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mccartymind

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  1. "Falls away from the fretboard edge pretty steeply" is a great description! I recently purchased a J45 that I loved the sound of but the slim taper neck hurt my hand for this reason. I still might buy it back cause I love the sound but I find a rounder neck that doesn't fall away so steeply feels better. But I think that's just what I'm used to. The question is can one's hand/arm get used to anything?
  2. I had the same store transfer a 50s Original J45 from one of their other stores cause it has the round neck. I went yesterday to play it and the neck was good but nut a bit tighter and didn't sound even near as good as the J45 I returned. I started playing the one I returned and I was very close to buying it again and just forcing myself to get used to it. It is the exact sound I am looking for. There's a D18 there that feels perfect in my hand. I love Martins but right now Gibsons are inspiring me the most to write songs and sing to them. And I just love everything about the sound of the J45 I returned. But I've realized the neck is almost too thin and puts pressure on my hands at the top and bottom of the neck/fretboard. My hand wants just a little more to rest in the palm. But won't I just get used to this? My hand and arm are just muscle and tendons. Won't I adjust? I'm still considering buying it back and if I can't get used to it, sell it myself.
  3. thanks that’s helpful. Played a Hummingbird Sustainable today at a local shop and the neck was perfect. It’s the “Round” version and it was slimmer. I have learned that the neck on the guitar I returned (as did another Gibson I played today) came down flat on the side before moving into the rounder back of the neck creating a lip or sorts that for whatever reason bothers my hand. The round version doesn’t have the flat part of the U or D shape. Anyway, it’s annoying that my hand is that sensitive. But I know I like the round style but the problem is it’s not on the J45. At least not the modern ones. What remains to be seen is whether or not a slim Slim Taper would work. The 50s Original has the advertised Round neck but I’m assuming those are fatter. I need to play a handful of J45s next to each other but that’s not really an option. Might have to settle for buying something else for now until I find the right J45.
  4. Anyone know anything about the 2016 year? Looks like they made some changes then. Are we still seeing those same changes in 2018 or did things change again? Doesn’t look to be much. Just wondering if you have any insight into that year. Gonna look around for neck type but probably slim taper.
  5. I might buy a used one I found from a private seller. If I don’t like it I’ll just resell it. Has some custom appointments like Waverly tuners, a bone saddle and a fire striped pick guard (which I don’t like). Another 2018.
  6. I think I need a rounder C neck on Gibson’s. That’s my hypothesis at this point.
  7. I returned it. They lowered the action and did it right, adjusting the truss rod and the saddle. It helped but as I played other guitars there again to test how they felt in my hand and went back to the J45 something just wasn't right. I can't explain it. I played wider nuts on Martins that felt fine and I played other Gibsons that felt fine. I played an SJ200 and a J45 Studio and they seemed to be fine. Granted I didn't take them home and play for awhile but I didn't play the J45 I bought long in the store before I noticed it bothering me. So I don't think it was the thickness because I don't think it was actually that thick. And it's not the width cause I played wider nuts. But it "felt" too wide in my hand for some strange reason I cannot figure out. I just decided it wasn't worth forcing. I did love the sound but I've only played two J45s in my life and have only really now determined that is the guitar I want. I'm totally open to buying a vintage model but I guess since I've never owned a good guitar I wanted to buy a new one to start and buy vintage later. Do all of you mostly buy used guitars? And then sell them if they don't work out? My problem is there isn't another J45 around where I live for me to play or buy at this point. I could order one and take the gamble but then I'd most likely need to be prepared to sell it myself if it didn't work. I'm hopeful since I played other Gibsons today that seemed fine. The store is going to try and get another from Gibson but since they've been closed due to COVID he's not sure on the timeline. Anyway, I'm bummed cause that guitar sound was already inspiring me to write songs on. But I also know that when I don't listen to myself I regret it later and I just didn't want a guitar to feel that awkward in my hand even if its all in my head. : ) Goes to show how important it is to just play guitars until they feel right. Thanks for your thoughts and feedback it has been helpful. Let the hunt begin!
  8. thanks I appreciate that. I really hope so. I am loving this guitar but my arm is getting worse. I need to give it several days off and wait for the action to be adjusted. I still may have to return it and wait for a slimmer neck J45 to show up. I was looking at a D18 as well and while I eventually want one I now know for sure I need a J45 right now. It’s exactly the sound I’ve been searching for.
  9. Yes I know the J45 caused the pain. What I was mostly interested in was if others had that with a new guitar but eventually got used to the new shape. My old acoustic is 11/16 at the nut and longer scale and lower action. The J45 neck thickness is slightly more than my fender but also wider and I think this is causing me the most problem. I was just hoping I would adjust. But that might not happen. We will see. I played wider nuts but shallower neck depths on Martins a couple weeks ago and had no issues and I was in the store playing various guitars for a couple hours straight. I want a wider nut cause it’s obvious to me now that I play better with one.
  10. What is the standard way of measuring the neck depth so I know what doesn’t work for me?
  11. Fair enough and maybe I will. I’m less convinced now that the string height will solve my problem. It’s causing a tendinitis/carpal tunnel reaction in my entire arm. It’s not just sore it actually hurts and I only played it ten minutes yesterday. Im gonna wait for my arm to settle down and then see. But what I did notice yesterday was that the neck just doesn’t feel comfortable in my hands still. It just feels bigger and sort of in my way — like I’m having to work too hard. My fingers reach all the strings and I can just play the guitar but it’s not getting comfortable (and causing pain). I might have to wait to find a J45 with a shallower neck depth. Bummer cause I dig the sound and they don’t have another at this time.
  12. Thanks everyone I appreciate all the feedback. I’m taking it back in for a set up this Saturday so we will see what happens after that. thanks!
  13. Well, they're a Gibson dealer up here. The action is only slightly high and mostly it's my getting used to. They may be incompetent but not sure. I will reach out and see what he says. When I was there I was complaining more about the neck thickness so he wasn't thinking action. Anyway, I get your point. I will keep all of this in mind. I appreciate it greatly.
  14. They only had one J45. I could start to tell my hand was fatiguing in the store. I talked with the retail guy about it. At this point we tossed it up to being an adjustment from what I'm used to. He didn't offer to adjust it at that time. I will reach out and suggest that now. There's still some adjustment from what I'm used to. Wider neck, slightly thicker, shorter neck, stickier neck, and slightly higher action. I'll head back there in the next couple weeks if this continues. If it settles enough I'll just have a luthier in town adjust it.
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