DanvillRob

I wish I had as pleasant a voice as you have! The 'Bird was Leslie's....she was generous enough to let me have her a few years ago. I simply LOVE it Not just the nicest playing 12-String I've ever picked up, but it's as easy to play as a high-end 6-String! I had actually put several John Prine songs together prior to his passing.... He was truly one of the greats!

Al, Funny how I ended up with my first Dove. I worked in a music store back in the 60o's. We got in a Hummingbird...and I'd play it whenever there were no customers in the store.....and fell in love with it! Well, years later, when we were first married, I told my wife this story.....so when we were poor as church mice, she gathered up enough money to buy me a guitar. She knew it had to be a Gibson, and she knew it was some kind of bird model. She went to a place called Music Unlimited.... and told them what she wanted.....and they sold her a Dove. Maple, not Mahogany; Long scale, not short scale..... but I loved it.... still my favorite guitar....means so much that she sacrificed to buy it for me.

You only live once!

Easy choice for me. I love the sound of a J-200...but it's simply too big for me, (I keep thinking I look like Little Jimmy Dickens when I play one). I have both Doves and Hummingbirds..... The Dove would be my choice, for sure.

A BEAUTIFUL guitar..... I have a 2003... probably the best sounding Gibson I have (I have 6...5 are Dreads). Your dad is a lucky man.....I hope he plays and enjoys it for many, many years.

A GREAT job, Anne! Brings a lump to my throat. I also recorded a version right after John passed.

Phil, I thought I responded to you.... the Koa 'Bird IS killer.... you know I bought it new in 2011....so it's had 11 years to open up some.....it's MUCH better now...and getting better and better with age. I like the short-scale neck.... it may overtake the DIF one day for tone. You know I love all your guitars.... I lusted after your 'Bird 12-String for a long time until Leslie decided to sell me hers....and it's un-feckin'-believable!

Me & the J-50, (with a cheap sound hole pickup). In the next few weeks I hope to have proper electronics installed and the "Gibson" (Kluson?) tuners replaced with Grovers...new strings and a check of the set-up. I don't mind the current tuners, but the treble side is hard for me to turn with the advancing arthritis in my hands. Song written and performed by Randy VanWarmer in 1979.

I've been lucky in that regard. After I quit music, I sold everything...not for the money, but just to get rid of it all....since that time, I've only acquired. Did give my Ovation 12-String away...but it was impossible to play....my luthier 'parted it out'.

I don't think it's a bad thing..... my stuff (not just my guitars) are all very special to me. I have 6 amps (I think).... 4 of them I could care less about..... but I have an early 70's Fender Princeton Reverb that belonged to my dad. I've had it completely rebuilt, (with the exception of the outside....I want it to look the same as when my dad used it).....and I have an early 70's Dual Showman Reverb amp.....it's completely rebuilt, including the tolex and screen....even has "new-old stock" 15" JBL's. It's big and heavy...will go to one of the grandkids.

Here's the DIF in action....nothing but it (and my voice....sorry). As I said, I'm recording every song in my repertoire for my grandsons to have when they're older.... and I completed all the songs in my chart books...and am now going through my old retired chart books and recording the songs I used to do many years ago. This is one of those songs I used to do (attempt). When I saw it, I had to find it and listen to it again to recall how it even goes. And when I did, I found it's actually a great song. Paul Simon is a master in song construction! Recorded in our master bathroom.

Thanks, Not sure about the pickguard.... you can see mine has the 'standard' teardrop pickguard. I would have preferred a J-45, but the J-50 was a gift from my staff when I retired. You're right about the "Norlin-era" GIbsons. Since I have 3 Kalamazoo guitars and 3 Bozeman guitars, I can say the Bozeman are better....but the Kalamazoo guitars are no slouches! I can't imagine my giving up ANY of my acoustics.....I have some electrics...and a couple of them were built by my cousin before he had a devastating accident, so they won't go anywhere.... I have a Strat from his collection that I actually don't like much.... and a couple of others I could take or leave. Like your J-50.... my old Dove is amazingly loud..... the J-50 can hold it's own with it, (but certainly NOT the Jubilee).

The DIF is a fabulous guitar...and my 2003 is probably the best sounding one I have.....but it's not my favorite....... first of all...it's unblemished....no scratches or belt rash..... I only play it in my sweats and shirts with no buttons..... I want to pass it on to my grandson in "like-new" condition, (same with the 'Bird Koa").

Great to see you again, as well!

Just a wonderous that in almost 50 years of playing Gibsons, I ONLY have square shoulders...and I have never sold one!

Thanks..... I really love them all, (as Willie says, "Why Do I Have To Choose?"

Thanks....collected over 40+ years.

Thanks..... great to see old friends.

Oh...and yes... Some Beach was the J-50. I really like that guitar.....it's kinda like my pickup... looks pretty good, but I don't have to worry much about it.

I will... Krasi swears by 'em...and he plays out a lot (at least he used to). I figured about the feedback from the mic....but I mostly play in my music room..... I was planning of piping it through the Princeton Amp in there...you think it'll be better through the PA system?

Oh yeah..... I thought you meant on YouTube.... I liked Some Beach....

Since my last name is "BIRDwell" seems appropriate, eh?

I post once or twice a week.... which post from Late January? I've been mostly using the J-50 lately...but still break out the 12-String on occasion.

My Doves In Flight is a 2003. It's be best sounding of all my Gibson Acoustics, and is the most beautiful DIF I've ever seen, (Natural Back & Sides)