My R8 Has Arrived!

[diceman]

I waited 4 or so months to get my hands on a new R8. Our local dealer gave me a great deal on one, hinging on the guitar being ordered during his "reauthorization" with Gibson. We ordered a Gloss R8 in Tobacco, which was backordered from the Custom Shop for several weeks. The wait was well worth it! She arrived today and is absolutely beautiful! Its going to get its setup tweaked a little bit in the morning, but I stopped in just before the shop closed to play her a little bit, and what an amazing guitar! I only have a couple of photos from today (crappy and indoor) but will add some outdoor shots to this thread tomorrow or Wednesday. I couldn't have dreamed of a prettier top, and there is a very cool knot on the back (which I'll show later in photos) that looks just like a human "eye" in the middle. This is a special guitar! It weighs 9lbs 4oz. These pix don't do the guitar justice, but I'll show them anyways.





EDIT: Here are the new pix taken today. I love this guitar!











Notice the knot that looks like an "Eye."





Edit again: More pix in the sunlight.

[kernelofwisdom]

It's so shiny I had to wear sunglasses to read your post. I noted the weight too!

Congrats!

Fine, it looks like the best guitar ever, but how does it SOUND!?

[diceman]

Originally Posted by kernelofwisdom

It's so shiny I had to wear sunglasses to read your post. I noted the weight too!

Congrats!

Fine, it looks like the best guitar ever, but how does it SOUND!?

It sounds wonderful. I played it for about 30 minutes through a Dr. Z combo at the shop. Its very full and very warm sounding - punchy and articulate - not at all muddy. Its not quite as warm as my Deluxe (with P90's), but it has more clarity. I'll need to play it through one of my amps to really get a feel for it, as I haven't played any of my other Pauls through a Dr. Z. before (gotta get one of those before too long!) The neck feels amazing (the chunkiest I own) and the fretwork is perfect - that PLEK machine sure does an amazing job.

The back is lighter than most I've seen - not as red, but not pink either. No cosmetic flaws what-so-ever, other than being slightly "rough" (texture) looking inside of the open book of the headstock. Binding is great, finish is smooth with no orange peel.

I couldn't be happier.

[Hemply]

Damn DICE!

Now that is one soft axe you have there brother!

I've never seen a tabacco look so friggin' nice and I really like the Gloss finish! Good move man!

Play her in good health!

[Gunner]

She's a pretty lil gal! Love the top. Nice score Dude!

[Sinmastah]

Pretty, hope it sounds just as good too. Now you have a nice collection of LP's, couple elitists, '69, r8. I'm jealous. Grats!

[Rock Star]

[Boleskinehouse]

Awesome! Put her in the "Darkbursts Unite!" thread!!

[kernelofwisdom]

Originally Posted by diceman

It sounds wonderful. I played it for about 30 minutes through a Dr. Z combo at the shop. Its very full and very warm sounding - punchy and articulate - not at all muddy. Its not quite as warm as my Deluxe (with P90's), but it has more clarity. I'll need to play it through one of my amps to really get a feel for it, as I haven't played any of my other Pauls through a Dr. Z. before (gotta get one of those before too long!) The neck feels amazing (the chunkiest I own) and the fretwork is perfect - that PLEK machine sure does an amazing job.

The back is lighter than most I've seen - not as red, but not pink either. No cosmetic flaws what-so-ever, other than being slightly "rough" (texture) looking inside of the open book of the headstock. Binding is great, finish is smooth with no orange peel.

I couldn't be happier.

Great that you like the neck - I'm sure you played one like that beforehand; I played a 58 the other day and wow it was different. If I could sell an organ on ebay I'd get one. I'm thinking too that the PLEK is not just hype.

But that is one sweet looking guitar - looking forward to further imaging!

[diceman]

Originally Posted by kernelofwisdom

Great that you like the neck - I'm sure you played one like that beforehand; I played a 58 the other day and wow it was different. If I could sell an organ on ebay I'd get one. I'm thinking too that the PLEK is not just hype.

But that is one sweet looking guitar - looking forward to further imaging!

I played a couple R7s and a chambered R8 before this one - the R7s were heavier and not quite as resonant. My shop ordered two of these guitars in - and I was told that I could have my pick. The other one isn't in yet, but I'm not in the least bit worried about it. I fell in love with this one, and our shop owner, who I trust very much, said that its as nice as any historic he's ever had his hands on. I'm loving it!

[diceman]

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

Awesome! Put her in the "Darkbursts Unite!" thread!!

I sure will once I get some respectable photos taken of her!

Everyone else - thanks for the words - its been "a long time coming," and I can't wait to have it here in the house tomorrow! Many more pix to come.

[stryker59]

beautiful diceman!!!!

[stinger]

Wow, what a long wait. Congratulations!

[Wolf Child]

Damn, thats pretty.

[Led Zep Fan]

Nice Diceman, real nice!

[strat les sg]

got mine today as well ,but had a loose input jack wire

[diceman]

Thanks guys! The grain is so much more apparent without the flash - I'll get good photos soon.

SLS - did you get that wire taken care of?

[LPCollector]

Originally Posted by kernelofwisdom

If I could sell an organ on ebay I'd get one. I'm thinking too that the PLEK is not just hype.

What do you mean?....you have one comming!
I just sent you your tracking number thru EBay.

Your R8 Gold Top should be there soon!

BTW....I will guarantee that the PLEK process is NOT hype!....well, you'll find out soon.......

CONGRATS DICEMAN!

That is one smokin' Tobacco!

BTW, is the eye on the back brown.....

"The Brown Eye Burst"!

[BurstintoFlames]

BEE YOU TEE FUL!!! Nice axe you got there man.

[Guido]

Damn Dan, thats an amazing guitar!
Will you ever let go your elitist STD?
I was talking today with my mother and I told her something like ´´This plays as good as a gibson´´ and she told me ´´well, so you dont need a gibson´´, to what I said ´´no, but I need more elitists!!!´´

[diceman]

Burst - thanks!

LP - I can't wait to see your pix of the Stinger when it arrives!

Guido - I don't think that I'll ever let the Elitist Standard go - in fact, she's headed to a luthier tomorrow for some minor fret leveling. Looks like we both got new guitars today!

[Guido]

Originally Posted by diceman

Burst - thanks!

LP - I can't wait to see your pix of the Stinger when it arrives!

Guido - I don't think that I'll ever let the Elitist Standard go - in fact, she's headed to a luthier tomorrow for some minor fret leveling. Looks like we both got new guitars today!

Youll take the STD to heaven with you
yes, we got them the same day, isnt that strange? I mean, I was told like 5 or 6 times the guitar was coming and just today it arrives

[diceman]

Originally Posted by LPCollector

That is one smokin' Tobacco!

BTW, is the eye on the back brown.....

"The Brown Eye Burst"![/COLOR]

Ooooh, you'll see it soon enough!!!

[ReverendJWblues]

Dice brother...........I dont see any pics.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by ReverendJWblues

Dice brother...........I dont see any pics.

They're up there - first post!

No worries if you miss out on those two, as I'll have much better ones tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest.

[thenowhereman]

Can't tell you how happy I am for you. I too just got my brand new Paul. It's an R8 too, but in washed cherry. Don't you love the purple velvet case lining. Congrats man and enjoy.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by thenowhereman

Can't tell you how happy I am for you. I too just got my brand new Paul. It's an R8 too, but in washed cherry. Don't you love the purple velvet case lining. Congrats man and enjoy.

Thanks buddy - welcome to the forum!

Be sure to post some pix of your somewhere if/when you get time - I'd love to see it!

I do like the case - not quite as substantial as my 90's brown and pink Gibson case (and nowhere near the chainsaw cases!), but it seems to fit very well and sure does look good.

I've only spent about 30 minutes with the guitar (and a few seconds with the case ) at the shop today, but will get pretty intimate with both after I pick them up tomorrow at noon. They're double checking the factory setup/intonation, putting some Schaller strap buttons on it, and doing the normal routine of fret board oiling, fret polishing, new strings, etc. that they always do when they get a new guitar in. It was delivered to the shop just before they closed for the day, but they were cool enough to call me over to have a quick peek.

Again, welcome to the forum.

[ReverendJWblues]

Originally Posted by diceman

I waited 4 or so months to get my hands on a new R8. Our local dealer gave me a great deal on one, hinging on the guitar being ordered during his "reauthorization" with Gibson. We ordered a Gloss R8 in Tobacco, which was backordered from the Custom Shop for several weeks. The wait was well worth it! She arrived today and is absolutely beautiful! Its going to get its setup tweaked a little bit in the morning, but I stopped in just before the shop closed to play her a little bit, and what an amazing guitar! I only have a couple of photos from today (crappy and indoor) but will add some outdoor shots to this thread tomorrow or Wednesday. I couldn't have dreamed of a prettier top, and there is a very cool knot on the back (which I'll show later in photos) that looks just like a human "eye" in the middle. This is a special guitar! It weighs 9lbs 4oz. These pix don't do the guitar justice, but I'll show them anyways.

They are Xed outon mine. Now I got em...............Definate beauty brother.

[diceman]

Thanks Rev! I can't wait to get my mits back on her tomorrow.

[Oaklanda]

Holy crap, that's nice!