Gibson Custom R8 v R9?

Jonathanthomas83

Which do you save your pennies for?

Is the only real difference the top?

Limehouse_Blues

The neck profile of the R8 is beefier. Supposedly in line with the originals. I have to say though that I find the profile on some R8s a bit exaggerated compared to the handful of original 58s I have played.

Were I in the market for a new single cut I’d be looking at a new top end Tokai rather than either of these as Gibson’s prices are just silly nowadays.

octatonic

I find '59's to be chunky but '58's are too big to be useful.

Personally I'd go for an R7 or R0.
Or a Tokai.

crunchman

The R8 neck is huge.  Very comfortable, but huge.  I ended up selling mine.  I was recording something, and I initially recorded it with my ES Les Paul, but thought I would see how it sounded with the R8.  It took me about 10 attempts to play it cleanly on the R8, after getting it first time on the ES Les Paul with the smaller neck.

I have very short fingers, so it may not be as bad for others, but the size of the neck did make it cumbersome, and it slowed me down.  Having said that, it was incredibly comfortable to play.

stonevibe

I have an R7 and its got a good girth to the neck, nice handful etc

Brize

Note that the 2017 R8s (and possibly the 2018s) have an R9 profile.

ThorpyFX

Brize said:

Note that the 2017 R8s (and possibly the 2018s) have an R9 profile.

just because gibson decided to f**k with everyone?

guitars4you

As far as the production costs go, the only real difference on an R8 v R9 is the maple figured top  Granted some R8's are spec'd with a figured top, some more subtle than others

gibsongretschfan

I chose an R8 because I preferred the neck. I always seem to prefer the tone of guitars with chunkier necks. Find the best sounding one and then make your technique work for the guitar.

pmg

I went for the R8 as I don’t care for flame tops (although many R8s have them to some extent) and I had no issue with the neck.  Not sure how consistent the profile is year-on-year, piece-by-piece tho.  I didn’t find the neck to be as chunky as internet wisdom would have you believe.  My advice would be to go forth and try!