Blacktop 1958 with p90s??

[phildaws]

Hi, been a lurker for a while, but now I have a Les Paul I feel I have a need to post...

Got this one from a well established UK guitar shop, at first I thought they must have advertised it wrong, a R8 with P90's, must be a '56 reissue I assumed. As it was a blacktop I snapped it up regardless.

Turned up today and the serial is the following format 8 XXXX, the original hangers also confirm a 1958 Les Paul, Black with P90s, so definately an R8, are these common?

I got it for a great price so I am not too concerned if it is as rare as hens teeth or common as muck, plus it plays great, has a big fat neck and smells as only a gibson can!

The only thing I can fault is a slightly orange binding colour, but what the hell!

Interestingly enough, a second tag has "Gibson LP, Black P90s, Mick Ralphs, Price TBA"... and the case is a Peter Frampton one, a guitar which I have seen pictures of Mick playing recently.. the shop seemed quite excited about the history of this one and I am not one to put the dampers on a great story, so I will leave it at that..

Any information on this guitar would be much appreciated.

I had hoped to join Lewddude as a fellow Blacktop R6 owner, I have spent long enough drooling over his guitar on this forum, but seems I am instead a R8 blacktop owner, never mind!

Hopefully these pictures turn out ok, will take a few more in daylight..

[Texas07R8]

I was not aware of this guitar issued from Gibson but damn that's one hot looking guitar man... and a 58 reissue no less, my favorite year.

Nice score, if you ever want to sell her let me know!

MORE PICS PLEASE

[mokume]

Wow, very interesting especially those speed knobs. Nice guitar.

[Eddie]

Something isn't right about it. You need to send it to me asap and I will deal with it for you! Seriously, quite a rare and superb find. I would be ecstatic with that one!!!

[cryptozoo]

Badass! How's she sound?

[phildaws]

Thanks for the comments.

Not had a chance to plug her in yet, but pretty excited, unfortunately loud amps and 9 week old babies are not the best combinations.

Will let you know how it sounds.

[gui524]

There's another member with a ebony historic ( but it's a 56 )

[lewddude]

Yeah, that don't seem right... you need to send it to me so I can compare it to mine... Dude That's HOT! Congrats!!! Mine has a big ol honkin Neck too! Interesting that it's an R8 though! There is nothing common about the two guitars we own my friend! I would call gibson and ask them what comes back from that serial #.Thanx for sharing! Come join the mafia!

[phildaws]

Lewddude, consider me well and truly an Ebony Mafia member, my other guitars are a black 62 Custom Tele (japanese) and an old Black ESP Mirage..

It was your guitar that really got me into these blacktops, I never ever expected to find one, so I figured I had to either refinish a goldtop, or get an ebony standard... so pleased to find this one.. what did you find out about yours? special run?

[lewddude]

Gibson confirmed that it was indeed an Ebony Top R6 made 23 march 2007. I was told it was not a special order, but they would not confirm how many were made(they did say less than 10) or where it was sent to, and the retailer said they did not order it, and infact it was in a box labeled Gold top. They were surprised when they opened it! The serial number matched, but the label said Goldtop. I have never seen another, until yours... but I guess yours is not really another...LOL I would have sworn it was an R6 brother! But I guess the serial number don't really mean much anyway! No matter how you slice it, R6, or R8, you have ONE COOL ASS FREAKIN" LES PAUL! I love it! More pics please!

[Stowburst]

Originally Posted by phildaws

Interestingly enough, a second tag has "Gibson LP, Black P90s, Mick Ralphs, Price TBA"... and the case is a Peter Frampton one, a guitar which I have seen pictures of Mick playing recently.. the shop seemed quite excited about the history of this one and I am not one to put the dampers on a great story, so I will leave it at that..

Any information on this guitar would be much appreciated.

Great guitar man! I checked out a MR 58 blacktop P90 guitar a few weeks back...maybe it was that SAME guitar.. I'm sure the one I played had black P90s..

[Joeydego]

bitchin guitar!

[phildaws]

Stowburst, I wonder... was it a well known Stevenage/Luton based shop?

If you did, what did you think of the neck profile? Never played a historic before so I don't really have a point of reference, compared to my ESP it is HUGE!!

[lewddude]

So does it sound better with the pick guard off?

[ZombieAttack]

Ebony R6 and R8 so far in this thread. I've got an ebony R0 - see left. I saw an ebony 57 on the Ibeke site - for a very good price too. Anyone ever hear of an ebony R9?

[phildaws]

Lewddude, just tried it through my Blackstar HT-5, its wicked!

So much growl and bite, makes my Tele seem a bit weedy in comparison.

Oddly enogh it didn't come with a pickguard, nor has any screw marks to indicate one has been taken off... I think the cream pickguard on yours balance with the p90s beautifully, but I am reluctant to put screws into the virgin finish on mine... maybe one of those screwless ones that pop up on ebay might do the trick.

According to Gibson Europe it is a Special Order, an individual request, but they don't have any further records to say who ordered it.

ZombieAttack, nice guitar, really nice, love the nickel humbuckers against the ebony.

[lewddude]

Interesting that who ever ordered it chose an R8 with p90's over an R6 unless it was the pick guard thing? I agree, do NOT put holes in it!!! I play mine every night. My wife is getting jealous! I told her if she made more noises like my R6, she would get more play time...LOL J/K. I didn't really say that! Get some nice pics up here will ya! would be nice to see if there are indeed any other black tops in the historic line up as well.

[phildaws]

haha, my wife is mad enough about this purchase, a comment like that might just end in divorce!

Guess that is the great thing about Gibson, occasionally these oddities crop up and they are few and far between... you just don't get that with the volume manufacturers.

Anyone else owning up to having a historic black top?

[Droog]

Wow, that is one awesome looking guitar. I love the Les Paul - P-90's sound.

[ZombieAttack]

Originally Posted by phildaws

ZombieAttack, nice guitar, really nice, love the nickel humbuckers against the ebony.

Thanks, I like it a bunch. I bought it without playing it, so I'm fortunate that I like the way it plays and sounds.

[Stowburst]

Originally Posted by phildaws

Stowburst, I wonder... was it a well known Stevenage/Luton based shop?

If you did, what did you think of the neck profile? Never played a historic before so I don't really have a point of reference, compared to my ESP it is HUGE!!

This was in Oxford.. and it had Black P90s..if I remember. Most historic have big necks, I had a R7 and the neck was massive and I mean massive! The Neck on my new R9 is bigger than my last one.. they all vary.. anyway your guitar looks amazing! MORE PICS?

[Joeydego]

I remember someone on here with an R0 in black, bitchin guitar. Now i'm gassin for a black historic.

[ZombieAttack]

Originally Posted by Joeydego

I remember someone on here with an R0 in black, bitchin guitar. Now i'm gassin for a black historic.

That would be me.

[Joeydego]

can we get a pic or 2?

[ZombieAttack]

Here's a couple:

[Joeydego]

GAS!!!! gotta stop the GAS!!!!!

[lewddude]

Come on Boss, we are still waiting for the BIG high res pics of this R8!

[phildaws]

Here you go Lewddude, think they capture the colours pretty well, it is a bit more orangy (for want of a better description!) back and binding than yours, unless that is just the way yours looks on camera....

Shot of all my guitars, till they hit ebay anyway, excuse the Ben10 stickers on them, if my son goes near my gibson with one of those stickers he really will see a transformation!

[Stowburst]

Great pics..that Blacktop looks great with the brown body..

[Joeydego]

let me know when the gibby is for sale please