Great Flame...a lesson on selecting a nice R9 flame

[tasticafe]

can some of you guys help show and explain what great flame looks like on a R9? or any reissue for that matter...i know its a matter of opinion but it seems like all you guys usually agree on a nice top...maybe you guys can just show some examples of bad flame so i know what to stay away from. ive seen some that i thought were nice and guys on here said it was bbq (still dont know what that is) and other i thought were sweet and you guys said it was angled too strong like chevrons...can someone please just make sense of all this please???

thanks for any help

[peterdhud]

I'll tell you all about BBQ! Lighter fluid!!!!!!! yes take your boring old LES PAUL and cover it with Lighter fluid for your Bar-B-QUE!!!!!!! Talk about flames. If that is too much work, Butane, gasoline, or just plain ole hairspray will do the trick! If you are lucky and have a nitro finished lester, you don't even need the accelerant; it will BURST into flames with just a match! I would suggest, of course that you should immoliate your guitar in an open space and inform your local volunteeer fire dept before hand. Just remember that fireman are hungry and thirsty so go down to your local price chopper and pick up some burgers and a couple of cases of frosty cold beer so that after they are through extinguishing the flames, they may be properly fed. That is my opinion about guitars with great flames.

[delawaregold]

Don’t believe everything you read!
Seriously, the maple is there for the sustain and tone
it provides. The fact that when they are finished you
can see the wood has figure to it, is just a bonus.
If you see a guitar, and you like it, and it sounds good,
and it feels good when your playing it, that’s all that
matters.

[Darkburst]

BBQ flame is when the figure very straight across the top with little wave or curl. A lot of people including myself dislike that kind of top. In the end it's whatever you think looks good.

[Mike60]

this thread is useless without





sorry...I do not own any R9's...I'm a double ring Ho'

[Liam]

If you like the look of it, it's great. If you don't, it's not. Very subjective thing. I like the look of this one, but then I would, it's mine!



The book Beauty of the Burst is a great source of info on this sort of thing.

Liam

[dwagar]

IMO Les Paul Flame is akin to art. What I really like, you might not.

But as Delawaregold said above, the flame shouldn't be the real reason you pick a guitar, just look at it as a bonus. An expensive bonus, but a bonus.

[Droog]

The sound of the guitar is most important to me, but aesthetically, I love the plaintops. Flames/Quilts don't do it for me. Especially some Heritage H150 flames and a selection of Les Paul's....It's like they're trying too hard to get a really intense flame. I'll take a plaintop any day if two instruments sounded the same.



But different strokes for different folks, and get whatever you like

[Roman Rist]

There is no such thing as "bad flame".

I think it is silly to rely on, or ask the opinions of others on this subject.

When you see it and like it, it is right. If you don't, it is wrong.(for you)

[BCRGreg]

If it must be explained, you might not understand.

[drewbertca]

Originally Posted by delawaregold

The fact that when they are finished you
can see the wood has figure to it, is just a bonus.
If you see a guitar, and you like it, and it sounds good,
and it feels good when your playing it, that’s all that
matters.

I agree with this completely.......the only person who has to love your guitar is you.....I know I defend BFGs but someone has to.....I love mine and don't care what people think about it...I like it...that's all that matters to me....but I must confess I do enjoy a good argument.....I apologize if my defense of my beloved Les Paul model is overzealous at times...it's all in good fun

[fromthebeginning]

Originally Posted by RFR

There is no such thing as "bad flame".

I think it is silly to rely on, or ask the opinions of others on this subject.

When you see it and like it, it is right. If you don't, it is wrong.(for you)

I definitely agree but before you make an investment you need to spend a lot of time looking and understanding your options. I personally wanted an R8 in 2002, I found a great instrument with good sound but I hadnt spent a lot of time understanding the choices, I bought it and then joined a couple of forums. After then seeing all the choices I realized that I would have preferred something different, after that my 02R8 just sat there for a over a year until I sold it. Armed with more knowledge I found one I really love, with the right sound, feel and looks. There are a lot of great historics out there, enough that you find one that matches all your requirements but spend a little time and ensure you get a good feel with what turns you on.

[Nick59]

If you see a guitar that looks good to you (this thread is about flame, not tone, although hopefully it'll sound good too), don't worry about what other people's opinions are! Personal taste can't be dictated by a forum, or at least I hope it can't. My top is Tiger Stripe, but very 3 dimensional, like deep ripples in sand, and it is something I wanted for many years. Not everyone's taste, but some people don't like flame at all, others irregular flame, and still others regular straight flame. No one thing is "correct"......

[stinger]

I think you need to search the forum and study the pics and decide for yourself. Others can give their opinion but they can't tell you what you like. I'm not sure there would be a set consensus on what is considered good flame. Some people prefer alot of flame, some like it more subtle and others don't like it at all. Your own eyes will tell you what good is and that is all that matters.

[dnoseworth]

This one works for me.

[b-squared]

Here's mine.



BB

[irunnoft]

Originally Posted by b-squared

Here's mine.



BB

Goooooood Lord! I don't care how many times I see that guitar....she's drop dead gorgeous!!!

[b-squared]

Originally Posted by irunnoft

Goooooood Lord! I don't care how many times I see that guitar....she's drop dead gorgeous!!!

Thanks, man. You just made my semi-crappy day a good one.

BB

[Nick59]

This is tiger stripe flame close-up. For some reason my guitar looks very red in photos, but this picture shows the burst as faded and more tea than cherry, as it actually looks to the naked eye. The flame is very 3D and looks like deep ripples that move up and down with the point of view. Almost holographic. Different patterns have different fans, but many people like a 3D effect to their flame, whatever the pattern.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by irunnoft

Goooooood Lord! I don't care how many times I see that guitar....she's drop dead gorgeous!!!

now that is a perfect flame maple top not to thick not to thin not to straight not to wavy slightly quilted deep luxurious ripples perfect

[b-squared]

Thanks--ya, she's a beaut.

All she needs is a set of WB's 6707 Green pickups...man, if I could scrape some cash-ola together...

BB

[vegasdude]

If you ever see a tangerine flame........you'll understand for sure........

[flameburst]

Tangerine flame - does this qualify?



1997 Gibson Historic Re-issue R9 (1959)

[LPCollector]

Originally Posted by vegasdude

If you ever see a tangerine flame........you'll understand for sure........

This may not be what you ment.....but I think she has a pretty flame on her:

[b-squared]

THAT is pretty darn cool!

Do tell the story on her!

BB

[LPCollector]

She's an 01 Gibson Cutsom Shop Les Paul Acoustic. Hand carved top to accomodate the Piezo style pickup. Tangerine Burst.
Lots of fun!

[zoso304]

BB thats a beautiful geetar you got there Brother, tell us about it please!

[LPCollector]

Originally Posted by zoso304

BB thats a beautiful geetar you got there Brother, tell us about it please!

+1
She's a beauty!

[b-squared]

Originally Posted by zoso304

BB thats a beautiful geetar you got there Brother, tell us about it please!

Mine is a 2004 R9, I purchased on eBay about 3 years ago. Largest purchase I'd ever made on eBay, pretty scary.

I got the guitar and fell in love with it immediately...plays great, no issues. At the time I was a "10" player...kept the volume/tone on "10" all the time. I was also using SS gear, and felt I was lacking in tone. (Sucking would be more appropriate...lol)

I bought a Tweed Bassman, and suddenly all was well...except when I wanted to clean up...the volume pots sucked. No taper whatsoever.

I learned about RS Guitarworks on another forum, and bought a kit and installed it. Wow, what a difference. It was a whole new (and better) guitar.

I've never liked new/shiny guitars, probably because I'd never owned a new one...always bought used. So--with my RS contacts, asked if they could relic it for me. I've always loved the look of the Green burst (being a fan of Peter Green and Gary Moore), so I asked if they could replicate the look. They said "Sure!", and asked if I wanted a faded Burst like "Greenie" (refin)...I said no, because I like the color of the guitar, and want it to fade naturally.

So--I have a hybrid Green/Moore Burst...and I love it. The neck is worn, and is as smooth as glass, even when my hands are dripping wet with sweat.

I also don't have to worry about bumping or dings...good for me, I'm, a klutz.

I love the flame on it, and honestly can't ever see getting rid of this guitar. I'ts my first Sunburst LP, and the best I've ever played.

Here's a couple more pics:





Thanks for the compliments! I'm drooling over all the great looking guitars in this thread...that Tri-Burst...

[Edit] One more pic...this is Max Baker from Mama's Pride (signed in the 70's very Almond Bros. sounding) playing my axe at a recent show in STL...he fell in love with it!



BB

[mmcquain]

Some don't care for this flame but it works for me and that's all I need to know...