Played a CR9 yesterday...

[JJ Blair]

Never played a chambered LP before. God, was it awful. That chamber just destroys the tone. Anybody else tried one of these things?

[Bear]

Pics? Reasons you didn't like it? What were you playing it through?

[JJ Blair]

Reissue '57 Deluxe, or something like that. I didn't even need to plug it in to know it was weird. Lacked sustain in the highs, and the mids were thuddy.

[Droog]

I've played a couple and they were great Les Pauls.

[oldgtarz]

I have two and they're the most awesome Les Paul's I have ever played.

[WhippingPost]

Originally Posted by JJ Blair

Never played a chambered LP before. God, was it awful. That chamber just destroys the tone. Anybody else tried one of these things?

Originally Posted by JJ Blair

Reissue '57 Deluxe, or something like that. I didn't even need to plug it in to know it was weird. Lacked sustain in the highs, and the mids were thuddy.

Kind of sounds like you went in with your mind made up, but I could be reading that wrong. You could have picked up one that was a dud, or just one whose tone you didn't like. The few I've played have been very good, and not all too different from their non-chambered counterparts.

Duds happen, even in the Custom Shop.

[uburoibob]

These are AMAZING guitars that often sound more like original bursts than the solid Historics do. That said, as with all guitars, some are much better than others. If you get a good one in your hands, it has the potential to sound more authentic than a solid one.

Of course, there are some folks who believe that it's only the pickups and strings that make the sound and tone of an electric guitar. They would say just swap the pickups. I don't subscribe to that theory, though.

I guess it all comes down to what you can hear. Or, as someone else said, what you EXPECT to hear.

Bob

Bob

[Tim Plains]

My CR sounds great. Funny...if I would have formed an opinion after I played a Les Paul for the first time, I would still hate them.

[mraajr]

I have had three...there is a reason I havent only had one

[Danelectro]

I've owned three and still have two, which are my primary gigging guitars. I don't get your comment that the chambers "destroy the tone". In my opinion, the chambered guitars have better tone than any solid body Historic that I've owned.

[Tele Jr.]

There are good CR's and not so good ones, just like all guitars. I picked mine out of a room full of open cases of them and found out they do differ quite a bit. Some have more of the chambered body effect of incteased sustain and tone bloom all over the place, and others just don't. Some also have a problem modulating the bass, most don't.

But there are more than enough great players who are ledgendary for taste in tone who have signed off on the CR's as great stuff and are proving it by using them live to render your opinion as just that. Maybe you should do your homework and then go back and take another listen...

[uburoibob]

Lots of info on these in THIS thread:

The Cloud 9 Series - History of the Chambered-Reissue

Bob

[Kinetic]

WADRespect, to be honest, I never saw the reasons why someone should buy a CR9 Historic other than for the long tenon. Isn't pretty much the same as a Standard; whereas the Standard is cheaper in price.

[WhippingPost]

Originally Posted by paleo

WADRespect, to be honest, I never saw the reasons why someone should buy a CR9 Historic other than for the long tenon. Isn't pretty much the same as a Standard; whereas the Standard is cheaper in price.

With the same due respect:

Have you played both? We can rattle off the differences in manufacture/components, but unless you go out and play both guitars in the same sitting, you really won't understand the difference. Until then, you can't decide if the price difference is justified.

Cloud 9 Historics and standard USA line guitars are not the same.

[uburoibob]

I've played both and there's no comparison. I played a real 69 Custom for years. In 2005, I sold it. Last year I got back into LPs and the first one I bought was a Standard. After a week, I returned it to the store - the 30/60 neck just didn't work for me, the setup was pretty horrible and required quite a bit of work, and the sound was kinda harsh. They sent me home with a used 2004 R9 (at twice the price) and that was my beginning down this road of experiencing lots of Historics. Again, no comparison, all apologies to Standard owners (of which I actually AM one - I have a Larry Corsa Faded Standard - which is a great guitar, just a very different guitar).

Bob

[JJ Blair]

Well, I didn't realize it was a chambered Paul when I started playing it. The sound was bugging me, and I noticed how light it was, then I was informed that it was chambered.

It sounded nothing like any of the real '57 to '60 Pauls I've ever played. It was "boinky," to be onomatopoetic. And the Historics I've played were way more happening than this. I have yet to play an Historic that measures up to a good vintage LP, even though I enjoy the Historics. My biggest objection is Gibson getting the neck profiles wrong, but they still haven't wowed me the way my '58 or any of the others I've played have.

[WhippingPost]

Like I said, could have been a dud. Or maybe the chambering just doesn't suit you (it does have a different tone). Obviously, it wasn't the guitar for you.

[Droog]

Originally Posted by paleo

WADRespect, to be honest, I never saw the reasons why someone should buy a CR9 Historic other than for the long tenon. Isn't pretty much the same as a Standard; whereas the Standard is cheaper in price.

Chambered or solidbody, the custom shop guitars get the best wood. Chambered or solid, a custom shop guitar will most likely be better than a comparable USA model.

[155]

smoke another jj

[Danelectro]

I've found that Burstbuckers vary quite a bit. I had one pair that came with an R8 that I couldn't replace fast enough. I put a pair of Peter Florence Voodoos in the guitar and it sounds amazing. I've got another pair of BBs that came with an '07 CR8 and they rival just about any boutique pickup I've owned.

[bugman]

are you sure it was a CR9 or maybe a chambered standard full of holes, i had a CR8 that when i got it, was worst sounding guitar ever to me, than i changed the pots caps and pickups and it became the best sounding guitar, my friend is a gibson guy but hates les pauls and he loved it, but i sold it because i did not like the top, im a dumb ass, now i want another one and i know a guy selling a sweet one, and he even posted right here in this thread

[uburoibob]

Originally Posted by bugman

are you sure it was a CR9 or maybe a chambered standard full of holes, i had a CR8 that when i got it, was worst sounding guitar ever to me, than i changed the pots caps and pickups and it became the best sounding guitar, my friend is a gibson guy but hates les pauls and he loved it, but i sold it because i did not like the top, im a dumb ass, now i want another one and i know a guy selling a sweet one, and he even posted right here in this thread

Bug - it's on hold and I think it'll have a new owner in the AM.

Bob

[dwagar]

Lacked sustain in the highs, and the mids were thuddy

Sounds to me like the strings were shot. But, then again, maybe CRs just aren't for you.

[JJ Blair]

Originally Posted by bugman

are you sure it was a CR9 or maybe a chambered standard full of holes, i had a CR8 that when i got it, was worst sounding guitar ever to me, than i changed the pots caps and pickups and it became the best sounding guitar, my friend is a gibson guy but hates les pauls and he loved it, but i sold it because i did not like the top, im a dumb ass, now i want another one and i know a guy selling a sweet one, and he even posted right here in this thread

It said CR9 on the headstock.

As for the strings, they were brand new. Hadn't even been stretched out properly.

As has been said, perhaps it was a lemon. Hopefully they don't all sound like this one. But then again, I'm picky. I've never played a PRS that I liked.

[weirdotis]

I'm with JJ on the PRSs... just never fell for the tone/ feel.

[DonP]

Love my CR8! I have 4 other LPs, and 30+ guitars.

I have heard Chambered Standards that weren't too hot.

So here's the deal. Every guitar is different.

Coming here after playing one chambered guitar and saying that they destroy the tone....

[nicolasrivera]

Originally Posted by weirdotis

I'm with JJ on the PRSs... just never fell for the tone/ feel.

I have a PRS and maybe i got luck, but that piece of wood RESONATES, Brazilian headstock and fretboard.

I know what you mean about the feel, but mine has a big neck, and its just a great guitar to play, easy and fast, i like fast...on some things.

[blix]

I tried one out last year at Elderly Instruments and thought it was an excellent guitar. It seemed to have a "woody" sound that other LPs didn't. And it was so light and comfortable.

[JIM'S GoldTOP]

To each their own...

[uburoibob]

Originally Posted by JIM'S GoldTOP

To each their own...

Sorta - to each the opportunity to play a good one rather than a dog...

Bob