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Red 333

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Red 333 last won the day on December 21 2023

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  1. The listing is not for a Keb Mo or even a Inspired By, but a J-45 Standard 12-fret. Whoever is using "Inspired By" may be using it loosely, as in, it's model that's like or takes some inspiration from or is in the spirit of an actual Keb Mo. Get some Keb Mo mojo without the premium of the Keb Mo name. In fact, the translation of the listing says, "This is the 12th fret specification model of Gibson Acoustic's super standard model. The 12th fret joint changes the position of the sound hole and bridge, producing a richer sound. Also, the specifications of the pegs and binding are different from the regular model, and there is no pickguard installed, so it looks like a "Keb' Mo' 3.0 12-Fret J-45" and has a more vintage spec look. It has a full body tone and excellent playability." Ikebe is a giant Japanese music store and legit business. They have a highly regarded Reverb shop, too. On their own website, use the e English language button to inquire about international shipping and fees. You can also contact them through Reverb. Red 333
  2. Gibson began offering the adjustable bridge as an option in 1956. It became standard in 1961. I believe that in the mid-sixties, Gibson began adding additional rings to the rosette. With that in mind, if all the features of the guitar in the video are original, it certainly dates to between 1956 and maybe as late as 1965 (1963 excepting, as it doesn't have a plastic bridge). ksdaddy mentioned that he thought the color of the back and sides to be unusual, and maybe that it indicated that the guitar in the video was much newer, and from the Bozeman-era. I've seen quite a number of J-50s with this finish from the mid '50s on. Gibson used it on the Epiphone Texan, too, which was introduced in 1958. The Texan is essentially a long-scale J-50. That finish doesn't disqualify the guitar from being from the mid fifties to mid sixties. Red 333
  3. Isn't that an adjustable bridge? Red 333
  4. Yes. Martin has used a gentler radius throughout the years, between 40' and 52'. I think this depends on the model, but I'm not a Martin expert so I don't know for sure. I believe all steel string guitars have radiused tops. Red 333
  5. I have read that some of the Kalamazoo branded guitars and other lower cost models that Gibson built for other brands (which the Waterloo models are inspired by) were not radiused and were truly flat, but I don't have enough experience with them personally to know for sure. Red 333
  6. Gibson tops and backs are almost never flat. They are radiused, usually 28' for the tops and 18' (I think--some one fact check me) for the backs. This has been more or less true since the days of Orville hisself. A straight edge should always rock when put on either the front or back. But sunken or bellied areas are concerning, of course Red 333
  7. At that time, Epiphones were imported from overseas. The Spirit was an attempt to build an Epiphone in the US again, and it sell it at the lower end of the Gibson price range. Import Epiphone solid-bodies had $160 to $350 (ish) list prices in the '70s, where the Spirit was $400-$650. As ksdadyy said, they experimented with this (and still do) from time to time. Red 333
  8. In 1982, he Spirit was produced at the Kalamazoo factory and badged as an Epiphone. It had the "Made by Gibson" truss rod cover to tell consumers Epiphone was a Gibson product. Gibson bought Epiphone in the late fifties. Epiphone had been a major competitor for decades, especially of archtop guitars, and made a similar quality instrument that commanded similar prices. After the purchase, Gibson used the Epiphone name to sell variations of their products to stores that were often inside the exclusive territory of Gibson dealers. Dealers had agreements that said only they could sell Gibson instruments within X number of miles. Gibson could add new dealers into that territory by offering them nearly identical instruments, only with Epiphone on the headstock. That tactic increased sales without technically violating their distribution agreements. These Epiphones were manufactured right alongside their Gibson counterparts in Kalamazoo, MI, and were offered at similar prices. Eventually, Epiphone would also offer some totally distinct designs, as well. In the early Seventies, Gibson shut down Epiphone production in Kalamazoo, and outsourced manufacturing to various offshore companies. Epiphone was repositioned as budget brand. 1982's Spirit was an attempt to sell a higher-quality and higher-priced made in the USA Epiphone again. The "Made by Gibson" truss rod was used since quality had decreased with the lower price point of the previous decade's products. That's also why the Epiphone logo says "Epiphone U.S.A.," to distinguish Spirit from the outsourced Epiphone badged products. The story goes that the Spirit was not a big seller, so Gibson decals were put over some completed guitars that already had Epiphone on the headstock. This explains why some guitars say Gibson on the headstock, and also have "Spirit Made By Gibson" truss rod covers. Right around that time, Gibson was in the process of phasing out production in Kalamazoo and starting up production in Memphis. Spirit production was moved to there, and these guitars have Gibson on the headstock and just "Spirit" on the truss rod cover. The headstock was changed to the Explorer style hockey stick shape around 1985, and the bridge was changed to a Khaler tremolo. Production ceased around 1986. Red 333
  9. Sounds wonderful, both the recording and the arrangement. Red 333
  10. I am smitten with the J-200. Maybe I will start a Go Fund Me.
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