R7 @ Historic Makeovers (undercover R9?)

[CB91710]

You mean the meta wave thing where it looks a bit like a ripple in a lake? I love that, the area above the toggle switch has a similar thing.

It doesn't look to me like a top I'd associate on a classic LP... don't have BOTB, is there one in there to look up that it resembles in figuring?

Exactly... it is less than perfect, which makes it unique and very cool.
Also adds to the identifiability if it is ever stolen.

What I meant by "like one you might have picked up in '58 or '59" is that it is a natural product, and I doubt that Gibson was intentionally going for perfectly matched and flamed tops.
While they were not building low-end guitars, I'm not sure the goal at that time was the same as it is now.

 

[LtDave32]

Exactly... it is less than perfect, which makes it unique and very cool.
Also adds to the identifiability if it is ever stolen.

What I meant by "like one you might have picked up in '58 or '59" is that it is a natural product, and I doubt that Gibson was intentionally going for perfectly matched and flamed tops.
While they were not building low-end guitars, I'm not sure the goal at that time was the same as it is now.

Absolutely damn right. You and I were just talking about this at my house.

It's the individual character of the instrument that is the charm.

 

[K Dub]

Looks like they did a great job. I'm thinking about a Historic Makeover for my R9. Curious what the turnaround time is.

 

[brandall10]

Looks like they did a great job. I'm thinking about a Historic Makeover for my R9. Curious what the turnaround time is.

Mine was received mid-January, so just about a half year once it's back.

 

[brandall10]

Strung up w/ bit of patina. Shipping out today.

 

[brandall10]

There of course are many other photos, for the curious: https://historicmakeovers.smugmug.com/Work-In-Process/Randall-751361/n-53QgvZ

 

[K Dub]

Looks like it was worth the six month wait. Is this what Historic Makeovers calls the "Standard Makeover"?

 

[brandall10]

Looks like it was worth the six month wait. Is this what Historic Makeovers calls the "Standard Makeover"?

Yes, I opted for the standard... would have done the full package but they no longer do truss rod replacement and the guitar has a pretty nice piece of rosewood (Indian? Madi?). Mostly just wanted it for the finish and to take the shoulders in on the neck.

 

[modavis99]

That is amazing

 

[brandall10]

Reunited with the guitar today.

Very pretty, strong flame. It dances nicely when the guitar is tilted along the vertical but no peek-a-boo quality whatsoever. The knot, as tiny as it is, I could see as being a reason to waffle on Gibson's part about what to do with it, up close it is very much a knot (had a braz SCGC guitar that had some knots like that on the sides).

The neck seems to have about the same depth, but the shoulder reduction is noticeable. Very similar to the 60th anniversary R9 I had in my possession earlier this year.

Something unexpected is a good amount of checking on the headstock. There's one sharp check beneath the back of the neck that had my heart stop for a moment as it looks like a crack, but it's checked all above upon closer inspection. Just the headstock (back and front) and the top part of the neck. I got the closest classic aging so the rest of the guitar looks mostly new with the sheen taken off it. Mentioned to Kim and he said that sometimes happens and the guitar will likely begin checking elsewhere over time... which I don't mind and would prefer to having it just in one place.

As far as the feeling of the finish... honestly I don't know if I would be able to tell the difference between and my '13 R8. Absolutely the finish is more brittle based on how easily it already checked. I just don't know if I'd be able to tell the difference. This surprises me as it seems like a super obvious thing to most folks, that difference in feel... certainly can smell it though.

Guitar sounds great unplugged, although unsure if it's any different than before. Just very loud and resonant. Unfortunately I don't have any amps handy, it will be my traveling companion for the next several months so I'll be relying on modeling plugged into my laptop, just beginning to work that out.

 

[morelespauls]

Looks nice

 

[searswashere]

Worth it to you then?

 

[brandall10]

Worth it to you then?

In this particular case, absolutely. Aesthetically it came out better than I could have hoped upon sending it in, and after noodling a few hours its seems the neck in on-point. It's a second life for an old friend that will probably return to #1 status and allow me to sell my R8 without too much regret.

Would I do it to another R7/R8/R9? If I were into the heavier relic work they do, possibly, but I'm not.

 

[K Dub]

As far as the feeling of the finish... honestly I don't know if I would be able to tell the difference between and my '13 R8. Absolutely the finish is more brittle based on how easily it already checked. I just don't know if I'd be able to tell the difference. This surprises me as it seems like a super obvious thing to most folks, that difference in feel... certainly can smell it though.

Does the Historic Makeover nitrocellulose lacquer have the same pleasant aroma that the original Gibson VOS lacquer has?

 

[brandall10]

Does the Historic Makeover nitrocellulose lacquer have the same pleasant aroma that the original Gibson VOS lacquer has?

It did have a pretty distinct smell initially, not quite what I remember from other Gibsons I've handled. I can't sense it now after a few days.