closest sound to r9s?

[mcl116]

I want to change out my electronics and pups on my LP studio and I want to get as close to an r9 tone as possible. I'm literally obsessed with the tone those things produce. I play classic rock and blues. So what caps, pots, pups and w/e else I should change out? I'm on a budget so I can't afford PAFs(mm I wish I could (tiny drool) or anything that's going to break the bank but I'd love to hear all reasonable suggestions haha thanks!!

 

[shtdaprdtr]

try to find used burstbuckers on ebay...I have an R9 and many regular standards...and overall..the tone is usualy in the ballpark but my 05 standard with burstbucker V's is the cheapest and closest to an alnico 1 and 2 burstbuckers in an R9. start with that pickup (sounds even better without covers)...then to get a slightly glassier tone like an R9...buy aftermarket capacitors from RS guitarworks...or get their kit. Try at least 10 or heavier gauge strings and tighten your tailpiece all the way down to the body (tailpiece...not the bridge) that probably all youll need...you might end up spending close to 200 bucks but that is your best bet.

 

[5F6-A]

rsguitarworks vintage kit...

 

[JoeCeffus]

What sonic affect does lowering the tailpiece down to the body have? If it makes them sound better, in general, why doesn't Gibson send them out that way?

 

[5F6-A]

incresases the string tension, increases the sustain slightly, kills overtones.

As with anything, look for a balance.

 

[Lampens]

Tightening it all the way down on a studio or standard may not be practical as I believe the reisues have a slightly different neck angle just like the original 50's lp's. You can do it but the strings will hit the back of the bridge and maybe cause stringbreakage or bending of the bridge. Only topwrapping will provide for the clearage but you may or may not like that.

 

[shtdaprdtr]

This may sound silly, but if you find a cheap ABR1 bridge, drill out the holes to fit the nashville bridge posts or try finding a Gotoh ABR-1, it fits right over the posts, and tighten the tailpiece...the guitar wont feel so junky and more stable and I find its a tiny tiny bit brighter sounding...either that or my tinitus is kicking in and im hearing that.

 

[shtdaprdtr]

another option...if your studio is not the faded ones...then try removing the paint from the back and sides of the body and VERY VERY carefully from the back of the neck (use paint remover not sandpaper..then lightly sand at the end). Youll be surprised..I have an 89 custom that had the neck repaired and it has no paint on the back and it is so glassy or chimey sounding like an R9 with the stock Gibson 498's or whatever. Plus in doing that youll expose the maple top on the sides and create a fake binding like PRS so it would kinda look like a standard or a more premium model. I build guitars at work and I find them all having this characteristic in the tone...its all the crap paint gibson puts on...it darkens and muddies up the tone.

 

[shtdaprdtr]

IF you do that...just lightly seal the wood too cause my customs neck smells like crack and THC seeping from my rythym guitarists sweat pores.

 

[shtdaprdtr]

actually stripping the paint, getting the RS vintage kit and leaving the stock 498's you have should do the trick..just take the covers off.

 

[Leo]

rsguitarworks vintage kit...

+1,...i thought i would need pups along with the rs kit,... but the kit made the pups sound much better,....it added alot more bite and tone to the pups.