PeteNJ75
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2018
- Messages
- 321
- Reaction score
- 792
Well, technically it’s new guitar days, not day, because I picked up the 2018 on Saturday , but the 2003 just arrived today. I hadn’t bought a new guitar in a couple of years so I went and splurged a bit. They are both amazing guitars. I have been A/B testing them against each other for the past hour or so and it’s been really fun. The fit and finish on both of them is flawless and they’re super resonant acoustically, comfortable, and light (2003: 8.8 lbs; 2018: 8.5 lbs).
My initial impressions: The ‘03 in Heritage Cherry is a really solid guitar, highly flamed, and sounds awesome. The pickups snarl but they also has an open/hollow sound to them that I’m enjoying, but I haven’t played this guitar enough to give a full review. The flame is definitely a little more ‘in your face’ and the neck is pretty chunky. The Brazilian board is fairly dark for an ‘03 but still pretty light in comparison. I need to give it the Fret Doctor treatment.
The 2018 is hands down the best guitar I’ve ever owned or even played. Granted I’ve had it for almost a week so there’s probably some favoritism at play (it got a head start), but it looks and feels like it’s on another level from the 2003. The neck is much thinner and more comfortable (to me), the pickups have a really smooth, vocal quality to them while still rocking pretty hard, and the finish - called Antiquity Burst (which I have yet to see another 2018 in) - is a bit more natural-looking than the '03. The top has a very 3D quality to it - changes from every angle. And it really, truly plays like butter - it feels very slinky and broken-in. It's already inspiring me to play better.
I need to give the ‘03 more time, but the 2018 has easily become my #1. I also have an ‘03 R7 and ‘15 68 Custom BB which are both amazing guitars but this new one is just on another level IMO. I had another 2018 R9 briefly (sold to help fund these), and it was also a killer guitar - this is a fantastic year for Gibson so far. Anyway, maybe I’ll follow up and post a better tone report, but feel free to check out the pictures.
My initial impressions: The ‘03 in Heritage Cherry is a really solid guitar, highly flamed, and sounds awesome. The pickups snarl but they also has an open/hollow sound to them that I’m enjoying, but I haven’t played this guitar enough to give a full review. The flame is definitely a little more ‘in your face’ and the neck is pretty chunky. The Brazilian board is fairly dark for an ‘03 but still pretty light in comparison. I need to give it the Fret Doctor treatment.
The 2018 is hands down the best guitar I’ve ever owned or even played. Granted I’ve had it for almost a week so there’s probably some favoritism at play (it got a head start), but it looks and feels like it’s on another level from the 2003. The neck is much thinner and more comfortable (to me), the pickups have a really smooth, vocal quality to them while still rocking pretty hard, and the finish - called Antiquity Burst (which I have yet to see another 2018 in) - is a bit more natural-looking than the '03. The top has a very 3D quality to it - changes from every angle. And it really, truly plays like butter - it feels very slinky and broken-in. It's already inspiring me to play better.
I need to give the ‘03 more time, but the 2018 has easily become my #1. I also have an ‘03 R7 and ‘15 68 Custom BB which are both amazing guitars but this new one is just on another level IMO. I had another 2018 R9 briefly (sold to help fund these), and it was also a killer guitar - this is a fantastic year for Gibson so far. Anyway, maybe I’ll follow up and post a better tone report, but feel free to check out the pictures.
Nice pair of axes you got there! Congrats! 
