J185cat

MissouriPicker I am glad you posted this. I was just about to message them to ship mine on Friday due to my schedule but it’s in the 90’s over here in North Carolina. I just sent them an email and requested they ship on Monday. If I don’t hear back I will call them tomorrow. Thanks for posting.

Ironically I bought a guitar from Wildwood just yesterday. This is my third from them. Not a Gibson this time (no worry I still have my 5 Gibs and they ain’t going anywhere). Worked with Brian this time. I sent them emails first and they promptly responded. Left a voice mail and they called back in a couple of hours. Asked me how I wanted the guitar setup and string gauge etc. I told Brian that even though they have an extensive inventory it felt more like dealing with a small mom and pop outfit. I have local GC and Sam Ash where I live and have bought electrics there with no problems but WW is a cool store to work with.

I own two J45’s, an H’bird, a 1994 Centennial Jumbo and a 2003 Luthers Choice AJ. The AJ is by far my favorite. It is my “run back into the burning house” to save guitar. Mine does have an Adi top and I suspect that affects my opinion a lot. Yes it is an extremely strong guitar when needed but beautiful on quiet passages also. Some have stated that AJ are not good strummers, better for single note lines. However I love the sounds of chords played on this guitar. The sound is deep with just a beautiful shimmer on top. I love it. Guess that’s why there are so many different models out there.

Thought I would get in before you get bombarded by marriage proposals or “do you have any sisters” remarks. Do you? Just kidding of course. My wife bought me a Gibson years back for a birthday and that is something you don’t forget. That old saying that the quickest way to a guys heart is threw his stomach may not apply to guitar players. Gibson makes so many different styles of guitars it is hard to recommend one without knowing the person. But many of us think that every Gibson player needs a good J45.

My favorite electric of the ones I own is my ES137. I have a LP Standard, an old Ovation Tornado (not the round back, think ES335 style) and a Strat copy I made from a StewMac kit. The reason I like the 137 is it is very versatile. Jazz, blues, rock even country. No not a Strat sound but a versatile Gibson. It is a little heavy though.

Hey PB since I live next door in Raleigh I know I don’t have to tell you this but, it is hot as Hades out there today. Fight the urge as hard as you can and give that guitar time to adjust to house temperature. That sounds like a terrific get and can’t wait to hear about it. Just be cautious.

I have a 99 bird that was my Dad’s before he passed away. Someday I will have to tell the story about how that guitar could bring my Dad back to us for awhile as he was afflicted with dementia, but that for another day. So I have experimented with strings on mine and always end up going back to the old D’Addarios. Look forward to what you find. But NGD? Okay what you got over there?

As I expected great input and helps me focus some. I currently have five Gibson acoustics; mahogany, Indian rosewood, Brazilian rosewood and even zebra wood. Used to have a Koa J185. So the only wood I don’t have experience with is maple. And that’s sort of what was bouncing around in my head when I started this topic. So one side says maple but I just feel like this guitar in mahogany would be great also. Good thing is there is no hurry to decide.

Yeah Bobouz I often regret selling that J185. There is something special about those guitars but I felt like I didn’t do it justice. I enjoyed hearing others play it more than myself,

Thanks 62burst, I think you make some good points there. I did own a j185 but it was Koa not maple. I sold it because I felt it was too “refined” for my chord bashing play. It was a beautiful sounding guitar when finger picked. Guess I have been tempted to add a maple guitar lately without spending a fortune.

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate the comments MissouiPicker about the size angle. I am not a big guy but I do have an AJ and am okay with that. If it was much more than the AJ then that could become an issue. Wish I could find one local to try. Maybe a J200 to get a feel.

Wanted some opinions from the group. I know there have been several versions of the J100. I believe maple, mahogany, walnut and bubinga if I am not mistaken. If you were interested in buying one which way would you go and why. Thanks in advance.

I own 5 Gibson acoustic dating from 1994 to 2016. It seems to me that there are at least subtle differences in the bridge pin fit on all of them. Do they ream these by hand? My solution if I wanted to change has been to order slightly large and then sand down to a snug fit.

Thanks for posting Juan. Appreciate you bringing all these videos here where we can view them. I thought that guitar sounded tremendous. I noticed it had a rectangular bridge, is that the norm for this model?

Whenever someone gets a chance to test one of those J55's please post a review for us. I know Juan was at NAMM and singled it out as special but I would like to know how it compares to a J45. I find that model intriguing and would just like some opinions.

I agree with you Murph. I have been using D'Addarios forever but if I were to remove a set of Gibson MB's and replace them with EJ16's the sound is very different. They are not the same string. Really didn't mean to get this whole thing started again, just wanted to let readers know the Gibson branded MB's were available at Stewmac which I thought was interesting.

Was basing that information on a previous post that Murph started. The information sounded very compelling and yes the gauge difference was noted. Unless Gibson comes out and states that company (fill in the blank) made them we may never be able to say for certain. I thought it was interesting that on the StewMac site they stated and I am paraphrasing that the strings are made in America under Gibson supervision.

There was recently an article here concerning Gibson now not offering their old Masterbuilt non-coated strings. Thanks to Murph seems those of us who are not fans of coated strings and liked the older Masterbuilt's now know where to go, GHS. I did happen to notice as I was looking at the Stewmac web site that they now have both the 80/20 and PB's listed. May just be they bought up the remaining stock and once that is gone, that's it. Just an FYI.

Thanks Murph, I will give them a try. When I first received my Rosewood J45 and strummed those first few cords it was "yeah that's the sound I wanted from a RW J45." Then when it was finally time to change strings I just went to the cabinet and grabbed a set of my old standards, D'Addario EJ16's. Whoa not the same guitar at all. Not bad just not the same or what I wanted. So I began the string tests game and based on something I read here on the forum went ahead and ordered some Masterbuilts. I literally put new strings on only to turn around and take them off the same day. When th MB's got here and I put them on that was it and haven't tried anything else since. I never did try GHS though so that is good info.

The "Compendium of Acoustic Pickups." Thanks Jinder. Great info and you have probably saved us all a bunch of time and money. One question, you have pretty much addressed this but we're any of the units difficult to install?

There seems to be a question if the e Gibson strings are repackaged D'Adarios? I have been using the EJ 16's for years and can say that the Gibson PB's sound very different. I have not used D'Adario 80/20's so can't comment on those. I still use the D'Adarios on three of my acoustics but really liked the Gibson strings on the J45's.

In the past couple of weeks I just ordered 5 sets each of the 80/20's and PB's not even realizing that they were going away. They arrived last Friday. I really liked the 80/20's on one of my J45's. I have yet to find a coated string I really liked. These should last me awhile. At 67 years old I thought I had finally solved the never ending search for "the right" strings but here we go agin.

I have watched the online videos at StewMac of Dan Erlwine repairing a dent in a guitar with super glue and blending the finish. The results are very good. So I think Leonard McCoys advice might be worth checking out. I would only do a total refinish as a LAST resort.

The thoughts and prayers of all on this board are with you. Every time you play one of those great guitars let the notes ring strong and loud for her.