Joe M

It is, funny thing is that the strap button isn't installed, it's in the accessory compartment. Which is fine with me, I never play acoustic standing up and always hated that several manufacturers, such as Gibson and Taylor, always automatically added the upper strap button. Pretty sure your pic is from Gibson's website, correct?

Would like to post pics, but I keep getting a message the file(s) are too large......

Ahh, the smell, fantastic!!😀

After quite a while without any acoustic guitar, I just brought home a new 50's J45. What a cool looking, playing and sounding guitar. I had gone completely electric for almost a year, but decided it was time to get back to basics. I was looking at a J45 Standard that one of my local dealers had and was about ready to drop the hammer, when this 50's model showed up. Similar, but different. Differences that are very obvious are: tuners, three on a side with white buttons, as opposed to the Grovers on the Standard. This is a big plus for me, always hated Grover's look. Aged binding, silkscreen Gibson logo, which, again, are pluses for me. Fatter, rounder neck, not really that much different. More transparent back and sides, where the grain is more visible, compared to the black on a Standard, another plus. Sound-wise, very, very close, both sound like a Gibson should. I think the headstock shape may be different, haven't really compared them closely. Good to once again hear the rumble of a J45

Update....took guitar back to the store tech, couldn't duplicate the problem there. Came home, tried yet another cable and amp, still buzzing when nothing metal on the guitar is touched. Figured it was worth a shot, so I plugged my wireless system in and....silence, no hiss, no buzz, nothing but the sound of the guitar. Tried a couple of my other guitars (one Tele, one Strat) with the same "bad" cables and no buzz at all. I have not changed or moved anything in my guitar room for months, so I've ruled out anything new, such as electronics. For whatever reason, the LP doesn't like MY cables at MY house; so, bottom line, wireless when I play it.

I just brought home a brand new LP Goldtop Deluxe with mini-humbuckers. Great sounding and playing guitar but, since I've never had a guitar with the minis, I've got a question.....the guitar buzzes like crazy unless I touch something metal on it, like the bridge, then the buzz goes away completely. I know that this is "normal" for a single coil guitar, like most Fenders, but is this also the case with the minis? Thanks for any help.

Most Doves and most 200’s are Maple back and sides, if that makes a difference to you. There are exceptions, of course, but when someone mentions either of those two, I think of maple. Pretty bright and quick decaying.

Ain’t these First World problems great???

Nah, I can top that….Elixirs on my Bird and D’Addarios on my Martin. 😂

Yup, probably the same goofus that put the strap button on the flat part of the neck heel. 🤪

Mine is a HB Original, just not Antique-Natural. I guess only the those with that finish got the Hummingbird TRC. Oh, wait, the pic on the site with the Heritage Cherry finish, which mine has, also has the engraved TRC. There’s the anomaly. 😆

Hmmm….here we go again with the anomalies of Gibson. Mine has a plain trc. 🙄

Twang Gang, just noticed that the TRC on your guitar has the word "Hummingbird" on it. Did it come this way from Gibson or did you add it yourself?

I have always used Elixir 80/20 light Nanowebs on my HB's and have not found a sound I liked better.

Don't think I "overthought" the subject, just curious. And as far as worrying about devaluing the guitar in 20 or 30 years, I don't really care, I'm not gonna be around.......

At this point, nothing surprises me any more. At first, I thought like you, that the dealer installed the button as an "extra". But the dealer in question assured me the guitar came from Gibson with the button installed where it is. And I trust him. Kind of a moot point anyway, since I never use a strap on an acoustic. Always, and I mean always, play sitting down. Just kind of cheeses me off that Gibson is so presumptuous to assume I even WANT a strap button. Just like them putting a pickup in everything, except their vintage models. It's another thing I never use. The HB I'm talking about was made in Feb 2021, so it looks like both of us got "screwed" when we really didn't want to.....

Thanks for the replies, guys. I guess it isn't such a rare thing after all. I just had never seen a factory installed button on any Gibson before in that position. Pepper, thanks for the links, looks like wherever the guy installing the buttons on any given day just puts it where he feels like. No rhyme or reason.....ah the mysteries of Gibson production....

Goofy question....has Gibson ever placed the strap button on the flat part of the heel? I know that that's one of the places that some people recommend placing it, but I've never seen one in that spot from the factory, always is on the side of the heel, if there is one. Am I missing something? The guitar in question is a new Hummingbird Original, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for the clip; I contacted Gibson (which I probably should have done in the first place) and was told the same....Brite Wires....

Tried searching but couldn't find the answer, so.....what strings does Gibson put on their new electrics? Not concerned about gauge, just the model. I'm guessing Brite Wires, but not sure. If it matters, I'm talking specifically on SG's, although I can't believe they'd use different models on other electrics. Thanks for any input.

Talked to a rep at Gibson who confirmed that what I have is what it should be. Also did some other research and found that CME also has the same model, in Pelham Blue, as mine. It's listed at $1200 more than the Cherry Red one, which, as I said earlier in this thread, is the only color listed by Gibson. Contacted CME and was told the blue one was a special order from them directly to Gibson. Was also told there were a couple of minor differences between the red one and the blue one. So, it's kinda like what I said earlier; is the blue one, in this case, worth $1200 more than the red one, even with a few minor differences? Don't know and don't care, I really like mine.

I know this is an old thread, but I just brought home a Custom Shop 63 SG Special. Still honeymoon phase, but so far it’s a great guitar. Mine’s Pelham Blue, not the red ones I’ve seen more of online. Super lightweight, less than 6 pounds. The P90’s are amazing....punchy and not overly bright like Fender single coils. Really compliments my Teles and Strats. I never liked HB’s of any kind, so the P90’s are a great in-between sound. I’m not really sure about most of the specs, other than what I’ve read on Gibson’s website. Is it worth more than double the price of the regular production SG Special? Don’t know and really don’t care, it’s a super playing, sounding and looking guitar. 😃 Edit to add: According to the paperwork that came with the guitar, it's a NAMM show display model; that may be the reason that it's blue instead of red that is on every website I've seen, including Gibson's. Starting to think maybe there wasn't a blue one in production, even by the Custom Shop. I'm gonna give Gibson customer support a call tomorrow to see if I can get any more info.

Neck size is probably one of the most important things to consider, as a couple of responses said. For me, another thing that would influence my decision are the tuners; I can't stand the look of Grover tuners, which most, if not all, of the 60's models have. Tulips on the 50's models are the best look for me. I know that's a real individual choice, but for me, it was a big factor on which model I eventually chose. Of course, as alway, YMMV and IMHO.....

I've always disliked the sound of HB's, even in beautiful-looking Gibsons. Way too dark and muddy sounding to my old ears, always liked the bright single coil sound of most Fenders. That being said, two of my newest additions to my modest collection are an SG Jr and SG Special, both with, obviously P90's. So now, whenever I want a little more ballsy sound, I pick one of these up. Oh, and the only LP I ever owned that I wish I had back was a 56 RI Goldtop LP. Fantastic guitar, looked just like the pic you posted SteveFord...

Yup, was gonna use electrical tape if the suction cup idea didn't work....gotta have a back-up plan, glad I didn't have to use it. Oh, forgot to mention, I had already tried the paper clip...no go. Moot point now.