BigTone
Active member
So here's one for you guys......Its hypothetical at the moment, but when I next come into money I intend to put it into practice, so this is a serious query.
Do I get an R9 (or R8) or a high end MIJ Lester? please try and be ojective here, and I'm only really talking about secondhand guitars - 10 years old or more. Oh, and remember, in the UK Gibson prices are about double USA prices, so a new R9 would list for about ?5000 ($9000) I think.
The aim is to get a high end guitar that I can keep for life and then pass on to kids/grandkids.
I'd want late 50s type features. Nitro finish, nickle parts, nice PAF type
pickups, good woods, long tenon and preferably a solid top. But most
importantly its got to sound good and have mojo.
So what MIJ is nearest to the 59 specs? An EGF1200 would be good but they've got laminated tops. An EGF1800 would probably be ideal, but practically what's the chances of getting hold of one? how about a special order ObG with a solid top? I'm not so familiar with the older higher end tokais, but again, what's the chances of getting hold of an LS-200 or something? I've got a mid 80s burny supergrade that I like, What are the specs of their highest spec RLG150? And then there's the R9, obviously there's the name and they've got all the resources to make an accurate replica. How do the prices for older R9s compare to the high end MIJ stuff, what are the good years and would it make more sense to source a good R9 than a high end MIJ.
....Or would an EGF1200 represent best value for money and just ignore the fact that its got a laminated top?
I think that if we were comparing a standard to a good MIJ it would be a fairly easy decision in the MIJ favor, but I am intrigued by the comparisons to a custom shop Lester.
Thanks for any opinions
Tony
Do I get an R9 (or R8) or a high end MIJ Lester? please try and be ojective here, and I'm only really talking about secondhand guitars - 10 years old or more. Oh, and remember, in the UK Gibson prices are about double USA prices, so a new R9 would list for about ?5000 ($9000) I think.
The aim is to get a high end guitar that I can keep for life and then pass on to kids/grandkids.
I'd want late 50s type features. Nitro finish, nickle parts, nice PAF type
pickups, good woods, long tenon and preferably a solid top. But most
importantly its got to sound good and have mojo.
So what MIJ is nearest to the 59 specs? An EGF1200 would be good but they've got laminated tops. An EGF1800 would probably be ideal, but practically what's the chances of getting hold of one? how about a special order ObG with a solid top? I'm not so familiar with the older higher end tokais, but again, what's the chances of getting hold of an LS-200 or something? I've got a mid 80s burny supergrade that I like, What are the specs of their highest spec RLG150? And then there's the R9, obviously there's the name and they've got all the resources to make an accurate replica. How do the prices for older R9s compare to the high end MIJ stuff, what are the good years and would it make more sense to source a good R9 than a high end MIJ.
....Or would an EGF1200 represent best value for money and just ignore the fact that its got a laminated top?
I think that if we were comparing a standard to a good MIJ it would be a fairly easy decision in the MIJ favor, but I am intrigued by the comparisons to a custom shop Lester.
Thanks for any opinions
Tony