Cloud 9

[Fracture]

I remember reading somewhere about a series of guitars,
that were "chambered reissues". Manufactured for like 3 years
and only thru certain dealers.

Then I see this at MF


Buy Gibson Custom Chambered 1958 Les Paul Reissue VOS Electric Guitar | Solid Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend

I haven't seen any mention of these at Gibson's site.
With all the debate about chambering and historical accuracy,
is there any merit to this instrument.
My Classic is chambered, and I like the weight and balance.
But both ('04, '05) Standards put it to shame.

Anyone care to enlighten the masses?

[Droog]

Press the search button, that should enlighten the masses.

[dylanR]

They were manufactured for specific stores, so you're probably not going to see them on the gibson site, much like you wont find a G0 (a guitar center plaintop 1960 reissue) or a traditional pro (guitar center traditional with satin finish and coil spilts) etc etc. What it's doing on musician's friend is beyond me, i thought they were run through small dealers, but then again i'm not an expert. and the general consensus is they are good, Billy Gibbons and Ed King like them, I honestly would love one but not for asking price, a chambered 57 i could take on the road when the time comes and beat the crap out of it, and keep my back happy. If you like you're chambered classic you will more than likely enjoy a chambered reissue, you can get a flame top 58, people LOVE that. That's my .02 cents hope i was of some help, some one in the know will come along eventually.

[Tim Plains]

Merit?
You get a flame top reissue for roughly the same price as an R8. Seems like a great deal to me.
Chambered R8s have been on GC.com & MF.com for at least a year.
I have one, it's great.

[mrkenny]

I bought a CR4 and afterwards wondered if I should have gotten the non chambered model, at least for a while. There was a nagging feeling that it wasn't a REAL Les Paul. As the years have gone by I've concluded I made a good choice, it's a great guitar. Mine weights 7.46 lbs and is really easy on the back, plays good and has great tone and sustain. There were photo's of the CR route on some previous threads. The way the chambers are cut out, leaving a center block, kind of reminds me of a es335's construction, sort of. I guess they are a kind of hybrid. If I were to be given the choice again I'd choose a CR model.

[oldgtarz]

I own two CR8's and I love mine, if it was possible I'd trade my non-chambered R7 & R9 for their chambered counterparts. The weight and resonance are what makes them special.
And the fact that they have the smugglers option

[pinefd]

Obviously, you can't make a claim that all of this type, or all of that type of guitars are good or bad, but generally speaking, the chambered reissues seem to be great guitars. The one that I have is outstanding. And here's an article about Ed King and how he feels about his chambered R8...and he had to buy this guitar just like the rest of us (I know, because I was with him when he tried it and bought it): Lynyrd Skynyrd?s Ed King: The Gibson Interview


Frank

[Tim Plains]

"Just back from the Custom Shop Summer Jam—where he fell in love with a chambered VOS ’58 Les Paul that he swears equals his original ’59 Standard"

That's quite the statement!

[Sony Oengui]

Originally Posted by R9.

"Just back from the Custom Shop Summer Jam—where he fell in love with a chambered VOS ’58 Les Paul that he swears equals his original ’59 Standard"

That's quite the statement!

On a Gibson web site? Don't mine me. I own a couple Epis and don't know how to play, but I been told that people lie for money.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Sony Oengui

On a Gibson web site? Don't mine me. I own a couple Epis and don't know how to play, but I been told that people lie for money.

Listen here Sony (hey, I've always wanted to say that! LOL)...

Just so you know, Ed King has absolutely no affiliation with Gibson, and was not paid at all for this "endorsement". I had to practically drag him to the Jam because he hates crowds. He had told me how disillusioned he had been in recent years with all the Les Pauls he had tried, and I convinced him to come and try out some of the new (at the time) '07 Historics. The first one of these chambered R8s that he tried out, he immediately fell in love with. And as was the case with anyone else there wanting to buy a guitar, he had to be hitched up with a dealer that was there, and he paid for the guitar just like anyone else at the Jam wanting to buy a guitar.

So, next time you want to accuse someone of being a liar on a public forum, maybe think twice...or in your case, thinking once might have been an even better idea.


Frank

[Sony Oengui]

Originally Posted by pinefd

Listen here Sony (hey, I've always wanted to say that! LOL)...

Just so you know, Ed King has absolutely no affiliation with Gibson, and was not paid at all for this "endorsement". I had to practically drag him to the Jam because he hates crowds. He had told me how disillusioned he had been in recent years with all the Les Pauls he had tried, and I convinced him to come and try out some of the new (at the time) '07 Historics. The first one of these chambered R8s that he tried out, he immediately fell in love with. And as was the case with anyone else there wanting to buy a guitar, he had to be hitched up with a dealer that was there, and he paid for the guitar just like anyone else at the Jam wanting to buy a guitar.

So, next time you want to accuse someone of being a liar on a public forum, maybe think twice...or in your case, thinking once might have been an even better idea.


Frank

Never intended to scream out loud that that Ed King is a liar. Just saying that I have problems believing what I read and believe thats a good thing. Marketing bullshit is all around us, and if I read on a Gibson website that a guitar legend thinks a, back then, new Gibson guitars sound just like a 59 Standard, I won't believe that. Different is the case of being friends with a guy how owns a guitar and he finds a guitar that feels/sounds similar.
Please don't accuse me of not thinking, I find that very offending. It just upsets me when people buy all that marketing bullshit.

You made the "accuse someone of being a liar on a public forum" part sound like I shouted "Were's your God know?" on the presidents son baptism when the priest accidently bumped the kids head with the pile. Nice touch.

[970harris]

Meanwhile, an approach to "chambering" that differes from Gibson USA's "weight relief" and Historics that are "chambered":

Double carved lesters...

These look interesting..

I bought prototype #10 from Wildwood about a month ago; like the preceding posts from Members who like their chambered Historics, I am "well pleased".

[cryptozoo]

I've recently gotten into the Chambered LP world and have been pretty floored -- it's more of what I liked about the "Les Paul" tone in my head, and less (or Les) of what I don't. I'm a big fan of semi-hollows (335s and the like) and a chambered LP has a just a dash of that fat flavor, too. I'd like to try out one of the Wildwood double-carves but have never had a chance to play one.

[59bluze]

I recently purchased a 2004 Chambered R8 In Brockburst color, Love this thing! I also have a R9 and R0. My Chambered Paul is right now the no# 1 player.

[Boshizzle]

Ed King is only getting royalties from one guitar and it's not a Gibson. It's a limited custom built copy of his Strat style guitar with a '53 Tele neck called "Ol' Red." You can read about it here - Ed King - “Limited Signature Series Guitar” - Melody Guitars.

Ed King is sincere in what he said about the Cloud 9 LPs. He has said that "Chambered mahogany resonates like crazy." Personally, I take his word for it.

[specflec]

Fracture - I have tried them and I like. This is absolutely useless info to you. You need to try them and see if you like.

Sony... I read your reply to this thread and came away with exactly the same impression as Frank. No, you did not shout out and accuse, you insinuated. Which in my mind is worse in that you leave yourself an out. Otherwise you would have to defend your position. You are correct in that the hype and BS is all around us and usually waist deep, but I am also of the mind that there are honest and sincere responses. It is much more productive to weigh the integrity of a source before blowing generalized smoke.

Just sayin'. All is good.

[970harris]

Originally Posted by cryptozoo

I've recently gotten into the Chambered LP world and have been pretty floored -- it's more of what I liked about the "Les Paul" tone in my head, and less (or Les) of what I don't. I'm a big fan of semi-hollows (335s and the like) and a chambered LP has a just a dash of that fat flavor, too. I'd like to try out one of the Wildwood double-carves but have never had a chance to play one.

Accoustically, my Double Carve sounds distinctly more woody / reedy that the non-chambered R8's I've had. I had the chance to play about a dozen at Wildwood one afternoon before settling on mine, mainly because it's got a real fat, honky bridge pickup that just blooms like hell with that space between the mahogany and maple...The neck sounds distinctly softer (actually a little mushy) compared to my plaintop in particular, but I am going to hopefully address that --- give it more bite --- by replacing the capacitor on the neck PU. (Not going to mess with anything related to the bridge PU because is sounds fine even with the stock fooler Bee in there.)