My new “Old Wood” ‘08 R9
After 14 years of waiting and looking, I’m now the proud owner of a Gibson Les Paul. A stunning 2008 1959 Reissue, to be precise.
I’ve wanted a Les Paul for years. I remember going around to different guitar stores and checking out the historics when they first came out around ‘94. (I still have the original Gibson Historic Collection brochure I got from Victor’s House of Music.) I was just out of grad school and there was no way I could afford one at the time. A couple years ago and I started playing again and could afford better gear so I started looking around but was discouraged by the limited choices I had locally and put off by the usurious asking prices. I wound up buying other equipment and telling myself I was happy.
But GAS for an R9 proved irresistible. About a year ago, I started trying to hunt down an LP that would get me close to “old wood.” The few times that I found a great guitar, it was snatched up before I could get my act together. When a MyLesPaul.com forum member listed this one on eBay, I jumped. In addition to the old wood top, he thoughtfully upgraded it with all the good stuff—Peter Florence Voodoo ‘59 pickups (amazing), Dr. Vintage ‘50s wiring, Vintage Clone ABR-1, RS Guitarworks tailpiece, Historic Makeovers inlays. This is a great guitar.
Maybe it’s just the honeymoon, but I don’t think I’ve even picked up another guitar more than once in the past two weeks.
Comments
Hey Alan, thanks for the kind words. This is one of my favorites!
That’s got to be one of the best looking Les Pauls I’ve ever laid eyes on. That fiddle-back maple action is just nuts - and so much better looking than the tiger flame.