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Post by grayn on Aug 14, 2018 14:03:58 GMT
Having recently acquired my first Gibson acoustic guitar. I thought I’d have a peruse of their web site. Lots of nice guitars, all based around their base models, of Southern Jumbo, Dreadnought, Full Jumbo and L-series small bodies. Interesting to see the vast array of variations on basically just 4 guitars. Some being far more appealing than others. Anyway, I got to the pricey end and 2 models really stuck out to me. One was rather gorgeous, the other a monstrosity of O.T.T. décor. So, which is which?
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 14, 2018 14:18:23 GMT
The first one is lovely, but the second Like a Pearly King threw up all over an ugly J-200
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Post by andyhowell on Aug 14, 2018 16:16:27 GMT
Gibson are very prone to this kind thing!
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Post by oustudent on Aug 14, 2018 19:22:17 GMT
I would love one, but never found one that sounded great.
Never been a fan of the J200, a bit like Marmite - the other ones says "come and play me".
John
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 14, 2018 21:38:45 GMT
The J200 was, until a few years ago, my first love, closely followed by the J45... then I took the chance to play a few (including a couple at the guitar day dreadnought28 organised in Rochdale) and realised I just didn't like the sound that much. Perfect for Cat Stevens tracks (where he gets that almost zither effect) but not much good for anything else. And, even when I was truly, madly, deeply in love with 'em I couldn't stand that bridge or scratchplate.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Aug 14, 2018 23:25:06 GMT
Never been a fan myself despite using J200 CWS as my personalised reg.
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Post by andyhowell on Aug 15, 2018 6:48:56 GMT
Have never played a J200 I was happy or comfortable with.
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Post by grayn on Aug 15, 2018 12:02:39 GMT
Just out of interest, the pearly king model is actually an SJ-250 Monarch, coming in at $21.399 and the rather lovely one is a J-45 Regal, at a mere $5,899. I'll have the bargain basement one please.
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Aug 15, 2018 13:38:30 GMT
I've played some very nice maple-backed J200s that were excellent for rhythmic strumming. That jumbo appears to have rosewood back and sides... I would have to reserve judgement until I'd played it but my first thought was that it could probably be quite overpowering. I'm not much of a fan of bling so out of the two, would much rather have the J45!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 15, 2018 14:00:21 GMT
..even the J45 is a bit blingy for me!
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Post by grayn on Aug 15, 2018 17:44:25 GMT
..even the J45 is a bit blingy for me! Yeah Keith, I think a branch with some cat gut stretched over it would be more your style
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 15, 2018 19:38:11 GMT
..even the J45 is a bit blingy for me! Yeah Keith, I think a branch with some cat gut stretched over it would be more your style ...so long as it's Newtone cat gut! Keith
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Post by Cams on Aug 15, 2018 20:29:31 GMT
I have a SJ200 story. First time I saw one, it was in a shop in Luxembourg. I thought it looked gawd awful. I thought I'd try it for giggles and was smitten. I kept going back to the shop to play it again and eventually bought it, but it had a big crack across the bridge and I returned it for a refund. The shop guy offered a deep discount and was gonna have it repaired by a local luthier, but I said no thanks. Now in my mind it has become the one that got away. I did buy a J150 further down the line, but it just wasn't the same. That SJ200 was instrumental in my wood and body selection when my slot with Kim Walker rolled around. So now I have a spruce/maple SJ from Kim and it's a wonderful guitar.
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 16, 2018 8:35:36 GMT
Well I, like Leo, have always been an admirer of the J200. I even like the moustache bridge. Unlike Leo, I still love them. I have played dozens over they years, and I have found there’s more variance in them than in virtually any other model than I’ve played (except at the cheap end of the market where there’s little, if any, quality control). But when you get a good un they are the most powerful and beautifully toned strumming machines out there. I think they knock the pants off Martins. But it has to be the maple b&s variety. The Rosewood ones tend to be a bit muddy. Ok, they are a bit one dimensional, but I still want one. I do a lot of heavy strummage, and I have other guitars that can do the refined stuff. But, as with so many guitars, you have to buy the right one. So there you go. I admit it. I’m a J200 fan. Have been ever since I saw the cover of Nashville Skyline. You may, if you wish, hunt me down and tear me apart.
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Post by Cams on Aug 16, 2018 11:36:05 GMT
I am a fan too, but I totally agree with your comment about variation. That one that got away was killer. I've never tried another I liked nearly so well. It also taught me that looks aren't anywhere near as important as tone. Good tone trumps looks any day.
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