Newer Gibson J-45 vrs vintage

[Tom Paul]

I just traded a D-28 for a '90 J-45. I have, and have had, piles of
accoustic guitars and I find this newer J-45 is a really excellent
sounding instrument. Very balanced, full sounding yet the indiviual
strings are still distinct...in other words loud and warm without
being muddy. I once had a '51 southern jumbo...which is essentially a
J-45 with more trim..that cost $3000 due to it's age. This new J-45
sounds way better. The older SJ sounded quite dull except for the
high e and b strings which were almost shrill. I traded it off long
ago. This one is a keeper. The guy I got it from had another '02
J-45 and it sounded exactly like the one I chose..he wanted more $ for
it due to it's NOS condition.

Anyhow...the recent Gibsons get a lot of bad press...the magic of the
early 90's bozeman product had worn off, I guess. This ax contradicts
that bias. The finish and workmanship are all there too. Can't wait
to get a mic infront of it!

Tom Paul

[LeBaron & Alrich]

Tom Paul > wrote:

> I just traded a D-28 for a '90 J-45. I have, and have had, piles of
> accoustic guitars and I find this newer J-45 is a really excellent
> sounding instrument. Very balanced, full sounding yet the indiviual
> strings are still distinct...in other words loud and warm without
> being muddy. I once had a '51 southern jumbo...which is essentially a
> J-45 with more trim..that cost $3000 due to it's age. This new J-45
> sounds way better. The older SJ sounded quite dull except for the
> high e and b strings which were almost shrill. I traded it off long
> ago. This one is a keeper. The guy I got it from had another '02
> J-45 and it sounded exactly like the one I chose..he wanted more $ for
> it due to it's NOS condition.

A one-year-old instrument is "new old stock"?

> Anyhow...the recent Gibsons get a lot of bad press...the magic of the
> early 90's bozeman product had worn off, I guess. This ax contradicts
> that bias. The finish and workmanship are all there too. Can't wait
> to get a mic infront of it!

Two years in a row I have visited the Gibson trailer at Weiser ID during
the National Fiddle Championship. Among dozens of Gibsons I could not
find one that didn't suck. I remain startled. It was like playing stuff
made out of lumber yard materials, and the workmanship was not in
accordance with the rep. I have had good sounding Gibsons, and do now,
though one of them is not original, having been smashed, and then
retopped by Lance McCollum during his apprentice daze.

I'm glad you got a good one.

--
hank alrich * secret mountain
audio recording * music production * sound reinforcement
"If laughter is the best medicine let's take a double dose"

[P Stamler]

It's not that they *never* make a good instrument. Once in a while they do. So,
in the old days, did Harmony or Silvertone. For every 99 instruments that
stunk, you'd get one where everything fell together and it was real nice. These
days Gibson is the same way.

But the real test of a manufacturer is not the ability to make one good guitar.
It's the ability to make all their guitars good. Companies like Taylor, Santa
Cruz, Larrivee etc. manage. Martin usually does. Gibson doesn't.

Peace,
Paul

[Josh Snider]

>
> Speaking of J45s and Larrivees, I've got one of each to sell; a '96 J45 Banner
> Headstock Reissue, hand selected among many (by me) and a '97 Brazilian
> Rosewood Larrivee D10 Custom. Both are in near-mint condition (I define "mint"
> as absolutely perfect down to the tiniest detail). I'm looking for $1200 for
> the J45 and $3000 for the Larrivee. I have pictures of both.
>
>
> Ted Spencer, NYC

I'd bite, but they're probably not leftie guitars. No deals for us
southpaws...

J

--
josh.snider
cave.productions
416.524.6927

[Tom Paul]

(LeBaron & Alrich) wrote in message >...
> Tom Paul wrote:
>
> > I've heard a lot of raves for Collings guitars and
> > would love to play one for a few days. It's sort of like Fender
> > instruments...so many of the boutique instruments are based on Martin
> > sizes and designs. I've get boners for strats, teles, and 000-28's.
> > Some guys like red heads, some like blonds. Those are the guitars I
> > see and have to have!!
>
> The Collings I have played have all been D28 knockoffs and good ones.
> Not as good as teh best D28's I've played but metter than many.
>
> > I'll let you know if the fretboard comes loose and the finish bubble
> > up in a few months.
>
> I certainly hope not. If you feel you got a good one then it probably is
> exactly that, and well made.

Hank, you sound like the kind of guy I'd like to kick back with a
couple guitars and a six pack. Is any of your music available
anywhere to see where you are coming from?

Tom

[Ted Spencer]

<< I'd bite, but they're probably not leftie guitars. No deals for us
southpaws...

J

--
josh.snider >>

The Larrivee could just as well be a leftie since the pickguard is clear and
very thin to the point of invisibility. A similar leftie one could be added
without changing the appearance at all.


Ted Spencer, NYC

"No amount of classical training will ever teach you what's so cool about
"Tighten Up" by Archie Bell And The Drells" -author unknown

[JWelsh3374]

I have a '96 J45 that has already weather checked.

It is the most awesome acoustic I have ever recorded. I also had a 1971 Martin
D-35 that the J45 blew out of my life.


searching for peace, love and quality footwear
guido

http://www.guidotoons.com
http://www.theloniousmoog.com
http://www.luckymanclark.com

[TYY]

Among dozens of Gibsons I could not
find one that didn't suck. I remain startled. It was like playing
stuff
made out of lumber yard materials, and the workmanship was not in
accordance with the rep.

- I wonder what types of guitars you do like. Are you a Taylor fan??

I have found the Bozeman era Gibsons (esp late 90s to present)to be
consistently good guitars. Sure some are a bit weak, others
exceptional. I think the shift has been to brighter and brighter
guitars (kinda like brighter mics, brighter recordings, etc...).
Taylors are horribly bright and sound absolutely awful to my ears.
Larivees and breedloves also have this brightness to some degree.
Gibsons are just warmer, woodier sounding guitars. Its a matter of
taste. I have played recent J-200s, Doves, and J-45s that I would put
up against any instrument at any price.

[LeBaron & Alrich]

TYY wrote:

> Among dozens of Gibsons I could not find one that didn't suck. I remain
> startled. It was like playing stuff made out of lumber yard materials, and
> the workmanship was not in accordance with the rep.

> - I wonder what types of guitars you do like. Are you a Taylor fan??

I was completely ready to appreciate a good Gibson. I have a one-owner
1963 custom J200 that is very nice, a 1969 J50 that is delicious, a
turn-of-the-previous-century generic parlor quitar that is sweet, and a
fairly new Grand Auditoriom from Lance McCollum that is the best guitar
that I have ever owned. I've had D28's, D21's, 00-21, 000-28, D12-20,
D12-35, and about a dozen different Gibsons since I started messing with
guitar in 1959.

I have played lots of Taylors, thought two or three were okay, and
actually liked one of them.

> I have found the Bozeman era Gibsons (esp late 90s to present)to be
> consistently good guitars. Sure some are a bit weak, others
> exceptional. I think the shift has been to brighter and brighter
> guitars (kinda like brighter mics, brighter recordings, etc...).

There was not one strong, good sounding instrument in the whole trailer,
IMO. And the workmanship was less than special by a long shot. Matt and
Danita Hartz's own trailer had a less expensive Gibson of the J style (I
forget the number) that was okay, and much better than any of the ones
in the Gibson trailer at Weiser this year.

> Taylors are horribly bright and sound absolutely awful to my ears.
> Larivees and breedloves also have this brightness to some degree.
> Gibsons are just warmer, woodier sounding guitars.

Maybe once upon a time, and certainly Weiser was thick with older
Gibsons that sounded wonderful. But the new ones were woody like a two
by four strung with fence wire.

> Its a matter of
> taste. I have played recent J-200s, Doves, and J-45s that I would put
> up against any instrument at any price.

I have played several of those that sucked so badly I would not consider
owning one for any price. I think they're milking the name.

--
hank alrich * secret mountain
audio recording * music production * sound reinforcement
"If laughter is the best medicine let's take a double dose"

[TYY]

>
> I have played several of those that sucked so badly I would not consider
> owning one for any price. I think they're milking the name.

We must be getting some different guitars here in San Diego. The local
guitar center has a about 10 gibbies, of which 4-5 I'd absolutely love
to own. The others aren't bad, just nothing special. They have about
20 Taylors, all of which are worthless. So to me, gibson wins...

They have a fair number of martins, which I also love but see, to be
less consistent than the gibsons. Actually, I think they just take
longer to break in and sound REAL stiff when new.

[Guitarboy]

In article >, JWelsh3374
> wrote:

> I have a '96 J45 that has already weather checked.
>
> It is the most awesome acoustic I have ever recorded. I also had a 1971 Martin
> D-35 that the J45 blew out of my life.
>
>
> searching for peace, love and quality footwear
> guido
>
> http://www.guidotoons.com
> http://www.theloniousmoog.com
> http://www.luckymanclark.com
wow we agree on something. absolutely. i have a gibson endorsement
(among others) and i get to use a lot of loaners and the best one from
gibson was the j-45 . i've also used the new hummingbirds and an sj-185
(it's kind of like a cutdown jumbo with a cutaway and killer
electronics) and it was a very nice guitar too although very bright in
the taylor tradition. but here's the capper. have you tried some of the
new epiphone acoustics? amazing guitars for the money. i have an epi
version of a j-45 with a cutaway and electronics that is the most in
tune acoustic i've ever owned and it sounds good too. beleive me i've
owned martins (m-038 and d-12-35) and custom guitars (loprinzi) and i
have some seagulls as well (another great company that makes beautiful
and afordable guitars) but the new gibsons are very nice.