for as long as I can remember I wanted an R9.

Found a good deal on a mint example in Lemmonburst.  Should have it in hand in a couple weeks when I and the seller are both available to do the deal.

I've played a lot of Les Paul's.  Many USA models I have played were nothing special. But I can say of the few dozen reissues I have played over the years, they were all exceptional guitars.

I'm dying with anticipation.

The best one I ever played was one that belonged to a friend's brother back in the mid 80's.  I am not sure when it was made but he said his brother bought it from some old dude that bought it new and it was old when he got it in the 70's. I loved that guitar. It had the mojo. I bought a new one in 88 and it was never the same and I never liked it. The 2013 traditional I have now is sweet.

It's definitely an adventure finding guitars that have that thing.

Congrats, I'll be looking forward to the pics!

Very cool!

I recently picked up a stunning R0 that is the best one I've ever played. My LGS has had a bunch of very nice Reissues over the past several years and it's the nicest playing/sounding one they've ever had. I know the guy who runs the shop well and worked my way into a no interest, long-term payment deal on it for $3K. It's the only axe that I even want to play any more, and I've been selling others off. So much TONE in there. It's loaded with Lindy Fralin pickups. Between that and my Friedman BE100, I'm in classic rock tonal bliss.

Give us a report on your R9 when she arrives.

I'd like to get a gold top Reissue as a companion to the cherry sunburst R0 at some point.

Oh a gold top!  I have only so much money. I should have the guitar in a couple weeks. I am dying in anticipation. I have read great things on the Frailin pups too. I bought a 335 gold top a few months back with the burst buckets and they seem to have a good edge to them and nice clarity. I think the reissues come with custom buckets IIRC.  In any event I plan to do some YouTube stuff so I'll definitely get a review and sound clips up.

Yeah, I bought it used and the local doctor who sold it to the shop that I bought it from usually takes the stock pups out and puts Fralins or Duncan Bonamassas in all of his LPs. He also puts Grovers on them. He included the original Klusons in the case,  so I removed the vintage Grovers and put those back on. But he didn't have the CS buckers. He's a spaz that way. Fralins are pretty awesome though. I had an LP Std with them in it last year and it sounded pretty awesome too.

The Cistombuckers are supposed to be Gibsons best PAF replica yet. I really believe that aftermarket pups are probably a better bet though. I have Classic 57s in my Traditionals and they sound great but they do lack something. My 335 has Burstbuckers 1/2 in it and I like those better than the 57s.

I was looking at a set of Antiquities to try but I am gonna sit on it for a while.