58 Flame tops???? Anyone have any pic??

[pinefd]

Oh, and speaking of '98 R8 flametops, here are a couple of mine:

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Oh, and speaking of '98 R8 flametops, here are a couple of mine:

DAAAAAAAAMN!! AS USUAL!!

You never cease to disappoint with your collection. You have an eye for those tops.

What the hell was going on in '98? These are some of the nicest historics out there. I never realized.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by decoy205

DAAAAAAAAMN!! AS USUAL!!

You never cease to disappoint with your collection. You have an eye for those tops.

What the hell was going on in '98? These are some of the nicest historics out there. I never realized.

Thanks decoy!

I wasn't into collecting guitars back in '98, but I think the reasons for the beauties back then are as follows:

1. That's what people wanted! Monster tops were "in", and the nicer the the top, the more money they commanded. I guess that's still the case today, but it seems what most people want now are more realistic tops.

2. Gibson was enhancing/double staining the tops back then to really make those figured tops "pop", probably because of #1 above.

3. And lastly, although I don't see this mentioned much, '98 was the 40th anniversary of the '58s. So maybe Gibson was giving the Les Paul community a special anniversary edition without necessarily promoting it as such (or maybe they did promote it, and I'm not aware of it).

[decoy205]

ahh so mid to late 90's was when people started Gassing for the wild flammage. That makes sense. They really are something else. They do look like some of the old one's like the 9 1982 burst that one has crazy flame.

So cool

Thanks for the Info Frank!!
-John

[lpflametop]

Frank , You keep that up and people are going to start believing you!!
Your collection is right there!!!!

[arcanis494]

Originally Posted by RobertF

I just took these this morning. 98 R8. This guitar sounds and plays equally as well as my 2000 R9. Big 'ol neck.

To the eye, the guitar is more a straight honey color, but take a picture of her and all the hidden cherry becomes visable.

MAMA MIA!

[Nick59]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Nick, this "junior member" just so happens to have one of the, if not the nicest collections of historic Les Pauls anywhere!

Yes, I'd seen his posts and beautiful guitars elsewhere for some time, but thought it was amusing to see him listed as a "junior member", like some 13 year old wannabe! Hence writing "kidding" afterwards, plus the wink.....

I'm still puzzled by the use of the word "realistic" referring to tops, with the opposite "unrealistic" (like some sort of negative attribute) applied to many of the most stunning flametops. There are a number of originals with monster tops, and I believe it would have been more if there had been a steady supply of the most figured maple. So there's nothing "unrealistic" about strong flame, whatever current tastes are.....

[dkirwan]

My 02 R8

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by dkirwan

My 02 R8

Wow, Dan...that's gorgeous! I've never seen an '02 that nice!

[dkirwan]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Wow, Dan...that's gorgeous! I've never seen an '02 that nice!

Thanks!!!

I didn't take the pic...I think the color may have been photoshop enhanced...maybe not? That's before I had her...and now 6 years later...here's a more recent pic!!





With a little pickguard fade...

[Stowburst]

Originally Posted by dkirwan

Looks lovely..that fade is amazing!?

[lpflametop]

do Murphy painted and aged one count? 97 R8

[gottabetweed]

Man there are some beautiful guitars here!
Here is my contribution. My '98 R8 with Timbuckers

http://images.lilypix.com/displayima...bum=1955&pos=0

Sorry tried to post pic to thread??

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by lpflametop

do Murphy painted and aged one count? 97 R8

That's a beauty, Rob! Is that from the Make'n Music run done that year? I had one of those and traded it for something similar last year.

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by lpflametop

do Murphy painted and aged one count? 97 R8

LIQUID FIRE!!!!!

[lpflametop]

Hey , Frank...It came with his Guitar Preservation paperwork and it did not say anything about being a MM guitar, looking at it from a little bit farther away it really gets crazy !!!

[Chris]

That is the coolest most perfect top that I've only seen in my mind until now!

[fretnot]

Originally Posted by lpflametop

My 98 R8

my 2001 R8 Custom Authentic w/Dark back (never seen another one) !!

NICE!

[badhabit]

Just got this '01 R8 Butterscotch yesterday........

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by badhabit

Just got this '01 R8 Butterscotch yesterday........

Wow she's a beauty man! Very Congrats!

[Vintage_Burster]

Huh? 58 Flames? Are they pre-historics? Because the newer 58's are not flamed?

[Nick59]

Lpflametop, that top is absolutely beautiful! It's a lot like 9 1228 in Beauty of the Burst, with its wavy-yet-sharp-edged flame - the flame pattern I'd have if I had the money to order direct from the Custon Shop...

[Vintage_Burster]

Originally Posted by Vintage_Burster

Huh? 58 Flames? Are they pre-historics? Because the newer 58's are not flamed?

-

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Vintage_Burster

Huh? 58 Flames? Are they pre-historics? Because the newer 58's are not flamed?

VB, most '58 Historics (R8s) prior to '03 were flametops. Then, flametops returned in '07 on a run of chambered R8s.

[Chris]

You can still get a solid body flame top. The Murphy aged 50th anniversaries have the honor.