Opinions please....

[PeeWee]

I'm thinking of trading an '03 Historic Les Paul R9 w/ documented brazilian and a few bucks for a '59 Les Paul Junior in 8.5/10 condition. The Junior has no issues, is 100% original and is in gigging shape. I've already an '01 Murphy/brazilian R9 that is my #1 Rock guitar and an '01 Custom Authentic R6 that has all '55 electronics and is my primary Blues instrument, so the need for another R9 is a moot point. Any opinions on this potential deal?

[Make'n Music]

Hey Pee Wee!

I'd say it depends on the attachment you feel to your Braz R9. The Jr. will always be a good investment but you shouldn't have to fork out any cash if it's a players guitar.

I am going through a similar dilemma right now- someone want's to trade me an old Junior for my #1 Murphy R9 but I am really attached to my guitar

[PeeWee]

Well, that's the thing; I never could get comfortable with the neck on the '03. It's just a bit too big in the shoulders for my liking, even bigger than my R6 if you can imagine that. It's also a fairly aggressive sounding guitar, unlike the '01 Murph, so there's no real attachment to it.

I bought the guitar from Vic DaPra back in February and it's never been gigged since I've had it....tho' I suspect that the previous owner used it a few times. Mark Bishop currently has it on hand and has so since May with no takers. I really feel that the "brazilian craze" has cooled a bit in the last few months and you're seeing more of them on the market for longer periods of time than just ~ 6-8 months ago.

I totally agree about the investment - I'm starting to get back into buying vintage again after a 5 year layoff. As of now, the only true vintage piece I have left is a '66 Gibson J-50, so the Junior would be a welcomed addition.

[Make'n Music]

It's true the "craze" has slowed down a bit but the summer months are usually slow for sales in general. Especially higher ticket items like that. I've sold two Brazzy R9's this summer though and I still think they will be good investments for the future. The Junior craze has slowed a bit too. I think it's an interesting time to shuffle things around if you can make a deal that works for you

[PeeWee]

Looks like the deal fell through. No problem, I'll just hold on to the braz board until I find something. And so it goes..............

[PeeWee]

Me thinks me may have spake too soon :D This may get done after all! The seller is in Tokyo, so we have an 11 hour time difference. We're trying to reach a place where we'll both benefit equally and it's actually looking pretty dang good. More to come..............

[1959burst]

well i hope you get the enjoyment outta the junior............i think they are way overpriced for what they are, and i own a bunch.;)

[Ratty]

The only real collectible Jrs are the ones that are so clean you can't play it. For a player-grade instrument, I'm not sure you are making a good swap. The Brazilian R9s will become collectible themselves in years to come.

[PeeWee]

Well, we just couldn't come to an agreement. Seller got cold feet, and I'm cool with that. I'm not in any hurry to part with the guitar and I'm sure that things will change once again in regards to the market, like it always does. If I find something that fits my needs, then I'll consider another deal.
I just had another dealer offer me a paultry $5300 for the thing PLUS another $500 in trade for a John English Masterbuilt 1960 Strat w/ brazilian rosewood. Dude tells me he's selling the Strat for $5800 though on the website he's asking $6300 - personally, I'm pretty insulted by the offer. What's he want to sell the R9 for once he gets it; $7200?? That transaction had better come with a case of K-Y just to take the sting out of it for a while! I'd like to unload it, but I'm sure as hell not going to give it away or lose my ass in the process. :rolleyes:

[Ratty]

Asking prices on Brazilian R9s are $5-7K depending on on the top.

[PeeWee]

I agree - prices have cooled quite a bit from late last year and early this year. Seems that there is also a glut of Brazilians on the market anymore. The last few I've been watching on auction have both been pulled before the end. I think that most folks aren't willing to drop that kind of coin on a new or newer instrument right now....except the hard core gear geeks, which does include myself :rolleyes:

[Ratty]

There are always people with money to spend.

[PeeWee]

Well, I finally managed to unload the Brazzy. I traded it to a friend for cash and a killer '93 JTM45 Bluesbreaker that has been modded to vintage spec. To replace the guitar, I pulled the trigger on a fantastic '04 Murphy R9 this week that is one of the most realistic looking Historics I've ever seen or played. I bought the guitar from Chris Ruth of Jet Engine Sound in Tokyo and couldn't be any happier with the instrument or the transaction.

I used the new fiddle last night on a straight ahead Blues date and was totally digging on the tone - thick and creamy with great note articulation and never harsh in the top end. The neck pup is warm and clear without any mud and the middle setting provided that bell-like chime that everyone wants in that position - very nice! I ran the guitar through my '59 tweed Deluxe and '63 reverb tank. Through either of my Marshalls, it's everything you could possibly want in a Rock tone and really is reminiscent of Clapton's seminal tone with Mayall. The neck isn't one of those ridiculously LARGE necks, but a very comfortable medium profile that's just a red hair thicker than my '01. It's no doubt a total keeper & I can honestly say that I'm done with buying Lesters ( 3 is enuff ) ..........time to get another big box! :D

[PinkStrat]

Well, I finally managed to unload the Brazzy. I traded it to a friend for cash and a killer '93 JTM45 Bluesbreaker that has been modded to vintage spec. To replace the guitar, I pulled the trigger on a fantastic '04 Murphy R9 this week that is one of the most realistic looking Historics I've ever seen or played. I bought the guitar from Chris Ruth of Jet Engine Sound in Tokyo and couldn't be any happier with the instrument or the transaction.

I used the new fiddle last night on a straight ahead Blues date and was totally digging on the tone - thick and creamy with great note articulation and never harsh in the top end. The neck pup is warm and clear without any mud and the middle setting provideds that bell-like chime that everyone wants in that position - very nice! I ran the guitar through my '59 tweed Deluxe and '63 reverb tank. Through either of my Marshalls, it's everything you could possibly want in a Rock tone and really is reminiscent of Clapton's seminal tone with Mayall. The neck isn't one of those ridiculously LARGE necks, but a very comfortable medium profile that's just a red hair thicker than my '01. It's no doubt a total keeper & I can honestly say that I'm done with buying Lesters ( 3 is enuff ) ..........time to get another big box! :D

Hi PeeWee,

Does your 04 Historic come with Burstbuckers 1 & 2 by chance? If you saw the thread on the Guitar Center "60 Authentics" plaintops here on the Hub there are pictures of some of these guitars and they sound incredible if you find the right one. Mine and JTM100's are UNREAL both in looks and sounds!

Best to ya,
Dean

[PeeWee]

Sure does, Dean. I'm usually not a big fan of the BBs, but they really work in this particular guitar! I did some experimenting this AM with my different amps and this R9 really takes to a Fender amp like no other Gibson I've ever owned; and believe me, I've owned more than a few, including various 335s, a '59 ES-330TD, an ES-5 and an original '54 goldtop.

Through my '59 tweed Deluxe, it has that old school early to mid '50s Chicago Blues tone and sounds so thick you could get a tractor stuck in it! But it really blew my skull when I cranked it through my '66 Super Reverb - had to make an emergency trip to the under garment drawer :eek: . What a sound! It was as if Bloomfield had come back from the grave for an Electric Flag reunion. BIG '60s Chicago Blues sound, somewhere between B.B. at the Regal and Magic Sam during his Epiphone days. I haven't gigged with this amp in ~ 14 years and it really needs a set of tubes, so I can only imagine what an improvement that'll be. The only amp I haven't paired it with is my '66 Deluxe Reverb, which is having a few internal issues that need attention to.

I ain't touchin' a damned thing on this guitar!! As I told my wife - this is a very special instrument and I'm very lucky to have found it..... just like you, honey! ;)

[1959burst]

i recently bought an 04 r9 for my birthday this summer,from mark at mark's guitar loft (great guy) i replaced the pickups with some highorder alnico 2 zebra with rich m custom winds.....i love this axe! http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/585960/2006_08110040.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/585960/2006_08120003.jpg

[PeeWee]

Nice curly top on that one, 1959burst! I wholeheartedly agree about Mark Bishop; class individual all the way around. It was Mark that I'd consigned my '03 Brazilian R9 to, unfortunately he just couldn't find a buyer. I'd use him again in a heartbeat, tho'.

[1959burst]

thanks bro i got flamier ones but i wanted a more realistic flame on this baby, mark is a pleasure to deal with for sure.

[PinkStrat]

Sure does, Dean. I'm usually not a big fan of the BBs, but they really work in this particular guitar! I did some experimenting this AM with my different amps and this R9 really takes to a Fender amp like no other Gibson I've ever owned; and believe me, I've owned more than a few, including various 335s, a '59 ES-330TD, an ES-5 and an original '54 goldtop.

Through my '59 tweed Deluxe, it has that old school early to mid '50s Chicago Blues tone and sounds so thick you could get a tractor stuck in it! But it really blew my skull when I cranked it through my '66 Super Reverb - had to make an emergency trip to the under garment drawer :eek: . What a sound! It was as if Bloomfield had come back from the grave for an Electric Flag reunion. BIG '60s Chicago Blues sound, somewhere between B.B. at the Regal and Magic Sam during his Epiphone days. I haven't gigged with this amp in ~ 14 years and it really needs a set of tubes, so I can only imagine what an improvement that'll be. The only amp I haven't paired it with is my '66 Deluxe Reverb, which is having a few internal issues that need attention to.

I ain't touchin' a damned thing on this guitar!! As I told my wife - this is a very special instrument and I'm very lucky to have found it..... just like you, honey! ;)

Yup, that's the stuff Mike! Ain't touching even a screw on mine neither...it's got the light aluminum stop tailpiece and it has that BIG TONE that made us love Lesters to begin with. Mine is unreal special and it ain't going nowhere. This is no doubt (for me) the best LP I've ever played.

Dean

[PeeWee]

I finally figured out how to post some pics and wanted to share (thanks, 1959burst!). I think I did pretty damned good on this deal and enjoy this guitar far more than the '03 Brazilian I sold off to get it. I did have to replace the nut due to a crappy factory job, so I had a piece of vintage bone cut and hand shaped - you have to look really hard to even tell it was done. I've also a set of DMC pointer washers, DMC switch tip and knurled washer coming next week to complete the illusion. This Lester has a very authentic vibe to it and is a true joy to play.........

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283/M_L_Dutton/r9agedIIm.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283/M_L_Dutton/r9agedIIa.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283/M_L_Dutton/61.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p283/M_L_Dutton/r9agedIIb.jpg

You can check out my 2001 Murphy painted & aged Lemondrop in the "Murphy aged" thread, too!