Old Neil Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Hi guys and girls, lurker here but first post. Mostly a Martin guy but have owned a J-200 as my first serious guitar. Interested to hear about the Legend 1942 J-45 GIbson is offering now. No reviews available in my searches at least. Does anyone know how they sound, particularly in comparison with the standard J-45? Thanks, O.N. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 hey, ON! welcome! check the threads below this one. the TV series was just discussed. it seems many players love them and prefer them. there are always variety of expert opinions here. oh, and tell mats sundin i said 'hi!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Pup Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I've played the J-45 Modern Classic, True Vintage and the 1942 and what sticks out in my mind is. The 1942 has a sweet vintage sound and look, Red Spruce top and a fat neck but the price tag is a bit steep. The Modern Classic has the advantage of a pickup, a thinner neck and grover tuners. Both sound great but to put it simply, the 1942 has a more vintage tone than the Modern Classic. As Cunkhead suggested you may want to try one of the J-45 True Vintage series. It rests nicely in between the Modern Classic and 1942. It has more of a 50's to 60's vintage tone, kind of along the lines of early Bob Dylan recordings. I have one and she's an amazing guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLiveSoundGuy Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Welcome to the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I played one last week. It was incendiary. Amazing tone, huge neck and big, warm, vintagey vibes. Very pricey, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I just got a used J45 Legend a few week's ago. It is the best sounding and looking modern Gibson that I've ever played or seen. The only drawback for me is the HUGE neck. I knew going in that the neck was big but didn't count on it being this big. These Legends are pretty expensive new but getting it used save me quite a few dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Neil Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and prompt and helpful replies. Yes, the neck could be an issue as this is what put me off the Martin D-18 Authentic. Not sure if the Legend is similar in that regard but from your comments I suspect so. Next up, the True Vintage would be good if there were any to try where I live (I'm an Australian based in Stockholm, Sweden). I've got to play three different standard J-45's and noticed that they vary somewhat in tone from each other. I've been advised even by Gibson lovers to try before buying as they do vary a lot. This rules out online sales. Even with return policies reverse shipping internationaly could get expensive! Regarding reviews, there seems to be no shortage of standard J-45 and even a few RW J-45 reviews online (Harmony Central, e-pinions et al) but non for this or the True Vintage. I've managed to find a few discussions on this site that included these models however. So final question in a longish post ... , What is the difference between the True Vintage line and the Historic line of a few years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 The neck on the Legend is a bit bigger then the Martin D18 Authentic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Pup Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I'm not to sure about all the details but I do believe I've overheard something about thinner braces on the J-45 True Vintage. Not sure if that was true for the Historic line. Hopefully some one that actualy knows will chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Yes, Spacepup is correct. The TV models have the thinner braces. Also, the J-45 and Southern Jumbo TV models have the AJ style top bracing as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aadvark Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 HI< this is my first post here. I am a regular contributor over at UMGF but have always been a Gibson lover too. My Legend 1942 J-45 is without doubt my most amazing, beguiling, responsive and wonderful to play guitar. I don't find the neck at all a problem compared to the long-scale chunky necks. I love the feel of the neck. THE playability is incredible and she is getting better every day. I have struck gold with Newtone Masterclass Mediums, bone pins - wow, what presence and evenness, it is deceptively good this guitar. You don't realise just how good until you put her in the mix with a few other instruments, then the tone and power of this voice is quite astonishing. Going back to my other guitars, God bless 'em is always a shock. The only thing my 67 Hummingbird has over this guitar is age. cheers aad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 welcome to the forum, aadvark. lots of commonwealthers here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Neil Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 Welcome aardvark. I'm fairly new here too but I recognize your handle from the UMGF. Variety is fun. Is it true the neck is even bigger than the D-18 Authentic? Sounds a handful too far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Neil Posted July 22, 2008 Author Share Posted July 22, 2008 PS. Are there any soundclips of this guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted July 22, 2008 Share Posted July 22, 2008 Neil take my word for it the neck on the legend is bigger then the Authentic. Now the A has a 1 3/4 nut where as the Legend is 1 23/32. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aadvark Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 I don't have any sound clips available right now, sorry. You'd sure want to try the neck befor egetting one, because if you don't like baseball bats then it may not be for you. I love mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Just tried one today. Very responsive, full tone, bright top, drier than most slopes. Best comparison is to an OJ, or maybe a mple AJ. Compared to std j45: richer, no harshness in upper register. To TV: folks looking for explosive TV-like response in the 42 will be disappointed, but if you like dry vintage tone its there. Not everyone will like the neck but its quite playble, unless you do a lot of bar chords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sumner77 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I'd have to agree with the anteater. I briefly owned one that was the best sounding new Gibson acoustic I've ever played. If it wasn't sooooo expensive I would still own it, big neck and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Just tried one today. Very responsive' date=' full tone, bright top, drier than most slopes. [/quote'] sorry, newbie question here - what do you mean when you say "dry" in regards to tone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Good Q, Cunk. Dry= strong fundamental, not a huge amount of overtones. Very clean. Punchy. Phat. Like a tele through an amp without any effects. The TV in contrast is touch sensitive, gets a lot of sound going in a hurry (brarrrang). Tele through a Vibroverb. Std historics are nowhere near as lively as as Tvs, but are brighter, more forward sounding than the 42, with some tendency to harshness in the top end. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.