J45fan

I can tell you it is a blast! These Murphy Lab guitars feel, look and sound great. I also own vintage acoustics from the 30's and electrics from the mid 50's. I much prefer the feel and look of these aged guitars over the non aged ones. I know you don't like them, that's your opinion and your problem. But looks like there are quite a lot of people around the world who are into these aged versions of Gibson's, Fender's and Martin's. They are selling very well. That's what makes it so great for us guitar players, there are guitars for everyone's taste. Oh and yes, it is nice to have money.

If you want glass, Diamond bottleneck is the place. Ian is great! Metall slide, this is the place to go https://daddyslide.de/home_en/#top

That's not really a problem. If you love the guitar and you don't want to return it, just have it glued. It is not really a structural issue, just a small split from the spruce brace. I think a luthier will tell you the same. You could glue it as well, but you might make a mess. A good luthier will glue it back and you won't see a thing.

I love it when people think only doctors and lawyers have money and also assume they can't play. I would consider myself as very wealthy, played in bands since I am 16 and still play in a band and I am now past 60. BTW, I am not a doctor or lawyer, but went through school all the way and was quite successful in my professional life. And yes I purchase expensive guitars when I see one that I like. If you have a problem with that, it is your problem only. Anyway, I am not interested in this guitar since I am not a LP guy. But I have no problem what Gibson is asking for. It is a limited run and given how well the Historic collection/ Murphy Lab guitars are selling, they will have no issue to selling these Greeny copies for that amount. I remember when Fender made this special run of SRV's #1 with a price tag of $ 10K, lot's of people complained. Same with Eric Clapton's Blackie, now they at least tripled in price on the used market. Gibson tell's everyone what it is and one can make his/her own decision if they want it and have the funds for it. I don't understand your anger, I know you don't like aged guitars anyway. Blaming the management of a company for making money and being profitable is an odd one for sure.

Sorry, but you should get educated, you are making false statements. It makes no sense to continue to discuss with you since you don't accept the facts. You don't pay $4000 extra just for aging.

The Martin 000-28 Custom Authentic aged are fantastic guitars. I played a few and they felt and sounded great. I bought a D-28 Custom Authentic aged and it is the best D-28 I played to date. The 000-28 was to close to my old 000-18 Authentic to buy it. The great thing with these Custom Expert Limited Edition Authentics are some changes to the regular Authentic series I missed in them. The adjustable trussrod and I am not a fan of the baked tops what Martin calls VTS.

Sorry double post

Your Martin comparison is not correct. The D-28 Authentic series guitars differ about $ 1000 between aged and non-aged . Look at this link with the Custom Authentics the difference between aged and non- aged is exactly $915. You compared the Authentic vs Standard, totally different guitars. The Authentics are done with HHG, tucked braces, premium wood selection, special finish and they are done at the custom shop. So please get your facts right before making assumptions. You pay more for the aging because it takes time and skill to do that. Your "belt sander" comment is totally false, you have no idea how this aging process is done. I have been many times to the Fender Custom Shop and I have seen how a Masterbuilder like Dale Wilson, Vincent van Trigt and Chris Fleming are doing the aging. It is an art! But with all art, I guess one has to like or not. Next, your car comparison has nothing to do with guitars. I like my jeans to be pre-aged, but not my suits. Some stuff looks cool aged, others not. Again, I don't like beat up guitars, but aged feels and looks great to me. If someone has different taste fine and I don't bash him or call him names for doing so. To your military comment. I have been in the military as well, but never lost my respect for other people and their opinions 😉 All that said, I also like new (new looking) guitars. Besides my L-1 from 1933, I own an Original Jumbo and Advanced Jumbo from 2013's limited edition. Both were pristine when I bought them. So I enjoy both aged and non-aged, but favor aging. I am too old to wait for them to feel broken in. https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/custom-special-editions/Custom-Shop-D-28-1937.html?cgid=limited-and-special-edition-guitars

OK, I am one of the "clowns" who bought an aged Martin D-28! I played several D-28's at my dealer, they had 2 D-28 Authentic 1937 aged versions, one non-aged and they had several of these Custom D-28 Authentic's aged and non-aged. They aged ones sounded better than the non-aged ones and I bought one of the Custom D-28's aged because it was the best sounding one from all these Authentic's they had in the store. According to Martin, the finish on the aged ones is thinner than on the non-aged ones. But what I really like is the rounded fingerboard edges which feels great and yes I like the looks of the Stage 1 aging as Martin calls it. I get it, you don't like it, fine. But calling other fellow guitar players "clowns" because they like something you don't is quite arrogant. BTW, the aging of new instruments is done much longer on violins and cellos, because they feel broken in. Aging is an art, I agree some of the aging you see on electric guitars is a joke and totally fake looking. But good examples are a piece of art. I was very happy when Fender came out with the Relic series, at first it helped me not to worry as much anymore taking out my '56 Strat. When someone asked "is this a real one?" I replied, no a relic. The interest dropped significantly after my answer. I custom ordered a copy of my '56 from the Fender Custom Shop, Chris Fleming did an outstanding job copying my guitar and he also did an amazing job on the aging. It feels and sounds very much like my vintage one, which I leave at home ever since. There are quite a good number of professional players who play Relic Strats and Teles and not just for the looks. And no, I am not a dentist and I play in bands since 1975. I respect very much if someone wants new, pristine guitars and when they polish their guitars every day and worry about getting a scratch or ding. That's not for me, I play in a band and s.. happens. But I find it strange whenever Relic or aging of guitars come up that some people are getting hostile and calling people who are into the aged ones, clowns, stupid, bragger ....

I love Gibson Acoustics and they are the majority of the acoustic guitars I own. I appreciate Gibson electrics, but they are not for me. I have one Martin 000-18, so more Martin's than Gibson electrics. However I own 11 Fender electrics (Strats and Teles)

Based on this video, I actually prefer the sound of the new one.

This pandemic is great for instruments makers, due to lockdowns and not being able to travel etc... people take up guitar again. Fender had the best years ever, same I hear from my favorite music store owner. I guess Gibson does well like the others, and I like what's coming out of Gibson since the new CEO took over. The quality is up for sure.

Actually one of my problems with Martin is, lately they only have smaller necks outside the Authentic series. I would be interested in a D-35, but the low oval neck is not mine. Just a regular D-35 built to the late 60's specs.

I love Martin guitars, I love the history and really like to look at them. I had my share of Martin D size, 18, 28, 42,45 over the years and thought there is nothing I would like better. I also had some SCGC D's. Than I played an AJ at Guitar Showcase in San Jose around 2008 and loved it, couldn't get that guitar out of my mind and really regret that I didn't buy it. In 2013 Gibson introduced this limited edition 1935 AJ which is like a Gibson version of the Martin Authentic series. I bought it and was so impressed that I also bought the OJ from the same limited edition. After about 6 month owning them I sold all my Martin D size guitars. From time to time I check out Martin D models but I prefer my Gibson's. I guess they just fit me better. However my Martin 000-18 Authentic is my all time favorite smaller body acoustic, that's for sure is a keeper for life.

A friend of mine got his Slim Harpo ES-330 last Friday. He ordered from Gibson Online Shop. He said it sounds, looks and feels great. According to him the Slim Harpo business card justifies the extra $300 over the Casino 😉

I used Snarks in the past, but they broke too often on me. Not the electronics the plastic. I went with TC Polytune and I love them. To me best price value.

Since more than 15 years I use the Venta's they keep the humidity at 55%. I have one for my guitar room, living room and bedroom. Easy to use and they also clean the air with just fresh water. I change the water every other day.

A damp soft rag works fine.

I am a Gibson guy when it comes to acoustics. When electric I am a die hard Fender guy, Strats and Teles. As much as I appreciate the Gibson LP's and ES's, I had my share of them, I never warmed up to them.

Thats a beautiful '37 AJ. I had a few AJ reissues and the ones I picked sounded great. But my favorite one is my 2013 limited edition 1935 AJ. Gibson copied Burnette's prototype, it's a ltd run of 35 guitars, all hide glue construction. They were not that cheap back then, but when I played it at the store, I knew its special. I played a few original '36 AJ's and it compares favorable, of course 80+ years is hard to build into a new guitar. I have vintage ones and new guitars, I like 'em both and my AJ is actually my #1 acoustic

Tom, Thanks so much for the great pictures and comparison video. They are all great, however I love that old AJ. Love those pictures, Gibson bracing is always a mystery. You never know what you will get.

The AJ is one of the best acoustic guitars for me. I played 3 original ones, had several reissues till I bought my 1935 reissue in 2013 I love this guy, I am not a Bluegrass player but love listen to it. But this guy always gives me a big smile, he reminds me of SRV, killer player and just loves to play.

I don't know what you mean by "fat nuts", The J-45 & L-00 Legends were built like the Martin Authentic series. The same is true for the two ltd edition from 2013 the '34 OJ and '35 AJ. The OJ and AJ were copied from Burnette's guitars, the L-00 belonged to Parnell and the J-45 they copied belonged to E. Whitford. Same as Martin did, they used one particular guitar to copy. A friend of mine owns a vintage 1933 OM-18 and the Authentic version is different from the feel. They were handmade and vary, Gibson was even worse nothing seems impossible with vintage Gibsons. You wrote you want an exact copy of a LG2, J45 and L-00. Which one exact? I have a 1933 L-1 it is very different than other L-1's from 1933. Mine has an elevated fingerboard, which is very rare.

Have you bought your guitar without trying first? The problem with Gibson is the inconsistency. I have an OJ and an AJ, both are ltd editions from 2013. The OJ is typical Gibson, Hog B&S, short scale, big neck. It's a great sounding Gibson, great for strumming, flatpicking (even with the wider spacing) and fingerpicking with bare fingers. I brought it to a friend to a jam, he played it and was blown away by it. He is a Martin guy. He wanted one right away, so he thought ltd. edition of 100 and the high price they should be all pretty close. Ordered the guitar via phone, it arrived and sounded far away from mine. That's Gibson, if you find one you like, you have to buy that guitar. The Adi tops take a while to wake up. If you store the guitar for a longer time, my experience is, it takes about 15-20 min playing to wake up. I found the same is true with my Martin Authentic. Never had that with my Sitka topped ones.

To me it looks more like the fretboard on the right one is longer after the 19 fret. Typical Gibson, they were never consistent totally unlike Martin. But that's what I like about 'em. You never know what you get. Same model, different woods, 2 or 3 tone bars etc