Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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Larry Mal
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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:35 am

sal paradise wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:21 am
The important thing for me was that it cost 50% less than a J45, so wasn’t expecting the world.

It works for me although I’m not a prolific/talented acoustic player. More a home picker & strummer.
Oh, I'm not saying you got a bad guitar or anything. Frankly, I could easily see that it would be a great guitar for live use, since the shallower body should cut down on internal reflections and let the pickup ring out more clearly, and the same might be true for recording, since you often roll off some of the bass anyway.

I thought it was voiced a little more like a Taylor guitar.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by sal paradise » Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:56 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:35 am
sal paradise wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:21 am
The important thing for me was that it cost 50% less than a J45, so wasn’t expecting the world.

It works for me although I’m not a prolific/talented acoustic player. More a home picker & strummer.
Oh, I'm not saying you got a bad guitar or anything. Frankly, I could easily see that it would be a great guitar for live use, since the shallower body should cut down on internal reflections and let the pickup ring out more clearly, and the same might be true for recording, since you often roll off some of the bass anyway.

I thought it was voiced a little more like a Taylor guitar.
Oh yeah, was just highlighting that it’s not in the same league as a “proper” Gibson. And has just whet my appetite for maybe one day picking up a vintage J45
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:39 am

I think that's a great idea. Just nothing that calls itself a J-45 from the 70's, but you already knew that.

Mine is a modern one, it is a wonderful guitar.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:40 am

I'm sad, though, because I just looked at the first post here and saw my J-35 that I had to sell. Very sad.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by sal paradise » Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:49 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:39 am
I think that's a great idea. Just nothing that calls itself a J-45 from the 70's, but you already knew that.

Mine is a modern one, it is a wonderful guitar.
I could never get on with that 70s shape :-X
I have nothing to offer anybody, except my own confusion?

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jun 25, 2022 11:49 am

sal paradise wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:49 am
Larry Mal wrote:
Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:39 am
I think that's a great idea. Just nothing that calls itself a J-45 from the 70's, but you already knew that.

Mine is a modern one, it is a wonderful guitar.
I could never get on with that 70s shape :-X
Yeah, they had forgotten their heritage and were making Martin clones, bad Martin clones.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by mediocreplayer » Sat Jun 25, 2022 11:54 am

Thanks for the info, Larry. The J-45 is an iconic guitar and sound. The only Gibson acoustic I owned was the L-130. It was a fun guitar and I regret selling it.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Jun 25, 2022 12:39 pm

I don’t know that one!
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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Dok » Sun Dec 04, 2022 2:37 pm

I also posted this in the more recent acoustic thread, so am using this one as an excuse to post another photo. :)

Image
Image

This is a 2022 50s Original J-45 - differences from the Standard include bone nut and bridge, a thicker rounded C neck profile (can confirm it is quite chunky), vintage-style tuners, and a different case. Came with incredibly low action and ZERO buzz direct from the factory. Still offgassing that nitro finish a bit, too. Looking forward to having some adjustments done so it can continue to open up, but hopefully I'll get to steward this one for a good long while!
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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Dok » Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:26 pm

Well, the J-45 was not meant to be. The neck carve was a little too hefty for me - something about the shoulders would trip me up and I could never quite get used to it with my smallish hands.

After having like four different acoustics through here since then, allow me to present one that IS a keeper, a 1996 J-100 Xtra with Mahogany back and sides. I took a gamble and bought this from Reverb due to a killer price and the right specs. I put some D'addario nick bronze strings on it and for now it all feels and sounds just right. It's very light and resonant, coming in at 1 ounce under 4.5 lbs and has been well-loved and played plenty in the last 27 years and is quite open.

Bass is present but not overpowering, mids are a little scooped which is a-ok for singing while playing, and the trebles are juuust a bit on the thin side. It's not PERFECT but it's pretty dang good. It's very responsive and gives back everything you put into it, and I can apply my ham-handed strumming technique to my heart's content without making it sound bad. When I play it, I'm not fighting anything about it and just present in the moment which is the hallmark of a good one, for me.

I do plan on doing some performing with it so I have to install an acoustic pickup - I have both a K&K Pure Mini and a Baggs Lyric here but am not quite sure which one to use! The Mini doesn't use a battery and is rather non-invasive so I'm leaning toward that one.

Image

Bonus pic with Nina:

Image
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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by mediocreplayer » Sat Aug 12, 2023 2:44 am

Dok wrote:
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:26 pm
...
Fantastic -- congratulations! I would pick a J100 over a J45 any day. The fact that it's mahogany really seals it for me (nothing agains the maple ones, I like those too, but mahogany is always my first love).

I am looking for a J-150 myself but these are hard to come by and expensive.

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Re: Gibson acoustics, let's see 'em!

Post by Dok » Sat Aug 12, 2023 9:34 am

mediocreplayer wrote:
Sat Aug 12, 2023 2:44 am
Dok wrote:
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:26 pm
...
Fantastic -- congratulations! I would pick a J100 over a J45 any day. The fact that it's mahogany really seals it for me (nothing agains the maple ones, I like those too, but mahogany is always my first love).

I am looking for a J-150 myself but these are hard to come by and expensive.
There's one for sale near me locally that I almost bought. It's nearly $1k more than I paid for this one, but it also has "it". And it's at a pawn shop so I think they're ready to haggle. I'm still thinking about it a month later.
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