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What year did they start getting 'the dish' right?

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Generally when photographed goldtops display the top carve a lot better than sunbursts and plain tops so there may be a degree of conjecture as to an exact year maybe?
 

AA00475Bassman

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Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
Let's say 5 R9's one top carve was confirmed correct and really what is correct ? Could you pick the one out ....... Really !

Your R9 is not a replica ,copy , clone , you can buy one Although it is not made by Gibson .
 

marshall1987

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Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
My 2009 50th Anniversary Gibson R9 Les Paul, CB, Gold Certificate has an exquisite carved maple top w/ pronounced dish. The carve is right in line with the True Historic Les Pauls and various CCs that were made from 2015-onward. It has a very low serial number (<9-9020), possibly from the first production batch.
 

eis

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
11
The carmelita top and later ones prove that they can do it fairly close to right but they just won't do. Guess why...
In fact I always think Gibson's steps towards the originals more like acts of imitator than Gibson itselfļ¼Œwhich is ridiculous. it's like that I just can not believe a person who trys to behave like Himself but fails and fails again...
 

dnabbet2

Active member
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
211
I'm probably on a different page. Forgive me. But the Heritage 80 Standards and Elites have fantastic top carves.

Starting 1980.

If we're talking recent, I have a 2015 True Historic and the top carve's still too shallow. Brilliant guitar though.
 

corpse

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Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I think with modern shop tools, to get that deep concave around the belly could jeopardize the edge of the body- "good enough is the enemy of perfect". Many '58-60 Bursts have a tremendous variation in contour. Enjoy.
 

eis

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
11
Light and angle can do tricks on photos.I think my 2011 looks descent on photo but actually the dish is totally wrongļ¼š
 

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rickruz88

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Joined
Apr 6, 2020
Messages
59
Light and angle can do tricks on photos.I think my 2011 looks descent on photo but actually the dish is totally wrongļ¼š
I also happen to have a 2011 R9 which sounds amazing and plays just about as good as any guitar I have ever played. However, it does NOT have a great top carve. Kind of looks like a lazy job on the top carve if you ask me. Again, the guitar is great otherwise.



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eis

New member
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Messages
11
I also happen to have a 2011 R9 which sounds amazing and plays just about as good as any guitar I have ever played. However, it does NOT have a great top carve. Kind of looks like a lazy job on the top carve if you ask me. Again, the guitar is great otherwise.



View attachment 13248
I think the top carve of mine is just like yours from this angle of view. Yeah it plays wonderful too. But 07-12 must be the darkest years of Historic line regarding the body shape and top carve hahaha...
 

sws1

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Messages
2,846
If they matched Carmelita, then Carmelita has a fairly flat carve relative to many other bursts and gold tops. Better than they used to be, but I still think they can get better.
 
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