current Gibson historics

[Erock]

I'm looking at a 57RI les paul, and I wanted to get some opinions on what you guys thought about the current 2014 historics from Gibson. Happy endings or horror stories? They are back to using one piece rosewood boards again right?

 

[glip22]

I think the 2013 and 2014 are a result of much increased efforts by Gibson. I was told by a dealer knowledgeable in Gibson that these years are the best Gibson has produced in a very long time. I have a one off new R8 with a 3A Hand Picked Lemon Burst Flame top coming on Monday. I can PM you my thoughts compared to the 09 R8 I owned about three months ago which was damn good. It killed the 2 2013 Traditionals I bought and sold. Not that they were bad in any way either for the price.

 

[lespaul6]

By all accounts 2013 and 2014 are good years for the historics

 

[snowdog]

As mentioned above a lot of people are pretty happy with them. You could head over the the Les Paul forum and read up if you want, even they can't find much wrong with them.

 

[Erock]

That's awesome to hear guys, appreciate the replies!

I think the 2013 and 2014 are a result of much increased efforts by Gibson. I was told by a dealer knowledgeable in Gibson that these years are the best Gibson has produced in a very long time. I have a one off new R8 with a 3A Hand Picked Lemon Burst Flame top coming on Monday. I can PM you my thoughts compared to the 09 R8 I owned about three months ago which was damn good. It killed the 2 2013 Traditionals I bought and sold. Not that they were bad in any way either for the price.

Thanks man, that would be great!

 

[glip22]

That's awesome to hear guys, appreciate the replies!

I think the 2013 and 2014 are a result of much increased efforts by Gibson. I was told by a dealer knowledgeable in Gibson that these years are the best Gibson has produced in a very long time. I have a one off new R8 with a 3A Hand Picked Lemon Burst Flame top coming on Monday. I can PM you my thoughts compared to the 09 R8 I owned about three months ago which was damn good. It killed the 2 2013 Traditionals I bought and sold. Not that they were bad in any way either for the price.

Thanks man, that would be great!

I'll PM you. Making a note now.

 

[sixty-niner]

2013,14 are great years for historics, also pricy years. 2012 sucked!!!! so much so that they were selling 2012 R7's at the same price as I bought my used 2006 R7 and I played them both and it wasnt even close. I got the used 2006 instead of a new 2012 because the 12 was bad. Really bad. But the 2013/14 are amazing. put really pricey.

 

[Les Zombie]

2009 thru 2011 was good years, then 2012 wasnt so good because of the 2 piece fb and just a alot of people was disappointed, 2013-14 reports have been very good so far. i own a 2013 and its the best sounding les paul i ever owned. i have currently have custom shop lp's from 02,03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 10, and 2013 and i love all of them. i have also played and owned a bunc more over the years and most have been decent but theres been a few i wasnt blown away with. usually when i find a great sounding les paul i try to keep it unless i absolutely have to sell it. i have no problem buying current les pauls, i try to stick with the stuff from the custom shop because its more consistant and i dont buy very often from places like gc because they usually have old strings and arent setup very good and then it can leave a bad taste in your mouth when your looking to spend alot of cash and it feels or sounds shitty.

the new custombucker pickups that came out last year are really nice and i consider them to be the best of the reissue pickups by gibson.

 

[Lance-a-not]

The 13s and 14s are indeed killer, I have played literally 100s.
The pickups came a long way since the burstbuckers towards the real response of a PAF.
the attention to detail is getting better and better

But I HIGHLY disagree on the 2012s sucking, the ones I played.
I have played a TON of those as well...You can't hear the difference blindfolded every time vs a 2011 (same pickups), no way.

FWIW/Disclosure-
A lot of you know I work at a dealer, not trying to sway anyone. I don't work off commission anyway, and I never lie about the instruments... Waste of time.
But if you can find the right 2012, buy it. They go for less because of the stigma, though the pickups and tweaks do make the newer ones nicer

I hope this helps in some way, not trying to argue, but I have hands on with more of these than most folks

 

[glip22]

The 13s and 14s are indeed killer, I have played literally 100s.
The pickups came a long way since the burstbuckers towards the real response of a PAF.
the attention to detail is getting better and better

But I HIGHLY disagree on the 2012s sucking, the ones I played.
I have played a TON of those as well...You can't hear the difference blindfolded every time vs a 2011 (same pickups), no way.

FWIW/Disclosure-
A lot of you know I work at a dealer, not trying to sway anyone. I don't work off commission anyway, and I never lie about the instruments... Waste of time.
But if you can find the right 2012, buy it. They go for less because of the stigma, though the pickups and tweaks do make the newer ones nicer

I hope this helps in some way, not trying to argue, but I have hands on with more of these than most folks

Great to know. This new R8 Hand Picked top lands today. I think one can finally purchase a Gibson without playing it.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

I have two 2012's

They aboslutely do not suck.

I can compare them with my 2013 r9 and r8.

And compare them from the 2014 that i played at namm.

Played and sounded great.

Dont give a shit about a two piece board.

Buy it and play the shit out of it.

Better yet. Play it so much that it needs to be refretted so many times that you need to change out the board because it wont hold the frets. Then change it out.

I play my two everyday and they are my gigging guitars.

The 13s and 14s are indeed killer, I have played literally 100s.
The pickups came a long way since the burstbuckers towards the real response of a PAF.
the attention to detail is getting better and better

But I HIGHLY disagree on the 2012s sucking, the ones I played.
I have played a TON of those as well...You can't hear the difference blindfolded every time vs a 2011 (same pickups), no way.

FWIW/Disclosure-
A lot of you know I work at a dealer, not trying to sway anyone. I don't work off commission anyway, and I never lie about the instruments... Waste of time.
But if you can find the right 2012, buy it. They go for less because of the stigma, though the pickups and tweaks do make the newer ones nicer

I hope this helps in some way, not trying to argue, but I have hands on with more of these than most folks

 

[halebox]

Do the new ones have 1 piece boards again?

 

[se7en]

Do the new ones have 1 piece boards again?

yes. thank god!

 

[eddyrox]

fuzzy forgot to note that he's got over a dozen HRI's...from all years...Fukkk he knows his Gibsons.
oh, and yeah, he beats the shit outta them as well.

I have two 2012's

They aboslutely do not suck.

I can compare them with my 2013 r9 and r8.

And compare them from the 2014 that i played at namm.

Played and sounded great.

Dont give a shit about a two piece board.

Buy it and play the shit out of it.

Better yet. Play it so much that it needs to be refretted so many times that you need to change out the board because it wont hold the frets. Then change it out.

I play my two everyday and they are my gigging guitars.

The 13s and 14s are indeed killer, I have played literally 100s.
The pickups came a long way since the burstbuckers towards the real response of a PAF.
the attention to detail is getting better and better

But I HIGHLY disagree on the 2012s sucking, the ones I played.
I have played a TON of those as well...You can't hear the difference blindfolded every time vs a 2011 (same pickups), no way.

FWIW/Disclosure-
A lot of you know I work at a dealer, not trying to sway anyone. I don't work off commission anyway, and I never lie about the instruments... Waste of time.
But if you can find the right 2012, buy it. They go for less because of the stigma, though the pickups and tweaks do make the newer ones nicer

I hope this helps in some way, not trying to argue, but I have hands on with more of these than most folks