R7 @ Historic Makeovers (undercover R9?)

[brandall10]

So I finally sent an R7 I purchased toward the end of 2005 at the defunct but once glorious City Center Music in San Diego. For those who don't know, they were one of the top mail order places for Historics and they sold them at rock bottom prices - walked out the door w/ this guitar, tax and all, for just over $1900. They had about 2 dozen historics in their shop at the time, and I played all their R8/R7s (IIRC 13 guitars) and this was the tonal winner. Also fairly lightweight at 8.6 lbs with a smallish neck for an R7, .89/.97

Not too long after bringing it home I noticed an interesting bit of cherry stain bleed on the neck binding. And when I replaced the pots saw a good amount of flame in the control cavity. Over the years as the finish sunk in it became apparent it was flamey all over. So my hunch has been this was originally intended to be an R9 but perhaps a paint job screwup - no R9 stamp in the cavity though.

Sent it off to HM earlier this year and this is what we have. Thoughts? Aside from some small knots, seems like a pretty decent R9 grade top, perhaps western maple.

Since it turned out like I was hoping my intent is to shoot it in iced tea.

Progress photos:

Initial paint shots: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/r7-historic-makeovers-undercover-r9.468654/page-3#post-10233052

Back/headstock: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/r7-historic-makeovers-undercover-r9.468654/page-3#post-10235439

Clearcoat w/ hardware: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/r7-historic-makeovers-undercover-r9.468654/page-3#post-10235636

With patina and strung: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/r7-historic-makeovers-undercover-r9.468654/page-4#post-10239043

 

[dc007]

I think it will be cool to burst it.

 

[fretboarder]

Looked better gold IMO..

 

[CB91710]

That's a beautiful top and should look good with a burst.

 

[mdubya]

Gold with a dark back for me.

 

[brandall10]

Don't get me wrong, I dig gold tops - esp. with dark backs if the paint is dialed in. They're just not my preference unless I already have a stable, and in this case I'm trying to whittle things down to just 2-3 electrics (lp/strat/tele). When originally purchasing this guitar I was hoping to go home w/ an R8 and it just happened this was the best guitar that day.

That said, an eastern top is more my preference but I think it'll look quite good as a burst.

 

[amorrow]

Gold tops are cool, but no way I’d cover that with gold.

 

[Redsquare]

I thought eastern maple was a historic reissue spec since 2002? Other than special runs/quilt tops of course.

 

[Tim Plains]

I wouldn't burst that, too much of a BBQ top, my least favorite type, plus HM gold looks amazing.

 

[brandall10]

I wouldn't burst that, too much of a BBQ top, my least favorite type, plus HM gold looks amazing.

That's not a barbecue top! LOL... there's a fair amount of variation in the striping - it's not straight across streaks. And while it has prominent cross-grain I believe that will subdue with dye per other HM builds I've seen as the dye absorbs along the flame channels. I have a feeling it will come out looking similar to an R9 I had briefly earlier this year.

Again though, it does seem to be Western and is not my overall preference, fully in agreement there. But if it was a true barbecue I would absolutely gold it back up.

 

[redcoats1976]

antique natural.thats a great top and should be shown off.

 

[brandall10]

I thought eastern maple was a historic reissue spec since 2002? Other than special runs/quilt tops of course.

I don't know if that's a hard and fast rule but I believe it's been thought many tops are indeed Western, esp. if there is a lack of mineral streaks and stronger flame that doesn't seem to change much with lighting or angle. The R9 I posted above seems that way, very prominent flame no matter what the lighting condition, quite different against my '13 R8 which has a fairly prominent flame at certain angles and almost nothing at others and tons of movement in between.

 

[musicmaniac]

Nice, I've got one of them GT's from Saul too! I know mine's got a lot of flame but I like the gold. Can't wait to see yours when it's done.

 

[mdubya]

What is cool is when the flames are peeking out from behind the gold. Add checking and greening and ...

Bursts are a dime a dozen, too common, passe'.

 

[brandall10]

Nice, I've got one of them GT's from Saul too! I know mine's got a lot of flame but I like the gold. Can't wait to see yours when it's done.

Ha, forgot what his name was... such a character. That was a fun day, he put in a soundproof room w/ a Bluesbreaker Reissue and kept feeding me guitars for 4 hours.

It's going into the paint room next week so should have updates on that soon. Went back and forth w/ Kim last evening on some variations of Ice Tea, and we're going to do something with a bit more of a red push than brown.

 

[moreles]

Are you wondering if the cherry stain marks suggest that it was started in cherry but then for some reason goldtopped? Regardless, my personal view is that as pictured, it's not a particularly beautiful goldtop (it looks like a newish goldtop with too much clear) and getting a HM finish, if you have the $$$, is terrific regardless of whether you go gold or burst. I'd do whichever excites you. Obviously, there are fans of both. And IMO, there are way more mediocre goldtop and burst finished LPs than there are good ones, so cross your fingers and communicate well with HM. A good job in either style will be a standout. An ordinary job will be ordinary. Even Epis have fancy flames and shiny tops.

 

[brandall10]

Yes, I was wondering if it was initially shot in cherry - could that bit of paint be for some other reason? It's super faint like you would expect from masking tape bleed. Plus the R9'esque weight and neck dimensions... all that with an actual flame top, it seems like it would be a repaint. The only thing missing is a restamp in the cavity which there is no sign of.

It's a 2005 non-VOS (VOS was new that year as a slightly cheaper product line), the gold back then wasn't particularly accurate but all the same it's spent much of that time cased, maybe 3-4 years displayed on a wall with natural light hitting it part of the day. I do realize the gold HM uses is much nicer and fully prepared to have it reshot in gold if it didn't look the part.

 

[greens]

Subscribed! That top looks great and will make a terrific burst. Can't wait to see it. You going full deluxe?

 

[brandall10]

Subscribed! That top looks great and will make a terrific burst. Can't wait to see it. You going full deluxe?

The plan always was to do that, but after finding out truss rod replacement is no longer a thing decided against. It has a pretty nice piece of indian already and sounds and plays as nice as my pretty great '13 R8.

 

[greens]

The plan always was to do that, but after finding out truss rod replacement is no longer part of the package decided against. It has a pretty nice piece of indian already and sounds and plays as nice as my pretty great '13 R8.

The board you have does look nice already.