Les Paul question... R8 vs LPC?

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errrrrl

errrrrl

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I made the mistake of starring at Reverb for way too long tonight lol.. and now I've got major gas. I've been wanting a cherry burst LP forever and found two that are similarly priced but am having a hard time choosing one.

One is a 2007 R8 and the other is a 1997 Les Paul Custom. The tops looks sort of similar, you can see the grain just a bit more on the R8 and the LPC burst is more bright which I kind of like... I can't explain it but the diamond on the LPC's headstock is sucking me in I swear lol. Looks aside, which would be the better guitar if equally priced. Was 1997 a good year for Gibsons? :lol: :LOL: Also I have a R7 Goldtop already so i'm covered on the fat chunky neck department which I love.

Looking for opinions, thanks!
 
Without playing them... I'd say the 2007 as there were some small improvements in consistency in the Custom Shop by then. Also, after 2006 all the guitars will have been plekked (frets & nut) which is a good thing to. I'd also mention checking around for a nice 2014 or newer model... as they have the latest and greatest touches (horse hide glue neck/board, no truss rod tube, and are really consistent overall). Here's a couple:

#1

#2

A HCSB Custom though always looks sweet to me... like Ace back in his KISS days. Nothing wrong with that at all. :rock:
 
If both play and feed good I'd take the R8 myself. To me HBC doesn't belong on LPC's...those should stay ebony or white. Since you have a R7 Goldtop you'll be fine with the R8 neck (I love beefy necks myself). If you want a LPC get a 57 or 68 RI. For HCB stick to a R8-R9 or Traditional or Standard. My first LP is a 2012 Trad +...my profile pic. I have a R7 Goldtop and a 3PU 57 RI LPC (BB7)
 
The year LPC you stated will not have a fat neck unless it's some one off build. The R8 will have a fat neck unless it's some one off build. So if you want a fat neck that's your answer.

A R8/R7 replicates an early "paf" Les Paul Standard. Maple cap mahogany body with a rosewood fretboard and vintage tuners. Think blues and early rock (but of course not limited to).

A LPC is a jazz and rock machine with ebony fretboard, heavyweight body and fittings, metal tuners, sometimes a full mahogany body and generally hotter pickups.

On this forum which is geared to metal and rock players the LPC will take center stage as it is more appropriate for that genre of music. The R types can rock hard but don't usually have "the look" or the ebony fretboard sound.

As someone said earlier a HCB LPC is like Ace Freehley from KISS but I never cared for that color on an LPC. They look "Cown Burst" to me in that color but that's just my opinion. You may like it.

If you already have an R7 I'd say you need to have an LPC, as they are the two popular spectrums of the type.

As said before look for a 57 or 68 reissue LPC and it will have a fat neck and the best of the best upgraded build in a Custom. Just be careful for the Triburst color 68 reissues from approx 2003-2006 they were built exclusively for GC with thin necks.

Good luck.
 
Starman22":1ofhk4py said:
The year LPC you stated will not have a fat neck unless it's some one off build. The R8 will have a fat neck unless it's some one off build. So if you want a fat neck that's your answer.

A R8/R7 replicates an early "paf" Les Paul Standard. Maple cap mahogany body with a rosewood fretboard and vintage tuners. Think blues and early rock (but of course not limited to).

A LPC is a jazz and rock machine with ebony fretboard, heavyweight body and fittings, metal tuners, sometimes a full mahogany body and generally hotter pickups.

On this forum which is geared to metal and rock players the LPC will take center stage as it is more appropriate for that genre of music. The R types can rock hard but don't usually have "the look" or the ebony fretboard sound.

As someone said earlier a HCB LPC is like Ace Freehley from KISS but I never cared for that color on an LPC. They look "Cown Burst" to me in that color but that's just my opinion. You may like it.

If you already have an R7 I'd say you need to have an LPC, as they are the two popular spectrums of the type.

As said before look for a 57 or 68 reissue LPC and it will have a fat neck and the best of the best upgraded build in a Custom. Just be careful for the Triburst color 68 reissues from approx 2003-2006 they were built exclusively for GC with thin necks.

Good luck.
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Are you being serious on the musical styles? I play melodic hard rock/metal/fusion/neoclassical on strats, super strats, LP, LPC and Teles ;) I guess I should get rid of the R7 and Trad + since I don't play blues and I don't play country on the Tele hahaha
 
I have an 87 white custom and the neck is really thin if neck size is critical I would go with the R8
 
Shawn Lutz":13ixtedo said:
To me HBC doesn't belong on LPC's...those should stay ebony or white.
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I agree with you on the classic black or white colors for LP Customs... but I’ve always had a soft spot for a bright ass red/yellow HCSB LP Custom... with double creams. That just screams ‘70s rock-n-roll.

:rock:


BTW: For a chunky neck go R8.
 
I'm going to be in the minority here, but I'd say go with the Custom. Well... what I'd really say is go with whichever plays better (if you can play them first). But I've owned several R guitars, and one Custom (68RI, so it's technically a Historic), and I think the tonal difference amongst R guitars generally, is minimal (this can vary if you swap pickups/parts) when compared to an R guitar vs. a Custom.

I can't say which is the "better" guitar. Especially because Gibson models' quality and tone vary significantly even within the same model and year. But, I'd say the Custom will give you a more diverse tonal pallet. Whereas the R8 may end up just doing everything your R7 does, but in a different color (which is fine if that's what you're looking for).

Note: I want to emphasize my use of "generally" and "when compared to," I am NOT saying all R guitars sound the same.
 
if you can hang with the baseball bat neck, R8 all day. I have a custom and an R7 but that R8 is just too dang big for me personally.
 
yeah man, I have come to realize I can not play a LP that doesn't have a big neck which is why my Goldtop had to go. My Trad with 50's neck plays great and would love an R series personally...
 
Personally, a good LPC is hard to beat. It's totally up to you but it's once I pick up my 81 silverburst, it's on like donkey kong. Go with your gut instinct
 
Thanks guys for all your input. I found out shipping for the LP custom from Oregon to Hawaii is gonna be about $218 via fedex, and the R8 seller hasn't gotten back to me yet. The price you pay to live in paradise... :aww:

Before work today I pulled out my R7 GT and went back and forth between my Orville by Gibson black LP custom which has a thinner 60's neck. Did a quick phone recording of the comparison and listened to it on the way to work which had interesting results. While playing in front of my amp the R7 sounded the best, nice and bright but in the recording the LPC sounded thicker and beefy as fuck. :confused:

As of now leaning towards the R8.... forgot to ask this too, but do flametops sound any better or worse than a plaintop?
 
errrrrl":2yj9hhgf said:
As of now leaning towards the R8.... forgot to ask this too, but do flametops sound any better or worse than a plaintop?
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Short answer: No.

Long answer: What kind of maple top? Easter, Western, et al. Some claim Eastern Hard Rock Maple (which Gibson has pretty much used exclusively since early 2000s) sounds brighter, snappier, tighter. Western: warmer, smoother, more syrupy tone. Who can say with certainty?

A lot of the R8s depending on the year, have some pretty flamed tops... so don't sweat it.

The R8 will also have a thinner finish which will let the wood resonant more... so another factor to consider.

I personally love big chunky necks and think they give the best tones.... plugged, unplugged... low gain or high gain. Play it first unplugged acoustically... it should sing with a focused clear bell-like high end... and full, warm but tight and articulate lows. If it sounds too thin, dead, warbly and chimey up high... or too warm, mushy, and inarticulate on the lows... don't even plug it in.
 
-I'm shocked that so many prefer the R-8 over a 1997 LPC,.. if the archives go back 10 years I bet it's the opposite,. I've been in the LES PAUL -(not just Gibson)- market for a couple years now, played billions of um, as many as I can find, thought I knew which direction to go, then I made --(THE MISTAKE)-- I played a 1976, LES PAUL STANDARD, ALL BEAT TO HELL,.. 13+ LBS,... WINE RED -(yeah,.. that's right, Wild Irish Rose!!!... BITCHES!!!)- UGLIER THAN SIN,... NORLIN ERA,. 100% STOCK,....THE BRIDGE VOLUME NOB WAS STRIPPED OFF & LAYING IN THE CASE,..... AND THE NECK WIDTH & SHAPE?... DIDN'T NOTICE-DIDN'T ASK-DIDN'T FUCKIN CARE!!!,... Not even close, by -FAR- the winner, nothing!!!... no matter what make, model, manufacturer, or price,..
from the mid 80's to present day could hang with it...

-strap an old one on, its the weight & mass,.. ass heavy, the neck points to the GOD'S.. --THE GUITAR GOD'S--
 
Wizard of Ozz":18w19gk4 said:
errrrrl":18w19gk4 said:
As of now leaning towards the R8.... forgot to ask this too, but do flametops sound any better or worse than a plaintop?
Click to expand...

Short answer: No.

Long answer: What kind of maple top? Easter, Western, et al. Some claim Eastern Hard Rock Maple (which Gibson has pretty much used exclusively since early 2000s) sounds brighter, snappier, tighter. Western: warmer, smoother, more syrupy tone. Who can say with certainty?

A lot of the R8s depending on the year, have some pretty flamed tops... so don't sweat it.

The R8 will also have a thinner finish which will let the wood resonant more... so another factor to consider.

I personally love big chunky necks and think they give the best tones.... plugged, unplugged... low gain or high gain. Play it first unplugged acoustically... it should sing with a focused clear bell-like high end... and full, warm but tight and articulate lows. If it sounds too thin, dead, warbly and chimey up high... or too warm, mushy, and inarticulate on the lows... don't even plug it in.
Click to expand...

Unplugged is my test for any guitar...if it sustains and resonates unplugged it will sound good plugged in with the right pickups/caps/pots. I like to feel it through the neck and body on my belly standing up. Sitting down put my chin on the body to feel it there as well. I personally think the fat necks are what help make LP sound great...not that the slim tapered necks wont sound good. There a lot of folk who make LP decisions based off pickups and sound plugged in but for me that is an easy and not too expensive of a fix if the guitar plays, feels and resonates well.

Finally I don't buy certain years are crap and certain years are great...there are jems and turds in all years and all price points from all manufactures...let the guitar do the talking not the year, price tag, country of origin, regular production or custom shop.
 
sg guy":9oljsc0h said:
-I'm shocked that so many prefer the R-8 over a 1997 LPC,.. if the archives go back 10 years I bet it's the opposite,. I've been in the LES PAUL -(not just Gibson)- market for a couple years now, played billions of um, as many as I can find, thought I knew which direction to go, then I made --(THE MISTAKE)-- I played a 1976, LES PAUL STANDARD, ALL BEAT TO HELL,.. 13+ LBS,... WINE RED -(yeah,.. that's right, Wild Irish Rose!!!... BITCHES!!!)- UGLIER THAN SIN,... NORLIN ERA,. 100% STOCK,....THE BRIDGE VOLUME NOB WAS STRIPPED OFF & LAYING IN THE CASE,..... AND THE NECK WIDTH & SHAPE?... DIDN'T NOTICE-DIDN'T ASK-DIDN'T FUCKIN CARE!!!,... Not even close, by -FAR- the winner, nothing!!!... no matter what make, model, manufacturer, or price,..
from the mid 80's to present day could hang with it...

-strap an old one on, its the weight & mass,.. ass heavy, the neck points to the GOD'S.. --THE GUITAR GOD'S--
Click to expand...

13lbs, holy cow. I can hardly shoulder my 10lb '73 lp custom, but I love that guitar. Sounds thick and mean. I learned that it didn't do well with high output pickups and does better with more PAF style. I have a set of Suhr thornbuckers in there that just really suit the guitar.

Not only is my '73 norlin as well, but apparently its a bad color for LPC, as its heritage cherry burst. I like the color and the guitar, but interesting to learn that people want their LPC in black, white, or silverburst.
 
As far as my personal experience, I used to own a 1990 Les Paul custom. Compared to my R7 and R8, it’s not even close. The LPC was a big step down in terms of fit finish and tone. I didn’t want to believe the custom shop hype, but in my case, it couldn’t be more true. Also, the necks on the custom shop guitars can vary quite a bit. For example, my R8 neck is not a baseball bat at all. It’s a medium shape neck that is fast and easy to play. You have to play a guitar to really know for sure, but most of the custom shop guitars I have played have blown away the standard Gibson USA offerings. I think that there are good Gibson USA guitars out there, but I also think that you have to play a lot more of them to find one. I am yet to pick up a custom shop guitar that isnt damn good right off the rack.
 
I have 2 custom shops out of 4 les Paul's that I own and the quality is about perfect they just feel much more solid .
 
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