Gibby Acoustics - Which are your faves?

[Murky]

I recently sold a mid-60s LG-0 to a friend. I couldn't get it to talk to me but it sings like an angel for him, so I think you have to find a Gibson that likes you.

I still have a Woodie Guthrie SJ and two J-45s. One of the 45s is a newer model and it works well for me. The other is a 50s model (RI) that I think was made for Musicians Friend. I got it from them as a close-out with some extra discounted because of a scratch that I couldn't see. It's my favorite. I just put a K&K pickup in it which sounds great but even miked, that guitar plays itself nicely.

I've used all sorts of other low-med value guitars and tried Martins and a few of the other nicer guitars. Gibsons just work for me.

[robhisgtr]

J-45! I love 'em.

[Geoff738]

Ok, consensus seems to be that I need to go out and play them.

However, some of the ones I'm interested in are only sold at the 5 star dealers - of which there are zero in Canada.

And, a buddy has a connection at Gibson that I may be able to benefit from. Which would mean taking a chance on mail-order.

Ok, in any event I should get out and play what I can find around here.

Cheers,
Geoff

[John-By-The-Sea]

[IMG]
Gibson Nick Lucas by JustToClarify, on Flickr[/IMG]

[elmicko]

I have a mid 50's J45 that my dad got brand new as a Christmas gift when he was in high school. It is an amazing guitar that sparkles when played lightly and growls when played hard. Awesome voice and a sweet guitar. If you can find an old one you'll love.

Try replacing the old bone saddle with something harder like Tusq, it's amazing how much that'll fire her up.

[zombywoof]

I am a fan of old school Gibson tone which limits me to Legend Series Guitars or old guitars. Got my first Gibson back in the 1960s - a 1930s L-00 (nobody really wanted them back then so they were cheap).

I own a 1947 LG-2, 1956 SJ and 1960 J-200.

My favorite is the LG-2 because its voice is perfect for me but I would say the SJ is the best playing and sounding of the bunch.

[Scantron08]

I have a 1952 J-50 and I'll never need or want another acoustic 6-string. Amazing instrument.

[BradPaisleyFan]

I have the Brad Paisley j-45 and I absolutely love it. Don't expect to play it and get an acoustic feel to it. It's more like playing a tele which is at home for many of us. The nut is the size of a teles and the string spacing forces you to play with more detail and not as sloppy as some acoustics let you play. Obviously I bought it because of the name tied to it, but if one was to un-label it now and let me play it I would still love it and buy it. The mids are very sweet, perhaps not as much boom as the rosewood model but that is very debatable. My brother has the standard rosewood j45 and we both strung them up with the same strings and played them for a couple hours and my j45 was much better to 5 people listening. Yes the cost is slightly higher then the standard j45 but in my opinion it's worth it especially if you like the cherry burst.

They are hard to find with only 300 being made and I doubt that they are all made already but if you see one give it a try!

[Mortician]

There are Gibson Acoustic Five Star locations in Canada. Here is a link where you can get the locations. Yorkville is Gibsons Canadian distributor. I hope this helps you find the perfect Gibby for you.
All the best
Jeremy Morton
http://www.yorkville.com/default.asp?p1=5&p2=0&p_id=53

[Old_Skool_Noma]

I was going to suggest the Songmaker series since that's where the Garrison brand went to, I have a Garrison with the injection molded top bracing from before Gibson bought them. I think it sounds great with regular strings, I've been using silk and steels recently for comfort though and it sounds kind of dead but they have a lot less tension on them too.
If you can pick up a used Garrison that may be another good option for you unless you are dead set on Gibson.

[e23589]

Songwriter Deluxe!

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by Mortician

There are Gibson Acoustic Five Star locations in Canada. Here is a link where you can get the locations. Yorkville is Gibsons Canadian distributor. I hope this helps you find the perfect Gibby for you.
All the best
Jeremy Morton
http://www.yorkville.com/default.asp?p1=5&p2=0&p_id=53

Good to know - but you wouldn't know that by checking out the Gibson website.

I believe Yorkville is associated, or at least has close ties with, Long & McQuade.

Cheers,
Geoff

[BradPaisleyFan]

Originally Posted by Geoff738

Good to know - but you wouldn't know that by checking out the Gibson website.

I believe Yorkville is associated, or at least has close ties with, Long & McQuade.

Cheers,
Geoff

Wrong. My local shop deals with yorkville for their gibsons. It's not to say that they don't deal with long and Mcquade but it's deffinately not exclusively.

[TaylorPlayer]

Now that you found a place that may carry them, go try out a nice Slope Shoulder AJ.....

I should mention though that the 1964 LG1 (Student model) get's the most play time right now of all three of these!

[still_fiddlin]

I have no idea of the model, but I was killing time in a GC and picked one off the wall that had an older style design on the headstock. It was a larger size, could have been a J45-ish model. They guy working there said it also had a longer scale than the usual 24.75" Gibson. Normally I prefer a Martin over any Gibson, but it was a *very* nice sounding and playing guitar, and maybe that was the difference. If I'd been shopping and had a pocket full of cash, it might have left with me. Now, I just wonder what it was!

[blue metalflake]

My sister in law used to have a Hummingbird in the 70s. Really nice guitar to play. The only other Gibson I played and liked was a J45

[Mid Life Crisis]

I have a 2005 J-150 with rosewood back and sides, which is a simply wonderful instrument. It really invites you to play hard - I love playing Pinball Wizard on it. They'll need to prise it from my cold dead hands.

[davenumber2]

Originally Posted by still_fiddlin

I have no idea of the model, but I was killing time in a GC and picked one off the wall that had an older style design on the headstock. It was a larger size, could have been a J45-ish model. They guy working there said it also had a longer scale than the usual 24.75" Gibson. Normally I prefer a Martin over any Gibson, but it was a *very* nice sounding and playing guitar, and maybe that was the difference. If I'd been shopping and had a pocket full of cash, it might have left with me. Now, I just wonder what it was!

Sounds like an Advanced Jumbo.

[Eggbert]

I'm currently building a 185 style guitar because I can't justify the cost of a real Gibby. If you want the "tone" go for a rosewood guitar.

[Steveareno]

Of the current reasonablly priced stuff in the flat top department, I think the Advanced Jumbo is most appealing due to it's wider neck. It's a little thin on the profile though. Also like the cool, vintage styling. Had a mid 60's J45adj with the infamous, ultra narrow "pencil neck"... drove me crazy, trying to learn finger picking. So glad to get rid of that turkey. Turned me off Gibsons for years. More into archtops now and like the look of the L7C reissue. Would snag one if I found a good deal on a used one.
Swang on,