Epiphone Elitist gold top or Gibson vintage mahogany?

[diceman]

Yeah, thats a good deal. Street price on a Gloss is about $3,300.

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by KP Willits

Here is one.......

Gibson Les Paul Historic 1958 R.I. (R8) - $2000 (NW Burbs Chicago)

Reply to: sale-767216513@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-07-23, 4:31PM CDT

Very near mint 2005 Gibson Les Paul Historic 1958 R.I. W/case and tags. This is a glossy non-VOS model. Looks, plays and sounds amazing. Hardly touched, no fretwear or buckle rash at all. $2000 FIRM. No trades.

What are the differences between VOS & non-VOS?

[diceman]

Originally Posted by GrouchyDog

What are the differences between VOS & non-VOS?

Gibson did a poor job naming their Historics - lots of confusion.

The Historic Reissues are called Vintage Original Spec (VOS) guitars - that is how they show up on their website. The VOS finish is the aged looking kind of matte finish that they use on the regular VOS guitars, as well as aged hardware. The Glossy Historics are technically "Vintage Original Spec" guitars, but without the aged finish. That is what I have - a Gloss R8.

Everything is the same about them other than the finish.

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by diceman

Gibson did a poor job naming their Historics - lots of confusion.

The Historic Reissues are called Vintage Original Spec (VOS) guitars - that is how they show up on their website. The VOS finish is the aged looking kind of matte finish that they use on the regular VOS guitars, as well as aged hardware. The Glossy Historics are technically "Vintage Original Spec" guitars, but without the aged finish. That is what I have - a Gloss R8.

Everything is the same about them other than the finish.

Not exactly intuitive, is it? What's the price diff between the 2?

I'd like the aged finish, but it'd be like a Fender Relic - the mojo's cool, but somewhere I'd always be thinking "but it's FACTORY wear & tear..." Unfortunately I can't afford either one!

[diceman]

+$300 for Gloss usually.

I couldn't afford it either, but as I'm in a debt accumulation cycle while I'm in school for the past 2 and next 3 years... the R8 was just a drop in the bucket!

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by thepacifist20130

Physics says a) Stability not same since the length of the rigid part and length of the free part is different b) Both will vibrate at different frequency - THAT's why different amount of sound (or we can say energy) is created and transferred to the ground.

Anyways, since this is not physics forum, suffice it to say, the length of the tenon will not matter as much as we;re making it out to be, unless by short tenon you mean a point contact What will matter is a lot of other things like the quality of the wood and the perfection obtained in the tenon contact.

My opinion is both the guitars have their merits. Most of us would just like to go for one which sounds better to our ears and plays better in our hands. And with guitars of such standards are these, it's almost that I like a VM today, I might find a better Elitist tomorrow, and an even lovelier VM the day after

Also, the finishing is one part of it which some of us can live without and some of us can't. Don't some of us drool at lovely flamed maples
bby
To each his own!!

Let's just get all our Epi's and Gibby's and everything else to Hawaii and jam out on a sunny beach

Getting all our gear out to Hawaii and jam sounds like a plan. Its been a stressful week. Besides our gear we need to bring lots of alcohol

[alpinestudio]

I can't afford the R8, so it looks like I'm back to looking at the VM's for now.

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by alpinestudio

I can't afford the R8, so it looks like I'm back to looking at the VM's for now.

VMs are great! Good luck with whatever you choose.

[ScottieS28]

get an 80s tokai suppose to be gibson quality

[diceman]

Originally Posted by ScottieS28

get an 80s tokai suppose to be gibson quality

Too sweeping of a statement for me to appreciate it. There are high and low end 80's Tokais. Hell, the MIJ's are making just as good if not better LP's now then they ever have - MIJ Epi, Elitist, Edwards, Tokai, Burny, Greco, they're all still kicking ass in the Les Paul world. "Gibson" quality doesn't mean too terribly much as they range from Melody Makers to 59 Reissues - 80's Tokais may rate much higher than a Gibson Studio but I don't think that they'd hold a candle to a Brazzy Stinger R9.

I'd be interested in hearing your expand on your comment some...

[Kuroyama]

Yo Dice

I thought the new Melody Makers were pretty good! Ive tried a couple and they all played and sounded nice. Not too much noise coming outta those single coils. I was expecting a lot of P90 crackle and spit, but they were well behaved.

Now... Im not sure how well theyll hold up plugged into a Marshall JCM900 trying to keep up wit da boyz during my Saturday Morning band practice... which is why I havent bought one yet...

BUT otherwise I thought they were the "sleeper" model of the Gibson lineup.

(Having said all that, Ive currently got an MIJ Tokai gold top (with replica PAFs, not P90s) in my crosshairs. I expect to pull the trigger on it midway into Aug...)

[diceman]

I've thought about getting a Melody Maker sometime as well - they're pretty cool.

[dcmey]

Hey Diceman, when are we going to hear that you burstbuckers in your epi elitist? I know I have seen you say that you like them.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by dcmey

Hey Diceman, when are we going to hear that you burstbuckers in your epi elitist? I know I have seen you say that you like them.

I've got Burstbukers in my R8 and they rock! I'm pretty happy with my Elitists w/ the stock pups and PIO caps - they're ready to back up the R8 if she goes down during a gig any time! Seriously, though - I'm pretty wrapped up in the R8 and doing some upgrades on her. The Elitists rock, but have been bumped down to the #3 slot in my collection after getting the '69 Deluxe and the R8 - so upgrades on them aren't likely to come real soon.

When are you going to stuff some Vitamin Q caps in your VM? I think you'll like 'em!

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by diceman

I've got Burstbukers in my R8 and they rock! I'm pretty happy with my Elitists w/ the stock pups and PIO caps - they're ready to back up the R8 if she goes down during a gig any time! Seriously, though - I'm pretty wrapped up in the R8 and doing some upgrades on her. The Elitists rock, but have been bumped down to the #3 slot in my collection after getting the '69 Deluxe and the R8 - so upgrades on them aren't likely to come real soon.

When are you going to stuff some Vitamin Q caps in your VM? I think you'll like 'em!

I will consult with my tech and see what he thinks?

[diceman]

Originally Posted by dcmey

I will consult with my tech and see what he thinks?

If he thinks "nay" then he is leading you down the wrong path!

The Vitamin Q's are a fantastic upgrade for your Paul - I haven't heard anyone say that they put one in their Epiphone / Elitist / Gibson / Historic and say that it wasn't an improvement! I pulled the repro bumble bees out of my R8 for the Q's, and they are a definite improvement in tone! Paper In Oil caps are where its at, brother.

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by diceman

If he thinks "nay" then he is leading you down the wrong path!

The Vitamin Q's are a fantastic upgrade for your Paul - I haven't heard anyone say that they put one in their Epiphone / Elitist / Gibson / Historic and say that it wasn't an improvement! I pulled the repro bumble bees out of my R8 for the Q's, and they are a definite improvement in tone! Paper In Oil caps are where its at, brother.

I play mostly clean music. Would that really be beneficial puttting in the Qs. My VM has a ton of bass in the sound, I actually back it off a little bit on my amp. Its a VOX AD 50 VT. My favorite setting on it is the AC 30.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by dcmey

I play mostly clean music. Would that really be beneficial puttting in the Qs. My VM has a ton of bass in the sound, I actually back it off a little bit on my amp. Its a VOX AD 50 VT. My favorite setting on it is the AC 30.

All the more reason for Paper In Oil caps - thats part of the key to the vintage Les Paul sound - the ol' Bumblebee caps - (the new repros aren't even paper in oil) - the Vitamin Q's come very close! I have Black Beauties (same as the bees) in my '69 (original caps) and the warmth is very similar (it does have P90's in it, but the tone is quite similar).

You'll get a lot more out of your tone knobs as well - its a cheap upgrade - so if you don't like it, you can easily go back to stock and sell the Q's for exactly what you paid for them.

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by diceman

All the more reason for Paper In Oil caps - thats part of the key to the vintage Les Paul sound - the ol' Bumblebee caps - (the new repros aren't even paper in oil) - the Vitamin Q's come very close! I have Black Beauties (same as the bees) in my '69 (original caps) and the warmth is very similar (it does have P90's in it, but the tone is quite similar).

You'll get a lot more out of your tone knobs as well - its a cheap upgrade - so if you don't like it, you can easily go back to stock and sell the Q's for exactly what you paid for them.

Its something I may check into. Thanks for the advice.

[alpinestudio]

Originally Posted by diceman

If he thinks "nay" then he is leading you down the wrong path!

The Vitamin Q's are a fantastic upgrade for your Paul - I haven't heard anyone say that they put one in their Epiphone / Elitist / Gibson / Historic and say that it wasn't an improvement! I pulled the repro bumble bees out of my R8 for the Q's, and they are a definite improvement in tone! Paper In Oil caps are where its at, brother.

Installed the Vitamin Q's and it sounded great! Fuller and richer tone. I wired it standard instead. Thanks for the advice, Dice!

[diceman]

Originally Posted by alpinestudio

Installed the Vitamin Q's and it sounded great! Fuller and richer tone. I wired it standard instead. Thanks for the advice, Dice!

You bet brother! The improvement is pretty much undeniable isn't it?? You got those good old caps from Hal too - they're real winners!

Glad you like it - very good news. I was blown away when I put them in my White Elitist Custom as well - and can't imagine a Les Paul without PIO caps - it just "makes it" in the tone department.

[dcmey]

Originally Posted by diceman

All the more reason for Paper In Oil caps - thats part of the key to the vintage Les Paul sound - the ol' Bumblebee caps - (the new repros aren't even paper in oil) - the Vitamin Q's come very close! I have Black Beauties (same as the bees) in my '69 (original caps) and the warmth is very similar (it does have P90's in it, but the tone is quite similar).

You'll get a lot more out of your tone knobs as well - its a cheap upgrade - so if you don't like it, you can easily go back to stock and sell the Q's for exactly what you paid for them.

I did consult with my tech, he said that if I am happy with my tone then I don't know if I would mess with it, but he would be happy to put it in for me if I chose to do it. I wouldn't mind input on another idea, I am thinking of putting a bigsby on my VM. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated on that.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by dcmey

I did consult with my tech, he said that if I am happy with my tone then I don't know if I would mess with it, but he would be happy to put it in for me if I chose to do it. I wouldn't mind input on another idea, I am thinking of putting a bigsby on my VM. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated on that.

on the trem hey why not just ask the tech you seem to like his advice. As far as the, if you like your tone why change , well good advice, but how would ya know if you would or would not like the tones made available throuh a cap change (or any change) unless ya do change stuff.!? putting the trem on will change things IMO