Tone changes with Historic Makeover?

[Monster]

Hi guys, my first post here, so be gentle...

Anybody have one of the makeovers done that change the truss rod, nut and fingerboard and could give me a report on the sonic effects? Try to give as detail as possible please, including any negatives (if there are any).

Thanks.

[LVC]

Have not done the full makeover on any of my lesters -- however I just had the vintage electronics upgrade kit from RS Guitar Works installed on my 59R C9. All I can say is man oh man --- the clarity and note blossom is off the charts.

I am bringing in my 56GT today to have same upgrade installed in it.

Change is dramatic in a very very good way.

[dwagar]

My R9 was the first 'D' out of the shop.

IMO it is fantastic. Although the change in looks (especially the '01 inlays) was a bonus, I paid for this for the tone.

I'm not good at describing tone, but I'll try.

First change I noticed was resonance, the guitar is acoustically much louder and you can feel the vibrations through the body way more than before. Second would be the fantastic overtones. Third would be clarity and playability, the guitar is great everywhere on the neck.

This was a great R9 to start with. The HM work turned it into a fantastic guitar. It was like pulling a blanket off of it.

This is a pretty expensive upgrade, so it's not for everyone. But IMO it is worth every penny.



There are a few other HM owners here, I'm sure they can describe the tonal changes better than I can.

[Mike60]

...huge!...

[Monster]

Thanks for the replies. How would you rate this makeover sonically compared to other mods (changed pickups, Pigtail studs/tailpiece, etc.)? In other words, if the improvement with Timbuckers or WCRs plus Pigtails is an improvement of 5 on a scale of 10, what number would you give to this? Of course we all understand this is subjective, YMMV, etc. and that the Gibson administration would likely give all mods a -3 or so. I think I'd like to have this done, but I'm concerned about shipping my precious baby back and forth and am not a rich man, so I want to be pretty sure its worth the risk.

[dwagar]

yes it's very subjective, but I guess I'd have to say 10.

Pickups, caps etc all nudge you closer towards the tone you are searching for. The HM makeover changes the inherent quality of the guitar itself. By that I mean it moves the basic beast up a notch before you start adding and modding the other stuff. If you get what I mean.

And it's not just a tonal thing for me, it's a playability issue. This guitar is now doing exactly what I wanted it to do, stuff I had to push for before, or couldn't quite get out of it, comes naturally to it now. At first I thought some of it was just 'mojo', but to tell you the truth I tend to forget about the mod, and just consider it my R9 now.

[TM1]

My `02 R-0 had the whole "A Package". The results are wonderful. Since I've played many vintage Les Pauls, I have good idea what they sound like. I also own an incredible `59 L.P. Special and that's the benchmark of tone for me. I bought it back in 1992.
I had my `05 SG/LP Std. up for the "Package D" mod and it turned an great guitar into an amazing guitar.
Both guitars have had a few other things done; the R-0 has vintage Grover's, Pigtail bushings, original `50's studs, Pigtail ABR-1 bridge, RS Super Pots, original Sprague PIO Bee's, original `50's switch ring, tip and nut, 1960 Reflector knobs, VC pickup rings and pickguard and `62 Pat.# pickups with `50's long magnets.
The SG has ALL the parts on in made in 1962 except for Pigtail studs, bushings and stoptail. Photos to follow...
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[Mike60]

...the cherry on the '62 is bang on to my '60 Special...

[Mike60]

Originally Posted by Monster

Thanks for the replies. How would you rate this makeover sonically compared to other mods (changed pickups, Pigtail studs/tailpiece, etc.)? In other words, if the improvement with Timbuckers or WCRs plus Pigtails is an improvement of 5 on a scale of 10, what number would you give to this? Of course we all understand this is subjective, YMMV, etc. and that the Gibson administration would likely give all mods a -3 or so. I think I'd like to have this done, but I'm concerned about shipping my precious baby back and forth and am not a rich man, so I want to be pretty sure its worth the risk.

...pack it right and shipping is no problem...I must warn you though,once you own a full HM,you will find a stock Historic lacking...

[Axeman16]

Originally Posted by TM1

My `02 R-0 had the whole "A Package". The results are wonderful. Since I've played many vintage Les Pauls, I have good idea what they sound like. I also own an incredible `59 L.P. Special and that's the benchmark of tone for me. I bought it back in 1992.
I had my `05 SG/LP Std. up for the "Package D" mod and it turned an great guitar into an amazing guitar.
Both guitars have had a few other things done; the R-0 has vintage Grover's, Pigtail bushings, original `50's studs, Pigtail ABR-1 bridge, RS Super Pots, original Sprague PIO Bee's, original `50's switch ring, tip and nut, 1960 Reflector knobs, VC pickup rings and pickguard and `62 Pat.# pickups with `50's long magnets.
The SG has ALL the parts on in made in 1962 except for Pigtail studs, bushings and stoptail. Photos to follow...
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

gorgeous guitars. your les paul looks alot like a young page number 1.