Gibson Custom shop Goldtop R4 or R6? Now NGD.

markj · October 2023

Hoping to pick either one of these up relatively soon.
I’ve had experience of Gibsons with wraparound bridges and tune o matic and I know they’ll sound slightly different.
I won’t be able to try the guitars the R4 would be a special order.
Which guitar would forum members go for?

Also is there much difference in the neck profiles of the two.

guitargeek62 · October 2023

Wraparound for kudos and tone. I think the R4s have chunkier necks too but could be wrong on that

*edit* Also, why waste 30%? Buy used!

stickyfiddle · October 2023

My guess is it's more of a difference in string feel (see string tension thread), rather than sound.

Personally I think R4s look wrong somehow, so that would probably drive my decision more than anything else!

markj · October 2023

guitargeek62 said:

Wraparound for kudos and tone. I think the R4s have chunkier necks too but could be wrong on that

*edit* Also, why waste 30%? Buy used!

If I come I would, can’t find a used R4 anywhere.

stickyfiddle · October 2023

There's one in Paris. If you're anywhere near the southeast it'd be worth a Eurostar daytrip and get a nice lunch while you're there

https://reverb.com/item/71517516-gibson-les-paul-reissue-1954-custom-shop-humbucker-2012-goldtop-r4

markj · October 2023

stickyfiddle said:

There's one in Paris. If you're anywhere near the southeast it'd be worth a Eurostar daytrip and get a nice lunch while you're there

https://reverb.com/item/71517516-gibson-les-paul-reissue-1954-custom-shop-humbucker-2012-goldtop-r4

Thanks but it’s not an option, I’m looking for the P90 versions.

stickyfiddle · October 2023

Oh yes silly me! I just went "R4 - yep!". Brain not in gear yet...

richardhomer · October 2023

I love the look of Gold Top, wrap over bridge Les Pauls. I once played a ‘real’ ‘54. It remains the best sounding electric guitar I’ve played.

On a practical level, you’re going to get more accurate intonation with an R6.

guitars4you · October 2023

richardhomer said:

I love the look of Gold Top, wrap over bridge Les Pauls. I once played a ‘real’ ‘54. It remains the best sounding electric guitar I’ve played.

On a practical level, you’re going to get more accurate intonation with an R6.

Was that the one Ben sometimes brings with him to the guitar shows - If so, then I agree a nice 54 but I've seen some that are just mediocre and need to be upgraded to 'player grade'

I'd much prefer a R6

Fishboy7 · October 2023

I think the wrap bridge looks cooler so would say R4. Not many around though.

markj · October 2023

Fishboy7 said:

I think the wrap bridge looks cooler so would say R4. Not many around though.

It would have to be a special order from Thomann.
probably go with a R6.

chrisj1602 · October 2023

Coda have some R4s in stock, some lightly aged goldtops, a blacktop and a burst with a 59 neck.

elstoof · October 2023

Wraptail and p90s best on a LP Special for me

markj · October 2023

chrisj1602 said:

Coda have some R4s in stock, some lightly aged goldtops, a blacktop and a burst with a 59 neck.

Thanks I’ve seen those.

TheMarlin · October 2023

I’ve got an R6. It’s superb. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

Mike58 · October 2023

R4… proper early Freddie King vibe… on my wish list but I’m lefty so… nope.

markj · October 2023

TheMarlin said:

I’ve got an R6. It’s superb. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

I know it’s hard to describe but what’s the neck like?

Norlin4life · October 2023

What’s the estimated wait time they’ve quoted you?

markj · October 2023

Only a few weeks

richardhomer · October 2023

guitars4you said:

richardhomer said:

I love the look of Gold Top, wrap over bridge Les Pauls. I once played a ‘real’ ‘54. It remains the best sounding electric guitar I’ve played.

On a practical level, you’re going to get more accurate intonation with an R6.

Was that the one Ben sometimes brings with him to the guitar shows - If so, then I agree a nice 54 but I've seen some that are just mediocre and need to be upgraded to 'player grade'

I'd much prefer a R6

It was actually one Arthur had in at Guitar Player - so a long time ago. It was £850, IIRC.

stevebrum · October 2023

R4s look better to my eye. Just a cleaner aesthetic with the wraparound. I’ve got a ‘59 Melody Maker with a wraparound and a LP junior replica and an SG special. I’m not fussy about intonation! The junior does have an upgraded bridge - which I suppose is an option.

TheMarlin · October 2023

Norlin4life said:

What’s the estimated wait time they’ve quoted you?

Chunky but not massive, actually very comfortable.

More of a U shape, but doesn’t get in the way. It doesn’t have huge shoulders, so you can get your hand around the neck with comfort.

The P90s on it are spectacular!

it’s a Murphy’s Lab light relic. Here it is with my ES195. The Bigsby was my addition, cos I love a Bigsby.

TDubs · October 2023

markj said:

Hoping to pick either one of these up relatively soon.
I’ve had experience of Gibsons with wraparound bridges and tune o matic and I know they’ll sound slightly different.
I won’t be able to try the guitars the R4 would be a special order.
Which guitar would forum members go for?
Also is there much difference in the neck profiles of the two.

I always wanted wraparound goldtop but R4s were few a penny and at the time out of budget. A few years back Guitarguitar were knocking out Goldtop classics, with a TOM, at rock bottom pieces so I grabbed one.

I then had @FelineGuitars install a wraparound bridge and plug the holes.

I then had to wait for a while for the plug holes to settle and then sent the goldtop off to @lamf68 for a relic refin, fretboard darkening and some blade work on the headstock.

https://imgur.com/gallery/gYl96hk

This cost me less than an aged R4 would have done. Rich has got the proper crescent bronze colour bang on, dark board, great relicing and the wraparound bridge looks better and plays better (for me) At a little over 8lbs it’s the perfect weight too.

markj · October 2023

TDubs said:

markj said:

Hoping to pick either one of these up relatively soon.
I’ve had experience of Gibsons with wraparound bridges and tune o matic and I know they’ll sound slightly different.
I won’t be able to try the guitars the R4 would be a special order.
Which guitar would forum members go for?
Also is there much difference in the neck profiles of the two.

I always wanted wraparound goldtop but R4s were few a penny and at the time out of budget. A few years back Guitarguitar were knocking out Goldtop classics, with a TOM, at rock bottom pieces so I grabbed one.

I then had @FelineGuitars install a wraparound bridge and plug the holes.

I then had to wait for a while for the plug holes to settle and then sent the goldtop off to @lamf68 for a relic refin, fretboard darkening and some blade work on the headstock.

https://imgur.com/gallery/gYl96hk

This cost me less than an aged R4 would have done. Rich has got the proper crescent bronze colour bang on, dark board, great relicing and the wraparound bridge looks better and plays better (for me) At a little over 8lbs it’s the perfect weight too.

A beauty.

p90fool · October 2023

I like the look of 54 gold tops but my chosen strings (Elixirs) exit the back of the bridge so that the plain string wraps end at the worst place for breakages and spiky discomfort.

I have to thread spare ballends over the strings before fitting them, which is not the end of the world but I have to make sure I have a few spares in the case.

Just something to consider which may not affect or matter to you.

dazzajl · October 2023

I’m not a fan of Gibsons, far too few of the ones I’ve played have made me smile or want them. A Murphy Lab R6 is also the nicest guitar I’ve ever played. Wonderful in every single way and a huuuuuge but sublimely payable neck.

Not particularly useful but there it is.

elstoof · October 2023

p90fool said:

I like the look of 54 gold tops but my chosen strings (Elixirs) exit the back of the bridge so that the plain string wraps end at the worst place for breakages and spiky discomfort.

I have to thread spare ballends over the strings before fitting them, which is not the end of the world but I have to make sure I have a few spares in the case.

Just something to consider which may not affect or matter to you.

I stick with Gibson branded strings for that reason, even daddario (who apparently make Gibson strings) suffer the same problem with the doubled up end being too long. Extra ball end spacers looks too wrong for me

rze99 · October 2023

R4 for me.

Incredibly responsive under the fingers. It just feels fully connected like one whole thing. And the P90s with the '50s wiring they've used makes it bright and twangy if you want it but stick some dirt on it and it's a monster.

Here's mine

Image: https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/020-jpg.653357/

lustycourtier · October 2023

markj said:

TheMarlin said:

I’ve got an R6. It’s superb. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

I know it’s hard to describe but what’s the neck like?

I recently had a 2019 one which had a 59 carve neck, so theres many versions out there.

Brize · October 2023

I love the look of R4s but I don't like the tone - it's something about that wraparound on a maple top.

Don't discount a '68 reissue - basically an R6 with a slimmer neck.

rze99 · October 2023

It's worth saying that some with the R4 find they have to replace the wraparound bridge for a compensated one. for what I do, I've found the standard one to be surprisingly accurate (though I can't figure out why) so haven't needed to, despite having a Mojoaxe one on hand to do so.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Gibson Custom shop Goldtop R4 or R6? Now NGD.

Comments