Johnny A Signature Gibson guitar GAS

[Wooly Fox]

First guitar store I went to in Vancouver had a Johnny A Signature Gibson on the wall. Never seen one of these before in the flesh. Talking to the clerk who said it had been there for 3 years!

Question is why would a guitar like that (Gibson Custom Shop) never get picked up and bought in that time? I guess $6k asking price is difficult to justify for a relatively unknown guitarist...

 

[clayville]

They're gorgeous in my opinion, but they're a bit of an odd duck in Gibson terms for a lot of Gibson players: Fender-scale neck, smaller-than-335 body, fully chambered mahogany back and sides and a carved maple or spruce top.... all that contributes to their unique sound, but it's also kind of "outside the box" in the Gibson family.

And I say that as a guy never giving up his beloved CS-356 (also a smaller, Custom Shop, chambered mahogany back with more center-block left, Gibson scale and plenty of bling).

 

[brookdalebill]

They’re nice guitars, long scale, too.
They are indeed pricey, and anything over $5000 is out of my reach.
Some well-heeled guy will give it a good home.

 

[BB]

Geez....anything over $50.00 is out of my range! I sure would loved one of those (even the Epiphone model) though.

I dig Johnny A. Great tone, touch, phrasing.....and he has a very cool guitar!

 

[7171551]

I'm another that thinks they look amazing and I'd love to own one... But the price??? No, I've never been able to justify that to myself

 

[archetype]

Wearing this while I'm reading this thread, ironically. Bought it from Johnny at a gig in Buffalo, MY.

 

[Wooly Fox]

Very tempted to part ex my CS 336 for it when it arrives from the UK next month. Great guitar but I don't dig black on black guitars and the Johnny A shape appeals to me so much more

 

[brookdalebill]

I had the Epiphone version, it was very nice, and around $1,000, new.
I ultimately didn’t bond, but it looked great, and had real Gibson 57 Classic ‘buckers.
Perhaps one of those, if you can find one, would suffice?

 

[mad dog]

Several reasons for me. First, the long scale. I love 25.5" on teles, but it never feels right to me on semi-hollows or hollowbodies. Then there's the tension bar bigsby. A stiffer feel than the B3 or B6, so not my preference. Finally, the price. 6k is ridiculous. Not even remotely reasonable for that instrument.

 

[Jupiter]

I'm pretty sure the main factor is the 6k price tag.

 

[Wooly Fox]

So I gave in after 2 weeks and went back to try it out on a DRRI at decent volume and it is amazing! I connected with it so much I put a deposit down and will exchange my CS336 for it.

NGD incoming once my gear is offloaded from the container next week!

 

[JohnnyThul]

I found the Johnny A always one of the most interesting Gibson's out there, as they are more or less a long scale single neck version of the original EDS/EMS 1275/1235 doublenecks. Very unique and beautiful instruments, the ones we had in the store were consistently spectacular.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I don't know if that was $USD 6K, but $CAD 6,000 = $USD 4,700. And there are plenty of CS Les Pauls at that price being sold. It's a unique and cool guitar. Gibson should make more long scale guitars.

 

[Wooly Fox]

I think the long scale on a Gibson really suits it and being a set neck makes it unique for the mainstream builders. Also this being a limited run Spruce top I think it's a no brainer to trade my CS 336 in black for it (great guitar, just don't like black guitars). Will hopefully get C$3500-4000 for my CS 336 as it's mint.

 

[3fngrs]

I think the Johnny A model is great. Just awesome looking. One of the best looking guitars ever. I'd love to have one, or at least try one.