egoidealmusic

Hi all, After many, many recommendations for Sunbeam strings I've tried them and really dig them. About a month in they're really hitting their stride...mellowing but still lots of punch, well defined for single string picking but have that growl I love of a J-45 when really lit into. The question, though, is what kind of lifespan do most folks find with them? I'm not expecting coated lifespan, but they do seem to be holding up to almost dayly play.

I'll defer to others on the ID, but that is in amazing shape!

This is fantastic, Lars! Great recording and lyrics.

That is one of the biggest sounding adjustable saddle Gibson's I've ever heard. If I weren't paying off back taxes... 😞

Thank you, Red! I'm working on trying some better recordings soon, so I'm hoping to post a number of songs before too long.

Hey, thanks much, Missouri! I'm definitley more of a songwriter than a guitar player (obviously), so that means a lot!

Jinder can you tell me which XTs you're using? I've been using Sunbeams on my J-45 of late and really like them but would like something that last a bit longer if it's worth it.

Or for another comparison:

From what lots of folks here have said the adjustable bridge makes a J-45 sound quiter and brighter. I also find the late 60s necks to small for my taste, but I've got pretty large hands. Here's a pretty interesting comparison video between the 50s reissue and the 60s reissue. Yours is actually from the late 60s so it's not exactly the comparison you're talking about but it does show quite a difference between the two.

Does your 67 have the adjustable bridge? If so, it's going to sound very different from either 1942 or 50s reissue. I've not played the 42 Banner but have seen many a clip with them and they sound fantastic. the 50s reissue has a big chunky neck where I'm guessing yours is much slimmer and narrower.

You're definitely correct, Lars. It was just a quick recording without any testing whatsoever, but I appreciate it! And thanks to you as wel, Danvill!

Hey, thanks, Raul! My J is really loud so it drowns out my voice. Here's the words if you're curious: WHEN I WENT AWAY Were you as surprised As you seemed to be? Because it failed To surprise me. And when you’d scream And throw things at me Did it ever strike you The way that it struck me? When I went away Did you miss me Or was I just to blame? Was love just a term A space to fill Just a word? Does it hurt like hell To know That I’d rather Drive around than come home? When we’d sleep And it’s cold Despite the same bed We both slept alone And doesn’t it seem a waste To think of nine years Been misplaced Under your bitterness And my desire To be someone else?

It almost looks like it's the original guard that's been cut down--the bottom shape is right, but the top is off. Perhaps it was peeling and this was the easy fix?

But here's me playing a song I wrote called "when I went away" on my 50s J-45. Just recorded on my phone so apologies for the quality (and it being a bit too high end given the phone was aimed at the high strings).

Love that light blonde streak down the middle. A beautiful guitar!

That's BS. The new Gisbon acoustic I purchase had the warrant/QC card checklist, which also has a warranty registration card, so they're not being truthful.

Hope you love it as much as I love mine!

I was in the same spot and had no choice but to order. As I've said before, neck is chunky and wonderful and it feels great in the hand!

That is absolutely beautiful. I've always loved that guitar, and you've got a fantastic example!

The new Gibsons do come with a humidipack, and most definitely with the warranty card, so to me that's the biggest red flaf. That bridge looks more sloppy to me than a reglue, but that's just based on one picture--I got a brand new one and there's one spot where glue wasn't cleaned up very well. You do have to be dilligent calling the Gibson customer service line, but if you are they're great once you finally get them. If you're not happy, send it back or let Gibson know, as they do seem to try to make things right.

Here's one of the best comparisons I've seen between the 50s and the standard.

Depending on which SJ-200 you got, the neck with at the nut will be similar. The neck on the 50s is definitely much chunkier than a stadard, and some folks feel (and I agree) that the extra weight on the neck/guitar mellows the highs and brings out the bass. Of course the bone vs. tusq helps with this, too. I've got a 50s and I absolutely love it, though I did change out the tusq pins to ebony. Obviously it varies from guitar to guitar, but that's my 2 cents.

Yes, this is that guitar, and I wasn't try to dry it out, I was just inquiring about the stages of it drying out (though I did share a weird thing someone told me). I've not done anything to try to dry her out, and have been following the hydration advice since I got it back then. I don't have a hydrometer yet, but I'm looking at them now!

It's still sounding great--didn't mean to suggest that the sound had changed. It was in a case with the humidification system so I don't think it was too dry, though it was wiched cold for a few days so the heats been running like crazy (I've been keeping it there much more often after suggestions to do so). No flatness in the tuning whatsoever, so I'm thinking Rosinante is right. Will keep in the case for a couple more days and see what's what.

So, I've had my 45 in the case for the past few days givne the cold and the heat running, but I got her out today and just noticed (after 4 hours or so of her being out) that I could feel the grain on the top. Not along the soundhole where strum marks have worn her in, but along the whole top below the bridge, so much I could feel it with my fingers. I instantly put her back in the case with humidifiers, but I've never noticed anything like this before. For what it's woth she soundded great before I noticed this. Tempererature change maybe? It's unusually cold down here. Or the heat running and drying everrything out?