Gary Moore Signature

[Exluthier]

Gibson doesn't really have "better parts" for their higher priced models. And for what you pay the Custom Shop stuff isn't that special. As for the topic at hand if I remember right the GM is essentially an R9 without binding and different pickups then what was offered at the time. The neck may have been slightly slimmer than an R8-R9 at the time as well. Speaking of odd balls, but in a similar vein did anyone ever mess around with the Les Paul acoustic?

 

[tele52]

I think they do have best parts, and here's where they use them.
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/historics-reissues/77151-lets-see-those-50th-anniversary-r9s.html

 

[Armitage]

I'm only referring to their regular production guitars.
Custom Shop stuff can be, but not necessarily, another thing all together.

From a cost and production point of view, a GM is far closer to a Studio, then a Standard. Of course if Gibson wanted, they could put a "Firebird" name on it...
And it was a Limited run because they chose to do so.

BTW, I'm not putting the guitars down, they rock, just say'n.