Any Opinions On Current Gibson Acoustics?

[ArnieZ]

Title says it all. How do they compare to the Guilds, Martins, Taylors etc on an equal dollar comparison?

ArnieZ

[G Man]

As with all things Gibson these days, they seem to be hit or miss. I've played some excellent examples and some not so excellent guitars. If you find a keeper though, they really can be all that. My 2004 J-45 falls into this category.

Rodip, thanks for that link, I had no idea this was just down the road from me. I'll have to make a point of checking out his studio someday, assuming that is an option.

[RobB]

I have a 2005 Gibson Historic Collection J160E. It's a nicely-made guitar and has really begun to open up this last year. Gibson covered a PLEKKING under warranty when I purchased the guitar, and a bone nut/saddle were installed, as well. Recently I upgraded the cheap, plastic bridge pins to John Pearse bone pins. It sounds great and really projects.

While I love the guitar, depending on your needs, I think Martin, Guild and, to a certain degree, Taylor, are a better dollar value/quality ratio. Gibson acoustics are expensive new, and for that kind of coin you can get an awesome, used Guild or Martin.

Taylors almost always have built-in electronics, if that's your thing. My 160E has a P100 and I added a bBand piezo transducer. The output jack is wired in stereo so I can send the P100 to an amp and the transducer to a MamaBear preamp.

[gtone]

My luthier buddy and I have coffee once a week. Coupla weeks ago, he was just explaining to me how the newer Gibson acoustics were over-braced compared to the older models, which really choked down the tone and projection. Haven't played enough of 'em to know the difference myself, but I can tell you that I've A/B'd acoustics in the $2,400-$3,200 range from Gibson, Martin and Taylor on more than one occasion in the last two years and the latter were the most impressive to me, every time. YMMV and all that crap...

[The Shark]

I've played a few of the new Gibson acoustics at Guitar Center. I snuck down to the one in Winter Park last Saturday. They had a "Hummingbird" that was really very nice. I'd like to leave it on a stand for a few years in my studio and see what it really has. But it costs too much. I can get a vintage one for less than 3K.

I don't think I'll ever buy a new acoustic again. Aged acoustic guitars really speak to me more.

[crunchee]

I once bought a new J-160E in the mid '90's, I was shaking wood shavings out of it when it arrived (not from damage, they just either didn't bother or they forgot to tidy it up at the Boseman shop), AND I found the body assembly checklist sheet tucked into the bass bout...something that should have been LONG gone before the guitar was finished. I sent it back ASAP. That was just one example, and it may not have been representative of their acoustic guitars, and it may not be representative of them now; but it only TAKES one.

[hamerhead]

One afternoon I checked out acoustics at the Best Buy my kid worked at. I think I pulled every guitar in their acoustic room off the wall to give a whirl. I tried everything. To me, the lowest-end Taylor sounded better than the best Gibson. Granted, it was Best Buy and every guitar needed to be restrung, but every Gibby (maybe 7 or 8, ranging from $1K to $6K) sounded boxy and lifeless. The Yamahas surprised me most . They had a sweeter, fuller tone. But the Taylors were clearly better sounding (to me) than anything else there, and absolutely sold themselves (crap strings and all).

[murkat]

A client brought over His new to him J-45 a few weeks ago, bought from Sam Ash.

It was sub par, told him to take it back, too many issues.

couple of days ago, he shows up with a historic master built J45 w/ a stika spruce top, had to pay + $200.

Awesome guitar, I tuned it down 1/2 step, it opened right up. Did a low D on it.... OMG.

I do not know of, but like Gibbys, need to play and hear each one, client did get a winner after

the return of the lemon and upgrade to Historic / Masterbuilt.

[TBP]

I don't have much experience with recent Gibsons, but regarding equal dollar comparisons I found the $2K-$2.5K range can get you into used but mint/near mint Collings/Santa Cruz/Huss & Dalton territory, at least if you don't care much for ornamentation. (I bought a used Collings OM1 about a year and a half ago, and it's sublimely good. More than I ever thought I'd spend on a guitar, but I thought I'd reward myself for still being alive. Long story.)

[ArnieZ]

Thanks for the replies! Used won't work for me,unless someone buys my Vinetto. I was very pleasantly surprised by a trade offer I got for it. the store sells Gibson, Taylor, and Martin. I found the playability to be excellent on the Taylors but I really thought Gibsons had really nice necks and a much fuller tone to me ears. I didn't get much time on the Martins and am planning a return trip.The young lady that was helping me plays a Standard and lusts for a black 4 digit bound and crowned one. like Lita's?

ArnieZ

[crunchee]

Did you tell her that we lust for Lita, too?

[Feynman]

I loved (loved) my OM-28V. I think Gibsons look cool. Taylor Schmaylor.

That's all of the expert advice I have.

[Roshark]

I have noticed that Gibson's new Advanced Jumbos have been very consistent in a very good way compared to their other acoustic models in the past 7+ years at my several local GC . You really should try an acoustic out before you buy . The Gibsons have warmth and character some more than others . I was taking to a Gibson rep last summer and he was telling me they were about to release a faithful reproduction of the '34 Jumbo . I have not seen one yet and can not vouch for the faithfulness but If you ever get the chance to play an original one it is not something you would forget . Ah the pure tone of an acoustic . Nothing but the wood, strings and you . Happy hunting .

[ArnieZ]

I have noticed that Gibson's new Advanced Jumbos have been very consistent in a very good way compared to their other acoustic models in the past 7+ years at my several local GC . You really should try an acoustic out before you buy . The Gibsons have warmth and character some more than others . I was taking to a Gibson rep last summer and he was telling me they were about to release a faithful reproduction of the '34 Jumbo . I have not seen one yet and can not vouch for the faithfulness but If you ever get the chance to play an original one it is not something you would forget . Ah the pure tone of an acoustic . Nothing but the wood, strings and you . Happy hunting .

I played one of those! None of the guitars had prices and the repro had a nice big fat neck ,played and sounded great. I asked the price . It was a 2k out of my range and not that much better than the other advanced jumbos..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3mH06_zuhY&feature=player_embedded

[RobB]

My luthier buddy and I have coffee once a week. Coupla weeks ago, he was just explaining to me how the newer Gibson acoustics were over-braced compared to the older models, which really choked down the tone and projection.

I can see where he would say that. Gibson acoustics ARE very sturdy and road-worthy, though l wouldn't say "overbraced" applies to all of their models. I purchased mine because it WASN'T an exact replica of a 60's J160E. It has solid back/sides/top and is x-braced. Works for me, but it is not a "true" acoustic due to its features.

I think a Recording King Schoenberg cutaway is in my near future. Incredible bang for the buck.

[TBP]

Thanks for the replies! Used won't work for me,unless someone buys my Vinetto. I was very pleasantly surprised by a trade offer I got for it. the store sells Gibson, Taylor, and Martin. I found the playability to be excellent on the Taylors but I really thought Gibsons had really nice necks and a much fuller tone to me ears. I didn't get much time on the Martins and am planning a return trip.The young lady that was helping me plays a Standard and lusts for a black 4 digit bound and crowned one. like Lita's?

ArnieZ

At least you get to spend some time with them, and with what sounds like a very cool young lady. Did you tell her about this e-place?

Anyway I've gone acoustic shopping twice. Well, for two time periods. The first time a number of years ago with a modest budget and a year and a half ago with the intention of not worrying so much about that annoying adult voice.

I found the Taylors I tried had a certain sound that some people love. It's bright and punchy, but I prefer a darker, more robust sound. Also, they come from the factory with Elixers, which people tend to have definite opinions about as well. All the ones I tried played remarkably easily.

I didn't get a chance to try too many Gibsons, and most I did find were during my modest budget shopping, so they were a bit out of my range. Sadly, the others didn't seem to have been well taken care of in the store (GC is the only authorized Gibson dealer anywhere near me). Also, I began learning guitar with a Gibson, my dad's '65 B-25 that he found in a pawn shop in the 70s. It's a prime example of mid 60s Gibson, as it's overbraced, the inside has sloppy workmanship and gobs of glue in many places and the top bowed a bit, but I still loved it. They're also mostly short-scaled, so they tend to have a sort of grunt compared to the snap of longer scaled guitars like most Martins and Taylors. Similar to the difference between short and long scale electrics.

And Martin is, well, Martin. They're long scaled, they also have a special sound, and I found I really liked it. Playing a few was interesting. Some I loved while others felt pretty stiff. The first time I went shopping I wound up with a 000-15, which has a dark, warm, toasted sound. It can be a little stiff to play, however, and I didn't realize how stiff until I began looking at pricier guitars. Martin was a big contender with my higher budget shopping, especially an OM-28, but I felt that the Collings and Santa Cruz I tried were in a different class. As an aside, the Martins I tried in larger shops nearly all had dead strings. So you may want to watch for that being an issue and seeing if the rockin' young lady will get some new ones.

So there's my brief take on spending some time trying out a few examples. Generally, I found that there are a lot of great guitars available, and at the higher prices (say over $2K) they can get astoundingly good. I can't say I found any I felt were bad or poorly made, even at around $700, just differences in stiffness and characteristic tone (except for some Gibsons, but I'm convinced that was how the store treated them).

Finally, try out some different woods, like see if they have similar model Martins with rosewood/spruce and mahogany/spruce and see how you like it. Personally, I thought I'd prefer the sound of a rosewood/spruce acoustic, but both times I wound up with mahogany. (The first all mahogany, the second mahogany/spruce).

Damn. Wrote entirely too much again.

[Roshark]

ArnieZ, did you play the '34 Gibson Jumbo reissue ? Was the neck a big rounded asymmetrical V like the originals ? The first time I saw an original Gibson Jumbo I thought I would hate the V neck . I fell in love in under 5 minutes . The treble side of the V is more round and the bass side more taken away . Those necks were designed very well . They fit my hand perfectly . All hand carved and very consistent of the 6 that I have played . These original Jumbos were the predecessor to the J-35 and J-45 have a very distinct sound unlike any other Gibson or other brand . Very warm mahogany sound and can get very angry when you lay into it . The newer Advanced Jumbo is very much the same in that you can never max out the acoustics volume you are only limited by how hard you hit the strings . These guitars can get very loud by themselves . Huge dynamic range . Most other acoustics do not respond this way to your right hand attack . Others tend to max out on acoustic volume very early on . Jumbos go to 11 !!!

[Roshark]

I forgot to mention that Gibson has J-35 reissue for around $1300 out the door at GC . These J-35 reissues have an almost figured but subtle sitka top, striped pickguard, and a banner logo "Only a gibson is good enough" headstock . These are very lively brand new guitars out of the box . They respond well to finger picking and strumming . Great dynamics .The only knock is deep bass responce Gibson is known for is not as well developed on these . They are fun guitars to play !