Gibson J-200

Paul in Colorado · August 8th, 2007, 08:12 PM

What are the current J-200's like. Has anyone compared them with vintage models?

zombywoof · August 8th, 2007, 10:11 PM

My favorite Gibsons.

My wife has a '94 J-100 which is pretty much a Plain Jane version of the J-200. Compared to my 1960 J-200, it does not have near the projection (my J-200 is loud, I mean really loud) and lacks the chunky bass - one of the defining characteristics of "old school" Gibbys (which, of course, is not to everybody's taste).

Before Norlin, Gibson turned out maybe 150 to 200 J-200s a year. After the 1960 plant expansion, the J-200 was the only steel string made in the third floor custom department of the old Parsons Street daylight plant. Braces were tailored to match the thickness of each top and the tone bars were tuned for each instrument.

But modern Gibsons do vary so it might take you a bit but you probably can find one you like. Quality has also improved quite a bit since Gibson scaled back production numbers at the Bozeman plant.

GOOD LUCK

Paul in Colorado · August 10th, 2007, 02:09 PM

Got any pictures of your '60? I love the look of those things.

64Strat · August 10th, 2007, 05:42 PM

A friend back in 1975 had a 1952 J-200 that had the most incredible birdseye maple sides and back I'd ever seen. and that guitar was LOUD!!! When I asked him a few years back whatever happened to that ol' guitar, he sheepishly admitted he sold it for a new fancy midi controlled guitar thing.

that was by far the finest J200 I've ever seen or heard since.

oh brother! what hath thou done!

blue metalflake · August 11th, 2007, 02:16 PM

I've no experience of the vintage ones, but a friend bought a J-200 last year. It didn't have the volume or sound I would have expected. Like all else, I bet there's great differences from guitar to guitar.

zombywoof · August 12th, 2007, 09:16 PM

Here is my 1960. It is a bit battle scarred. When I got the guitar it had been refinished by Gibson and had the second pickguard added. As I said, what I feel distinguishes the older ones is how well they project. They have an incredibly resonant bass and are just plain loud.

Paul in Colorado · August 14th, 2007, 12:19 PM

Thanks for posting that. I think I have J-200 lust.
BTW, I like how you have framed pictures of your guitars on the piano like members of the family (which they are!).

zombywoof · August 14th, 2007, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

Thanks for posting that. I think I have J-200 lust.
BTW, I like how you have framed pictures of your guitars on the piano like members of the family (which they are!).

That is actually one of our wedding pictures. Rather than have more taken of us we decided to go ahead and have the photographer shoot her '94 Gibson and my '58 Tele together. Thanks for noticing.

August 8th, 2007, 08:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,123 3 Photos	Gibson J-200 What are the current J-200's like. Has anyone compared them with vintage models?

August 8th, 2007, 10:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,811 17 Photos	My favorite Gibsons. My wife has a '94 J-100 which is pretty much a Plain Jane version of the J-200. Compared to my 1960 J-200, it does not have near the projection (my J-200 is loud, I mean really loud) and lacks the chunky bass - one of the defining characteristics of "old school" Gibbys (which, of course, is not to everybody's taste). Before Norlin, Gibson turned out maybe 150 to 200 J-200s a year. After the 1960 plant expansion, the J-200 was the only steel string made in the third floor custom department of the old Parsons Street daylight plant. Braces were tailored to match the thickness of each top and the tone bars were tuned for each instrument. But modern Gibsons do vary so it might take you a bit but you probably can find one you like. Quality has also improved quite a bit since Gibson scaled back production numbers at the Bozeman plant. GOOD LUCK __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

August 12th, 2007, 09:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,811 17 Photos	Here Ya Go Paul - J-200 Porn Here is my 1960. It is a bit battle scarred. When I got the guitar it had been refinished by Gibson and had the second pickguard added. As I said, what I feel distinguishes the older ones is how well they project. They have an incredibly resonant bass and are just plain loud. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

August 10th, 2007, 02:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,123 3 Photos	Got any pictures of your '60? I love the look of those things.

August 10th, 2007, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
64Strat Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 611 43 Photos	A friend back in 1975 had a 1952 J-200 that had the most incredible birdseye maple sides and back I'd ever seen. and that guitar was LOUD!!! When I asked him a few years back whatever happened to that ol' guitar, he sheepishly admitted he sold it for a new fancy midi controlled guitar thing. that was by far the finest J200 I've ever seen or heard since. oh brother! what hath thou done!

August 11th, 2007, 02:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
blue metalflake Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ireland Age: 54 Posts: 2,303 10 Photos	I've no experience of the vintage ones, but a friend bought a J-200 last year. It didn't have the volume or sound I would have expected. Like all else, I bet there's great differences from guitar to guitar.

August 14th, 2007, 12:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,123 3 Photos	Thanks for posting that. I think I have J-200 lust. BTW, I like how you have framed pictures of your guitars on the piano like members of the family (which they are!).