Buying '54 Oxblood - Solid or Chambered Reissue?

[BlisterFingers]

I am about to buy my first historic - a '54 Oxblood which I've been hanging out to own for 3 years.

I've got some quotes from some of the forum dealers and others and I'm down to making the choice on whether to buy a full solid body or one of the chambered reissues.

I don't want to start a "which one is better" thread but would appreciate advice on generic tonal and playability differences from owners of either type.

Thanks

 

[lp59aholicDon]

Wouldnt matter to me if I had the cash and one available I'd take either, My longest standing G.A.S attack Syndrome, even pre dates flame tops and a Marshall

 

[bluezoo32]

I'm a very happy owner of a '54 oxblood with a solid body, but I think the chambered reissues can sound great as well. I think a chambered body is great if you really want to get a lighter-weight guitar. I know folks will argue the tonal differences, but since there can be tonal differences between two solid bodied guitars just as easily, it seems to me that it comes down to personal preference and weight. The necks will be similar on both, and for me, that's a bigger deal than the body - if you love fatter necks, you're gonna love the '54. Wrap tailpiece versus ABR is also a pretty big difference - one that I would also argue is more material than the chamber/non-chamber difference. Sooooo, if I wanted a chambered version, I would find the lightest possible example, because for me, that's what you're paying for. Just my opinion. Ideally, you'd play 'em both and just take the one you like better. It's like wine - drink what you enjoy, not what someone else tells you is good (or is just more expensive). Either way, I hope you enjoy the guitar as much as I enjoy mine!

 

[BlisterFingers]

Hey BlueZoo. Thanks for the advice - you're right there isn't a lot in it and the main things for me are the fat neck and the wraptail. I've ordered a chambered reissue from Wildwood earlier today and I'll be taking delivery next week when I'm in the US on business

Looking forward to contributing some Oxblood porn real soon now.

 

[bluezoo32]

Well done and congrats! And if you're buying from Wildwood, as you probably already know, you have absolutely nothing to be concerned about. The proprietor is a total straight-shooter with a direct line to the Gibson Custom Shop. He gets great stuff and he deserves it. Note that he's one of only about seven web sites that can actually display Gibson guitars on-line. There's MF and Guitar Center (the 2 million pound gorilla), Sweetwater, Guitar Sale/123, a couple other web-based outfits...and Wildwood. Says a lot about what he does and how he conducts his business. Enjoy!

 

[Oh_Well!]

I have recently spent some time at Wildwood and I will attest that they are high quality shop. The staff are fantastic in terms of knowledge and playing ability. Steve, the owner, is about as authentic as you can get! You made a fantastic choice and need not worry. Will your travels take you to Colorado?

 

[Liam]

My '01 R9 was originally sold by Wildwood. I was told it was hand picked by the boss on a visit to Nashville. He's got great taste in flame-tops!

 

[BlisterFingers]

So after 18 slow hours of air travel, I checked into my hotel in downtown Orlando to find a Gibson carton waiting for me. Here's what was inside.

CR47014 - 7.75 lbs, my first historic, from the good folks at Wildwood.

First impressions. Very resonant acoustically, great big thick but very comfortable neck, and very well balanced on the knee despite the chambering. It's been very well setup (I think these are factory plek'd), the most I'll need to do is dial in the pickups and maybe tweak the intonation, but I'll worry about that when I get it home. I'm tossing up whether to buff out the VOS finish to bring it up to full gloss, or just leave it as is.

I plugged it into my digital modeller - it sounds pretty good so far but I'll reserve my full verdict until I plug it into a real amp, a 15 Watt Brownface Deluxe repro with NOS valves. I'm expecting that these two will be a very good match.

Pickups. The bridge burstbucker is pretty good, but the neck is very muddy. The first upgrade will be replacement pots from RS, 50s wiring, and new caps. I'll see how I like the BBs after this.

Bruce from Wildwood was fantastic to deal with. I couldn't recommend these guys enough.

Thanks to all for the advice, it's been much appreciated.

 

[lp59aholicDon]

So after 18 slow hours of air travel, I checked into my hotel in downtown Orlando to find a Gibson carton waiting for me. Here's what was inside.

CR47014 - 7.75 lbs, my first historic, from the good folks at Wildwood.

First impressions. Very resonant acoustically, great big thick but very comfortable neck, and very well balanced on the knee despite the chambering. It's been very well setup (I think these are factory plek'd), the most I'll need to do is dial in the pickups and maybe tweak the intonation, but I'll worry about that when I get it home. I'm tossing up whether to buff out the VOS finish to bring it up to full gloss, or just leave it as is.

I plugged it into my digital modeller - it sounds pretty good so far but I'll reserve my full verdict until I plug it into a real amp, a 15 Watt Brownface Deluxe repro with NOS valves. I'm expecting that these two will be a very good match.

Pickups. The bridge burstbucker is pretty good, but the neck is very muddy. The first upgrade will be replacement pots from RS, 50s wiring, and new caps. I'll see how I like the BBs after this.

Bruce from Wildwood was fantastic to deal with. I couldn't recommend these guys enough.

Thanks to all for the advice, it's been much appreciated.

For your Muddy neck. I'd try a paper in oil cap rated at .015 with a possible super pot 550 Volume MIGHT do you alot of good giving that front alot more clearence

 

[Paul86]

Ahhhh! The Oxblood!
Can you please post more pics?

 

[msfenderarg]

Ahhhh! The Oxblood!
Can you please post more pics?

Indeed!
MORE PICS!!!

 

[Penny Dreadful]

Oxbloods are hard to find. Dont let her slip away. lol

 

[R8R6Ben]

necrothread!!!

 

[BeBeep]

There's one for sale in Belgium or Holland!!! Pricy but wow!

Gibson '54 Les Paul OXBLOOD (NEW!!!) - Te koop op Tweedehands.nl

 

[nicolasrivera]

I am about to buy my first historic - a '54 Oxblood which I've been hanging out to own for 3 years.

I've got some quotes from some of the forum dealers and others and I'm down to making the choice on whether to buy a full solid body or one of the chambered reissues.

I don't want to start a "which one is better" thread but would appreciate advice on generic tonal and playability differences from owners of either type.

Thanks

I would say if you dont have accesses trying one, go chambered, why, well the custom shop uses lighter woods, better woods, and the 1 something pounds less then normal LPs feels better and more player friendly.

I can only imagine a chambered one will be lighter of course but it will have some better tone thanks to the added resonance.

 

[marantz1300]

Its either hard to see the colour in those pics or I'm blind. Is it a shade of brown or red ? I have a wine red 76,is it similar ?

 

[KenG]

While I think the JB Model is a looker, I've read Gibson CS went so far as to include the screw imbedded in the neck used on the original during a repair! IMO that's taking accuracy a little too far for my tastes.

 

[Sterling # Sound]

This is my Jeff Beck Oxblood:

 

[Motorcycle]

It depends on the instrument. In a perfect world I would take a light solid over a chambered one.

 

[bluesyjacuzzi]

As one fortunate enought to own a couple of each I can tell you I love em all. The chambered historics are fantastic and they in fact got me back into les pauls after 25 years of playing fenders. But I've now purchased a couple of solid body ones as well and they are equally as good. Just slightly different. My fav though is a 07 cr8.

If you can, I recommend owning at least one of each type!