The Guitar That Started EVERYTHING! | 1993 Gibson 1959 R9 Reissue First Year Custom Shop Edition

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Today we talk about the birth of the Gibson Custom shop and the first 1959 reissues made with long neck tenons
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[@Trog]

Finding in-depth info about the early days of the Custom Shop is a bit tricky - I would love to learn more from 1st-hand sources! Will update description with more 🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: tidd.ly/4aFiyhC 🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@jeffbarnard9246]

You have a pretty good expert right here.

[@stealingtomorrowband]

I'd like to see you check out and review some more basses. Warwick, pedulla, Spector.. If I wasn't 6-7 hours away I'd let you check out my 97 Warwick Thumb NT 4.... I know your primarily a guitar channel.... I also have a PRS 408 Wood Library edition that would be cool to see reviewed

[@jeffbarnard9246]

@stealingtomorrowband you must be a bas player. Specters are my go to bass for year's

[@stealingtomorrowband]

@@jeffbarnard9246 i haven't had a chance to try one but i really want to try Alex Webster or Skyler accords models.. Have you played any Warwicks? If so how do the compare to the Spector?

[@AS__77]

Oh my god, when you first took that out of the case it’s like I had 3D glasses on. What a top. 🔥🔥🔥

[@lo0nyt0onz]

Yeah, it is extreamly visually striking when he held it up. Solid guitar porn😎

[@IronandWire]

The FLAMES! 🔥

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Trogly, many viewers would love it if you did a review of the special Wildwood run of 50 or so Gibson Custom/Historic Shop R9 's Quilt Tops that Wildwood guitars ordered in the year 2000. They are fantastic guitars, all ordered to be sub 9lb!!!. They came with a pullover with a embroidered Gibson Wildwood R9 logo. I believe Wildwood had a poster of all 50 guitars that they sold.

[@michaelheller8841]

It's not nearly as old but I own a Wildwood Gibson Custom Shop R8 in a faded green lemon burst from 2022 and it's the #1 I play every day. Gibson handwires to Wildwood Spec and I love the guitar. Who knows how close it is to an original 58' or 59' but it sounds and feels amazing.

[@doc_matter]

Yes!!!!!!!!

[@bflo5210]

I don't have one of those, but I have a 60's standard with a hand picked flame top from wildwood in a honeyburst that plays & looks damn near like a custom shop!

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Glad to hear that you are happy with your guitar. Rock on!! @@michaelheller8841

[@user-uh2ue4bm6w]

Trogly you should contact Steve Mesple from Wildwood to get more information about this very special run of Gibson Custom Shop R9 Quilt Tops (year 2000, is that still considered the good wood era?). You definitely need to acquire one and to a document one. Wildwood is one the best Gibson dealers out there. Great service, prices, and guitars.

[@dwreck5578]

I have one of the early '94s thought to be TM painted (9-40xx) and it's a near twin of this one reviewed. Similar tight flame, 8.5 lb, same neck prof describe, same bursting pattern , color fade, etc is identical. No CS logo on back of headstock.

[@denverrandy7143]

Wow,now that's what I love to see from Gibson !👍

[@jerrywalaszek2473]

You came a long way from your days of having your buddy play the demonstrations! Kudos😊

[@doc_matter]

I've always wanted a birth year for me, Birth year for the custom shop(1993) Gibson R9, specifically with a monster flame top. this has been such a perfect video for me! your videos always seem to match up to my specific interests and things im currently thinking about at the time of release! Its crazy

[@MarcStanton1]

That is one clean Guitar. I appreciate that it doesn’t have a VOS gunk on it. A beauty!

[@konos-p8842]

I know it's never the focus of your videos, but your playing really is improving

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

Now that's a dish carve wow beautiful example 👏👍🤘

[@bottomkitchen250]

I was glad to see a piece of felt on that bolt on the pickguard so it doesn't ding the finish.

[@MikeE-]

Nice. I generally prefer a wider flame but after a while this one grew on me. The color of that burst is beautiful

[@engelsjn]

Wonderful episode! I would have loved to hear some more about Edwin Wilson. I think he had more to do with the early custom shop than Tom Murphy did. Thanks Trogly!

[@raytorvalds3699]

Tom Murphy painted guitars. Edwin Wilson was a luthier and was Historic Program Manager. So you can pick which one of the two had more to do with the early Custom Shop ;)

[@michaelheller8841]

Beautiful top on that. You can always change the PUPs if you don't like them. For a guitar that's 31 years old, it's looking great.

[@gorlagOv]

Hey Austin, your playing has been really improving this year keep it up!

[@paulburton5150]

That is my idea of the perfect looking les Paul. The flame, carve and paint job are incredible. A beauty

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

The sound was pretty good. Especially the lick at the end.

[@chasebaker2495]

Thanks for all your hard work 🤘🏼

[@rockinrob2004]

THAT is a BEAUTY! Congrats on that one! I guess you're keeping that one as I didn't see it on your site. I would keep it also, such a great top!

[@malcolmsowden7091]

Another great show Trogly, love the history!

[@kentfranklin736]

To give the neck pup more clarity gotta raise the screw poles. Then can lower the pickup so poles are same distance from strings as before but with poles sticking out of the covers more

[@rockhead69]

Beautiful guitar...the top is insane !

[@joedavidovich2214]

I would like to see you do some SG review videos.

[@TommySG1]

Definitely 🤙

[@TommySG1]

Gorgeous LP man 🤙 My favorite is still a good ol’ SG though ahah!

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Yes an SG or a Firebird! SGs are hard to beat👍

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Austin! Absolutely beautiful top on that Les Paul! Thank you for sharing this beautiful instrument with us all! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨🎸

[@jeffbarnard9246]

This is a beautiful guitar. These are the LP I love. I have two.I buy explorers and firebird. Hey speaking of NNAM did anyone catch Phil X jam on VH "On Fire". It was awesome alittle rough but awesome.

[@hippiebiker3399]

I’ve been following Phil X for several years. When he was doing fretted America. He’s an extraordinary talent! I love watching him let loose….

[@user-ko4iy1pp9j]

Thanks again Trogly for video!

[@ralphwest8156]

Gorgeous ' great deep clean, very worthy, good job '

[@skullfacemorte]

I love maple tops that pop!!

[@AndyK.23]

Very cool! I always wondered why the '90's custom shop LP's had that space between the bridge pickup ring and pick guard? Was the pickup spacing changed/corrected before the pick guards were updated? Or were the pickups too far apart, and later corrected?

[@telemaster]

Love to see more older historics getting some love on the show 👍

[@wildbill2122]

WOW, SOUNDS GREAT !

[@blacklion401]

There was a store called Vintage World in Cranston Rhode Island back in the 90’s. Gibson did a small run with him I believe. He had amazing stuff. Even saw a 58 Explorer and a Prototype V. Check out the store if possible. Long gone now. The V and Explorer were real. The owner was Ron David.

[@TheGuitarCurator]

That’s a beautiful guitar. It’s in such great shape considering when it was made. Someone really did look after this one! Thanks for sharing!

[@freynedarlus-bm4km]

Exactly what is the thin binding in the cutaway.

[@bobtheblindbedroomguitaris8742]

Thank you Charlie for another great video and some other and some more great information and education on these wonderful guitars I thought the last part of your playing demonstration the dirty songs I thought they were that really sounds like great I was really digging it and I thought you were getting into it too it sounds like you were either way I enjoyed it I couldn't take him to leave him but I thought the dirty I thought the dirty songs really sounded great I thought what you were playing was really nice sincerely Bob the blind virgin guitars

[@shoulderoforion8067]

Found the pickups on this '93 R9 really interesting! I bought a brand new black Les Paul Studio with gold hardware from a store in the UK in 1992. It was one of the ones you recommend as being a great buy if you can find one. Unfortunately mine was a 10lb+ boat anchor with really muddy pickups. I tried in vain to find a decent clean sound and eventually lowered the neck pickup so much that the adjustment screws popped out of the legs. When I took it out to fix it I noticed the pickup had the 'patent applied for' decal on the bottom and no other markings. The bridge pickup was the same. I sold the guitar 20 years ago but have always wondered what those dark-sounding pickups were. 🤔 Surely not a batch of reject 1959 PAFs they'd just discovered and were just throwing into anything! Thanks to your video I finally have my answer! 😂

[@AbComp870]

That flame is awesome

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

EXCELLENT...Thank you.

[@wooferdevlin3571]

Great top, I love the cross- hatch grain. A trip down to Carter's might be a thing; you could hold a ' 59 and document all the dimensions. They might let you pop the pups', just don't strip the screws!! haha Ü ♫

[@mickyp2006]

I personally think the pots are stifling the sound. I would be guessing but a lot of these came with 300/350k pots instead of 500k. I reckon a rewire would bring this guitar to life

[@cheepmonkyv3875]

That flame top is marvelous! 😂🔥

[@jaredwren9304]

Beautiful guitar.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

So killer! Great piece there!

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Wow what a find Trogly! This Paul is in impeccable condition especially for its age. Glad you're holding onto it. Was this the big purchase you were selling other guitars from your collection for?

[@cassandraritter6305]

What is the difference between a 2016 hp and a custom shop carved heel?

[@ericolsen67vw]

The nut is the last place you want to try for making it stay in tune. If you dont know what youre doing your guitar might become unplayable real fast. Do your all your other adjustments first. The strings like to be in perfect adjustment. You should see it trying to fall right into tune. String length is critical for that. Start at the tune o matic bridge. Should be an pefect note at the 12, and the harmonic should match. If its changing after you do it you need to lightly press above the nut, so the top doesnt hold tension then go out of tune when you start to strum realeasing the tension left above. Add some graphite from a pencil in the divits in the nut to get them to slide a bit better. If none of that works you can file on it. Just really do research, and know whats up. You probably screw it up if you just dig at it. Have fun.

[@joermnyc]

I’d be interested in an episode about “Orville” by Gibson, basically Gibson Japan.

[@theaudiophilecorner]

I have a 92 Gibson USA LP Standard. Different (pu) the neck pu sounds dark as well.

[@dhamilton67]

Just hearing the E chord ring did it for me

[@doc_matter]

At 13:20 I believe the correct wording is " the stud is mounted traditionally, straight ino the wood with no bushing in the body"

[@raytorvalds3699]

Heh yeah, he keeps calling those inserts/bushings studs. I tried to tell him once (and a lot of other people did too), and he DID respond to my post. And then proceeded to still call them studs lol. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

[@doc_matter]

@@raytorvalds3699 ya I feel ya, I hear him saying it all the time it seems, I don't read comments much so I haven't seen anyone else say it, but happy to see others feel similarly!

[@raytorvalds3699]

@@doc_matter There is also the possibility that he keeps saying it, because he knows it will generate comments and thus feed the algorithm.

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Was it not the absence of an additional washer to support the stems against the body that he was showing?

[@doc_matter]

@@ChrisShortyAllen Google nashville or abr1 bridge assembly, it's a threaded bushing or insert that is pushed into the body that the bridge stud threads into on gibson usa models, custom shop just has the stud threaded straight into the wood or body

[@samright4661]

That Top is Amazing

[@dananthony6258]

I’m confused on the hand painted . What exam did they hand paint ? Anybody, please ? I need to know.

[@strangequark420]

I thought those pickups sounded super nice. The last riff you were doing there was killer on the neck. Had that almost Strat like glassiness to it, which you'd not expect ... or maybe it's a classic Paul sound that I conflate with Fender ... either way, that's a cool axe.

[@ChrisShortyAllen]

Agreed.

[@jimilee459]

Oh man, that’s killer, I love it.

[@Kyush4]

Hey Trogs, when did the Classic stopped being the top of the line USA guitar? It seems like it was around 98-99 but would like some further confirmation

[@jeffbarnard9246]

Thank you Trogly

[@Mesa3077Boogie]

Hey, did the originals really have rounded over trapezoid inlays? I noticed that some of the more modern 1960 non-custom shop guitars have that, but the custom shops have the sharper edged in lays. so what's the deal there?

[@matthewlong865]

It's not 50's wired. I own a '91 and a '94 Studio Lite they are modern wired. Your's is modern wired from what I saw in the control area. Just saying. Awesome piece though! Gonna pickup a '94 studio Lite 3 piece flame maple top in translucent red here real soon. ; )-°°°

[@fabieneldridge3414]

I’m loving that Paul, it’s Beautiful. 🇺🇸👍sounds great .

[@smwoutdoorfishingadventures]

should go there and do a plant tour video

[@ferox965]

I've read that the early 90s were a goldmine for Les Pauls.

[@zachelmquist4932]

beautiful

[@user-js2gg6lf5y]

Puut some heat to it boy,

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

That is a sexy beast of a guitar. Suggestion: try some ZZTop riffs too.

[@Wildman-wr1sz]

I wish there was a thin neck Les Paul or a 9.5 neck radius Les Paul.

[@Turboy65]

We LIKE long neck tenons, we think they're special, they give us confidence in the strength and stability of the neck joint, but the truth is that they don't matter with regard to tone and sustain. A short tenon is just as good in THAT respect. As long as the neck joint is tightly and well fitted.

[@user-gp7zt7uq2y]

Trogly when is epiphone coming with the white 3 pickup SG custom w/ vibrola and the Gibson head stock?

[@SixStrRzr]

Isn't that the recently released Joe Bonamassa SG Custom? Or should Epi put one out in Alpine White?

[@user-gp7zt7uq2y]

@@SixStrRzr the JB is red and I’m not sure if the specs are the same. They teased the white one on IG the other day with all the other releases for the yr and supposedly everything with the Gibson head will have Gibson electronics and OHSC. The one I’m talking about Looks like Hendrix’s machine gun SG. It’s been released in Canada with the epiphone head and you can buy them, but the Gibson head hasn’t been released yet.

[@SixStrRzr]

Ah, gotcha. Wonder if Epi will wire the pups like a Gibson, or like the older Epi SGC's, with 3 Vol & master Tone.

[@user-gp7zt7uq2y]

@@SixStrRzr I hope so, it would be nice to be able to blend them, I’m hoping the neck isn’t blade thin. The older epis had a chunky neck, my Gibson with the bat wing guard has a chunky neck, but my 60s specs Gibson is like Ibanez thin neck, took a while to get used to.

[@SixStrRzr]

My 90 SGC has a thin neck, but not Ibanez thin. I also like those Epi necks- got an Epi 335 Pro and an Epi 345 that have those bigger necks.

[@silvernuggets1285]

When I hear R9 this is always what I picture. So nice Crazy string pull back then. Just a straight up V. Too bad about the 57s.

[@mikecostello624]

Classic 57s are usually around 7.8 today, yours is a little hot

[@jaymax3201]

Hi Trogly, good Gibsunday morning. I have something I want to ask you. Is it okay to shine a black light on Murphy Lab's heavily aged paint?

[@raytorvalds3699]

Good Gibsunday morning :) I'm not Trogly (obviously) but I'm curious. Why would you think it's possibly not ok to shine a light on a guitar? I can tell you with 100% certainty that it will be fine. They use it on multi million dollar paintings. Having said that, it IS a kind of UV (-A) light. So prolonged exposure CAN fade the dyes (so can sunlight). That will take quite some time, though. So, for checks it will be fine. I wouldn't hang one on the wall with a black light on it permanently though ;) (unless you WANT it faded). But, if you know more than I do or you think I'm wrong, I would gladly hear about that.

[@stonephilips9361]

Marc Knopfler had one sell for big money his 1983 59 reissue sold for real 59 dollars

[@ltdada]

That. Is. Gorgeous.

[@larryalexander900]

That's the best top I've ever seen.

[@marions.120]

Let’s ROCK! Pickups are too shiny?

[@Trog]

freshly cleaned

[@jameshughes6049]

Howdy everyone!!!

[@stratman9449]

Nice looking guitar...but as you said...those pickups maybe not the best....good luck with finding a 94 Tom original......after not getting one of Mark Kopflers guitars...Haa....cheers..... ps i'm quite happy with my new prs 594 Mccarty singlecut......beats any of gibsons....play great and sound even better...and they are very "affordable".....the SE ones of course.....haha...

[@barrygoins5429]

Man that was nice

[@sleevelessace]

that top....... wow

[@darrellminx5459]

Trog is the best advertising that Gibson has. They should be paying him.

[@AManCalledBiggles]

As well as the DCR reading, any chance of telling us what magnets were used e.g. Alnico 2/5, roughcast 4 etc?

[@oceantree5000]

Those pickups sound great to me! Now super wishing I’d gotten one of these instead of a set of Pearls back in the summer of ‘93 💯

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Z is for intentionally late.

[@dananthony6258]

Got to pull the A string up to match the D string if you want to really play whole lotta love like Jimmy Page did. I learned that from a Joe Walsh video.

[@MuscleCarLover]

Man, I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, is a birth year guitar, dunno about birth month as I was born in October '93, maybe? On the other hand, I far prefer the accuracy of bankruptcy era reissues. But at the same time, they wouldn't exist without these.

[@somerandomdudelonelyAF]

Hey there

[@paulissus8974]

That was a good step back. Did Henry J and Co ‘buy’ Gibson or was it more a leveraged acquisition? Apparently the company started making money again almost immediately like after one month!

[@Kahuna54]

If I could afford it the R9 would be the one for me I think!

[@Greg41982]

That's a really cool guitar, but I want me some Mcallister!

[@Trog]

I think it is for sale... at 24k haha

[@maxibillie]

Gibson's best CEOs were Argentinian! Proud of my country, Tom Murphy painted all the standard and classics himself until 1993.

[@Wargasm54]

I actually prefer the 57 classics over the custom buckers. The custom buckers are way overhyped. 57 classics are absolutely amazing passive pups. I usually prefer Seymour Duncan’s or Dimarzio over Gibson stuff. I’ve swapped most my Gibson pups out. Except my 57 classics. It’s odd that I like the 57’s so much. I generally play metal and prefer actives. But those 57’s are just fantastic. And you can dump a ton of gain on them and the hold shape perfectly. They don’t get muddy. So they act like an active in that sense. But they have a nice thick fullness that’s a bit more tough to dial in on an active. It can definitely be done. Just takes a bit more tweaking.

[@vincegregorits6185]

mine is pre- weight relief

[@guitar6547]

Hey everyone & Trogly, a slightly off-subject question to anyone willing to chime in...but I have 6 or 7 guitars myself, including both Gibson & Epiphone Les Paul's, and Acoustic's, I'm mainly concerned with the Gibson part of it and the Acoustic's, since the use of their Nitro Finish, but the question is "how do you guys typically store one? Hanging on the Wall? Or in the Case? a Humidified Room or Humidified Case? Or just sitting on a stand..." just looking for anyone's opinion on this, far as weather concerns, I live in New England USA with all 4 Seasons of weather...I haven't had any issues thus far over the years but trying to keep everything safe as possible, thanks for anyone willing to Comment!!

[@MickeyBitsko-bn1bu]

Weight?

[@Deathwish_Kid]

I came across a free Gibson guitar, 1993 Gibson Les Paul Custom Heritage Cherry Sunburst, unfortunately for me it's in really bad disrepair, looks like full water damage, no structural breaks, can anyone give me some advice or information on value

[@georgeoh-well8116]

Would be interesting to get hold of sales figures for the reissues to see how popularity has waxed and waned over the years.

[@bryancollins6796]

It's still a cool guitar.

[@JokersWild70]

I wonder if Trog ended up with that mint Copper Firebird VII that I sent him the listing for? Hmmmmmmmm

[@Trog]

Nope

[@JokersWild70]

@@Trog I was hoping you had

[@jimmyb4728]

All this history is very interesting, however, I just want them to take care of their quality issues. Paying 3 grand for a hand built guitar and when you get it home it's like OH SHIT, tooling marks up n down the fretboard, the color leaching onto the binding, nuts are cut horribly, and list goes on. What I think is happening, now that their business is doing good now and almost all young and older guitarists are wanting a Gibson, they are putting pressure on the builders to get them done faster. I just got a 60's Les Paul in Trans Fuscia, it's freekin horrible, and I'm sending it back, getting my money and I'm gonna buy a PRS S2 single cut McCarty in vintage sunburst.

[@stevegallagher4082]

Hey ya