Gibson Les Paul Shootout - R8 vs R9 vs Standard 50s - Clean Tones and Dirty Tones - Review and Demo

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HowieJams

HowieJams

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I wanted to compare my three Gibson Les Pauls:
2024 R9
2023 R8
2024 Standard 50s Goldtop (looks like a R7)

They are all great guitars, but if I had to pick one it would be the R9 easily.
It has the most comfortable neck, the best tones, and it just feels like wearing your best worn out t-shirt and jeans.
The R8 would be 2nd and the Standard 50s would be a VERY close 3rd.

All sound great, the Alnico 3 Custombuckers in the R8 and R9 are my favorite pickups, but the Alnico 2 Burstbucker 1&2 in the Standard 50s are a close 2nd.
I also have a 2024 Gibson SG/Les Paul 1961 VOS, but I don't consider it a Les Paul so it was not included in this shootout.
I will say, the SG would be my 2nd favorite out of the four, it is just a great guitar, light, great fret access, and amazing tones.

For this shootout I used my Friedman JJ Jr. combo, it has a lush clean channel and 2 great dirty channels (BE and JBE), perfect for comparing the three guitars.
Part 1 is all clean, Part 2 is both dirty channels.

Take a listen and see what you think sounds best...
I am sure the Standard 50s will have many fans and rightly so, so will the R8 and R9.
What you cannot get from the video is the feel of the R9, it is amazing, a whole different level.
Also, the R8 and R9 sound much different even though they have the same pickups, the R8 is a very bright guitar.

Here are the demo videos:





I just found an older clean shootout video of these 3 Les Pauls over a backing track


 
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Cool shootouts, I think I preferred the Historics for the cleans and the Standard for the dirty tones. Could definitely hear the brightness in the R8. Something about the Custombuckers always seems a bit thin to me under gain.
 
Mr. Chainsaw said:
Cool shootouts, I think I preferred the Historics for the cleans and the Standard for the dirty tones. Could definitely hear the brightness in the R8. Something about the Custombuckers always seems a bit thin to me under gain.
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I don't think the Custombuckers are a very hot pickup, very articulate, but not high output.
I am going to have to run the amp with my Ibanez Prestige, it has a Dimarzio Tone Zone and an Air Norton I believe, should be a hotter pickup.
I really should be boosting the amp with my TS808, but I just wanted it to be amp vs amp straight up.
 
Mr. Chainsaw said:
Cool shootouts, I think I preferred the Historics for the cleans and the Standard for the dirty tones. Could definitely hear the brightness in the R8. Something about the Custombuckers always seems a bit thin to me under gain.
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Reminds me of the Seth Lovers. They are kinda thin IME also. I guess if you were using a very dark amp they would be ok but they just aren't as good through a Twin as the good ol' 57 classics.
 
Thanks for the work in putting those together. I almost bankrupted myself in the early 2000’s with Gibson and prs. My personal favorite playing and sounding les Paul’s were my early 70’s blue metal flake deluxe, my first reissue r9 from the 90’s 40th anniversary edition, and my 50th anniversary edition. I had #32 out of 50. What I have discovered after owning numerous r7’s, r8’s, r9’s and r0’s…as well as just numerous high dollar and standard ones…my Greco Sykes from Japan hangs. Good enough for me. Here’s my 50th anniversary guitar-

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JackBootedThug said:
Thanks for the work in putting those together. I almost bankrupted myself in the early 2000’s with Gibson and prs. My personal favorite playing and sounding les Paul’s were my early 70’s blue metal flake deluxe, my first reissue r9 from the 90’s 40th anniversary edition, and my 50th anniversary edition. I had #32 out of 50. What I have discovered after owning numerous r7’s, r8’s, r9’s and r0’s…as well as just numerous high dollar and standard ones…my Greco Sykes from Japan hangs. Good enough for me. Here’s my 50th anniversary guitar-

View attachment 395784View attachment 395785View attachment 395786
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That is a beauty
 
HowieJams said:
You are ahead of the game.
I bought my R9 for $6500 in January 2025, married and 61 years old.
I finally have some disposable income now that the kids are married and out of the house.
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I like your shirt… you a veteran?
 
JackBootedThug said:
I like your shirt… you a veteran?
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Not a veteran, just very patriotic and proud to show it.
It has nothing to do with political views or anything like that.
One nice thing about these shirts, when people start pulling stupid sh-t, they know which guy is probably armed and to move on.
Just like my "Protected by the 2nd Amendment" license plate frames and 2nd amendment decals
People don't seem to tailgate as much, lol.
Keeps carjackers away also.
 

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