rbpicker Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 holy smokes, I just visited my local gas emporium and played a new J45 Vintage. This is the one with the torrified adi top. It is the best sounding new guitar I have ever played. The price is out of reach right now (I keep repeating that line to myself), but otherwise it would be acclimating to my living room right now. The only troublesome part is the rough finish. It is orange peeled, but not consistent across all of the guitar. I have a buddy who bought one and had the finish sanded and smoothed out a bit. I get the vintage finish appeal, and like it very much, but this looks like a bad Earl Sheib paint job. Anyone seen one of these that has a rough finish? They also had a cool 1947 reissue J50, limited run. It had a Sitka top, with a vintage finish that was done to perfection. It sounded great as well, and about a grand less money. i got me a case of the vapors. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Go J50 and figure you just put a thousand bucks back in your pocket. That's G.A.S. math. My kidneys seem OK but I might be shopping a liver at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I get the vintage finish appeal, and like it very much, but this looks like a bad Earl Sheib paint job. Anyone seen one of these that has a rough finish? Whoa! So Gibson will paint any guitar for $19.95. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 That’s funny Zombywoof. Sad part is, I remember the days of the $19.95 paint job. It was: have it painted on your way to trade it in because the paint wouldn’t last. Thanks for the flashback! Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Thread title of the month, right there. P.s. not sure what went wacky with the sub-title above. Can’t edit it. As the OP, can you find a "use full editor" blue button? A photo of the finish on the kidney guitar would be good to see. Whoa! So Gibson will paint any guitar for $19.95. Yeah. I think I've bought a few of the test pattern guitars online before. Isn't that how the Lizardburst came to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 62burst, thanks for the tip on the “full edit” option. If I go back to do a re-run on the test drive, I’ll take a picture or two and try to capture the objectionable nature of the finish. Good idea. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Kidneys are over-rated anyhow. Go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Kidneys are over-rated anyhow. Go for it. Being someone who has owned a j45 vintage since july 2016, i recommend sticking with the kidneys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 Scriv58, tell me more. Are you not pleased with the guitar after a period of ownership? I’ve certainly experienced the concept of some letdown once the newness wears off. I’d really be interested in your impressions at this point in your journey with the guitar. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Scriv58, tell me more. Are you not pleased with the guitar after a period of ownership? Well, he could just be saying that the price of the guitar is considerably less than the $5,000-10,000 going price of a kidney (in anonymous foreign country). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Personally, I wouldn't buy an expensive guitar unless it had both the tone AND the look I wanted. For that kind of money you will find both if you keep looking. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 Yes Lars, right you are. In retrospect, it’s probanly a good thing it had that finish issue. Othwise, I probably would have bought it and it’s not really a good time for me to be entertaining such a purchase. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scriv58 Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 I just looked up the price on the gibson website- wow several hundred dollars more than i paid two years ago. It is a fine enough guitar, lightweight, very clean construction, decent enough tone and playability for most players. But there is nothing vintage about it, save for the marketing dept. misnomer. Unlike the j45 legend patterned directly after eldon whitford's old guitar, or the 1942 j45 patterned after a guitar in john thomas' collection, it is really just another j45, not patterned upon a specific guitar and i feel confident that one could find a j45 standard equal to this model. For the current price, it is easy enough to find the real deal in vintage, a 40s or 50s model. However, if one has the coin, and this one floats your musical boat, i would not attempt to discourage your acquisition. I played it very frequently for a year and a half, but since last december it has been sitting in its case. i got it out today and have played it for 3 hours or so, and am reminded it sounds very nice, just overpriced. I prefer my 72 year old and 61 year old gibsons to this one, but hey, so would most players. post script- this was a mail order purchase, and had i auditioned it first, i most likely would have not bought'n it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 I think you all are looking at this wrong, it's not an either / or, it's a both. I heard you play - you're awesome, you deserve it. Get them both, be happy... finagle a good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 I have a Vintage myself from the first run and it has assumed the No.1 spot with me. But, it cost me no where near the asking price of the 17,18 or now the 19s, as in wow when I look at the suggested retail. edit: still, sure is a great sounding J-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfa Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 holy smokes, I just visited my local gas emporium and played a new J45 Vintage. This is the one with the torrified adi top. It is the best sounding new guitar I have ever played. The price is out of reach right now (I keep repeating that line to myself), but otherwise it would be acclimating to my living room right now. The only troublesome part is the rough finish. It is orange peeled, but not consistent across all of the guitar. I have a buddy who bought one and had the finish sanded and smoothed out a bit. I get the vintage finish appeal, and like it very much, but this looks like a bad Earl Sheib paint job. Anyone seen one of these that has a rough finish? They also had a cool 1947 reissue J50, limited run. It had a Sitka top, with a vintage finish that was done to perfection. It sounded great as well, and about a grand less money. i got me a case of the vapors. Rb I have a '16 J-45 Vintage. Haven't noticed anything rough about the finish. It's my favorite guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 gfa, I’m really glad to hear that they’re not all like that. The dealer indicated that was part of the intended look, and I couldn’t imagine that. But, boy what a great sound it had. Rb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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