Dave in SLC Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Hi everyone, Has anyone had much experience with the slope-shouldered jumbos in maple? As far as vintage guitars go, I know that Russ Barenberg ( www.russbarenberg.com ) favors a banner maple, and many other folks have said these were some of the best guitars Gibson has ever built. But how about a recent maple jumbo, or even a custom maple jumbo? If you've played a recent maple jumbo, what did you think of it? A 'great' guitar that would sound even better with some more time on it, or too 'bright' -- a guitar that would need some time and a lot of playing just to sound bearable? Thanks for your thoughts or experiences! Dave in SLC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 thanks for the link. russ' playing is beautiful and he's got quite a nice collection too by the looks of it. i played a j185 maple w/nat finish (not a slope, though) yesterday and would define it as very crisp and shimmery. not a huge j200 or aj sound as far as projection goes but with the note separation required in fingerstyle playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modac Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Over the years, I've played a maple AJ reissue, and a couple of maple J45 reissues. I like maple better than other tonewoods, so take it with a grain of salt----but I thought they were all well above the norm as far as tone. Not bright, but brilliant----warm, woody bass tones, not altogether unlike like an archtop----and killer midrange punch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearbasher Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I picked up a Maple J-45 about 4 months ago. Bought it without hearing it. I wasn't happy with the sound at first (I always played rosewood), then I put on a set of bluegrass strings and now it is my favorite guitar (at the moment that is). Very defined sound. You can hear every note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I would love to have a chance to check out a Maple AJ (Custom)... I love maple as a tonewood and love the sound of my AJ, so a maple AJ and I would likely be in heaven.... ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Keep in mind that Russ's maple J-45, like all maple flattops during WWII, has laminated back and sides. Modern maple Gibsons, and the flattops before the war, usually have solid maple back and sides. As a result, the wartime guitars have a very distinctive tone. For my banner Gibsons book, I've interviewed Russ at length about his maple Banner J-45. He's a fine a speaker as a player! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I have a quilted maple slope-shouldered SJ, ordered from the Custom Shop last year. Sounds great. Looks great. Plays very nice. I recommend the combination of slope shoulders and maple. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 MAN! THAT THING IS GORGEOUS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 MAN! THAT THING IS GORGEOUS! ...and the finish is hypnotic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modac Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Wow, that is a beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticat Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Sorry Dave, I just had to make a comment on shrimer guitar. Nice Southern Jumbo Fred , I like the longer saddle, tiger stripe pick-guard and the finish is one of the nieces I've seen. It reminds me of the finish on Neil's quilted J-45. May you have many years of happiness with your new guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Dave- You know how I feel!!! Nothing like a good maple guitar. My two favorite maples- the old L7 and the new L-00. EVERY year at the Fiddle Tunes festival, one or two visiting artists try to pry the L7 away from me- This year was no exception. If I was you, I'd get a J35 custom with flamed maple back and sides. The question I have is the topwood for your guitar. (Isn't this fun- designing someone else's guitar with someone else's money?) I think I'd look into something other than red spruce. Scalloped red spruce bracing, for certain. But ask Ren what he'd recommend for a player with a lighter attack- such as yourself. Maybe Alpine spruce? This could be a stunner!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Arry Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I think an old jumbo with maple body must be a sweet guitar. By the way, does anybody know if old jumbos 35 (and then 45) shared the same X-brace pattern with the Advanced Jumbo? I've read somewhere that they had the shorter scale of course, but a similar if not the same X brace angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 By the way' date=' does anybody know if old jumbos 35 (and then 45) shared the same X-brace pattern with the Advanced Jumbo?[/quote'] My understanding is that the AJ had a wider angle, 103 deg vs 102 on the 35/45. These days, also used on the true vintage slope js. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in SLC Posted July 21, 2008 Author Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hi Sal! You were missed this year! And Fred, you were missed also! I was hoping to meet you, and try out the customs you previously wrote about, the SJ-200 Elite and J-185. I hadn't heard or read anything about this new custom SJ! How long have you had it? Would you be willing to share the details and thinking that went into your custom order? I would like to consider something similar, but based on the J-35 rather than the SJ, if that would work out just as well. Thanks, Dave in SLC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modac Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Engelmann works nicely with maple for fingerpicking, too. It's pretty responsive stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted July 23, 2008 Share Posted July 23, 2008 Played a s/s mple AJ custom job at GS today. Nice dry tone, kind of like an OJ but brighter (obv). They also had a koa, same config, similarly dry but not as bright, maybe the koa was the better flattpicker of the 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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