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:05:42 PM »

thats basically what im after! although im interested by the r9's aswell

Twinfan · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:09:10 PM »

I hope you've got plenty of cash if you want an R9 - the upcharge for flamed maple is shocking. It's about £1000 :o

Doctor X · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:27:40 PM »

I bought a custom shop '58 VOS Les Paul off ebay last year and I'm 100% happy that I did. I think I paid £1,500 including the delivery (which took ages because Parcelforce lost it! I ended up picking it up from the local Royal Mail delivery centre and didn't even have to sign for it!!)

The way that I looked at it was that if I decided I didn't like it then I could just stick it back on ebay and make my money back. Sometimes it's good to take a gamble!

It's now got Mule's in it and sounds freakin' sweet!

goddamn electric · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:36:13 PM »

i was under the impression that the r9's necks were between the r8 and the r0?

Henk · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:50:52 PM »

IMVHO, Gibsons custom shop delivers a pretty consistend build quality, sound quality is a different matter though. I would not ever spend so much cash on something i havent played, however, im not the only one who thinks like this and that will mean you can get a pretty sweet deal on something like that.

Even then, i prefer the early 90's quality LP's, i know a pretty tempting white CS LP custom and for the 1700 pounds it costs its a damn lot of guitar for the money.

And anyway, my early 90's LP standard shreds anything soundwise, so if your more consearned with sound then build quality, just look around when you have the opportunity.

The R9 is an in-between version of the R8 and R0, it has most of the R0 specs but has a '58 neck. Most value for money would be an R8 if all is equal offcourse.

goddamn electric · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:01:49 PM »

thanks for the info & opinions guys

Scotty477 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:33:49 PM »

Are you wanting a reissue as an investment, or is it for playing - or both?

Also, I'm not sure if you already own a LP?

If it's purely for playing I would strongly recommend that you spend time looking at other Gibson LP models other than just reissues. Yes the odds are that the reissues should be of better overall quality than a stock production model ... but I'd have some fun checking out a lot of 'normal' ones first.

You never know. You might find one that feels like a perfect fit - with tone to match.

kellar · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:55:29 PM »

I personally can't imagine buying any guitar, regardless of the price, without trying it out first. I have bought a couple of guitars at the shop that didn't play right and I had it set up right there on the spot. I mean, why would you buy a guitar witout having it set up? They kind of go together don't they? Despite the fact that some of the online prices are intriguing, it's a real gamble to take IMO. Especially when you are talking about dishing out a large amount of cash.

dave_mc · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2008, 05:17:21 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

I hope you've got plenty of cash if you want an R9 - the upcharge for flamed maple is shocking. It's about £1000 :o

that's ridiculous. I don't mind charging a fair price for something which is more expensive, but that's just sheer profiteering.

The upcharge on my legra for a figured maple top was something like £60. Granted that was around a year ago now, but still.