Red 333

The same model is in stock at Musician's Friend. You might consider buying it there. Red 333

I hope you play some of your originals. They're sure to entertain and impress. Congratulations and enjoy yourself! Red333

Instead of feeling like you have to spend the money because not all of it's insured, why wouldn't you just leave $250K in one bank, and put the other $50K in another? Red 333

Not at all. It's like guitars. I'm keen to know where and how stuff is made, and what makes for a "superior" product. And I find jean manufacturing and the history of the product very interesting. And though I'm not at all averse to buying anything if it's made off of our shores (hello Sony!), I do like to try to support US manufacturing when I can, especially of quintessentially American items. I have more jeans than guitars, and I have over forty guitars, if that tells you anything. The problem is I'm very organized, so it doesn't seem like I'm a hoarder. I'm a collector, I say. An appreciator. No one is staging an intervention --yet. My girlfriend just watched the series Swedish Death Cleaners and wants me to perform one, though. She's feels she won't have the energy to take on the task of finding good homes for my various hobby interests when I shuffle off this mortal coil. I told her to get on the forum and sell all the guitars to you guys! Easy-peasy. Red 333

Actually, there over 50 (mostly small) companies that make jeans in the US. The denim cloth itself is often manufactured someplace else, with Japan usually providing the raw and selvedge varieties that are closest to pre-'70s US denim. This is the stiff, rugged denim you remember from your childhood (though you don't have to soak in the tub to shrink it before wearing--it's mostly pre-shrunk these days). Some of these small manufactures also are able to source deadstock US made denim and make limited runs of jeans with that for a truly all US made product (this is denim left over when the US mills shut down over time. There wasn't enough of it for the big manufactures to want, so it sat in warehouses until these small companies started buying it up to sell at a premium. This old deadstock denim is getting scarce now, though). The good news is there are also some companies still manufacturing denim in the US, but mostly on a small scale as compared to the big overseas manufactures, so it's not cheap. On a larger scale, Vidalia Mills in Louisiana just recently began making denim using the old shuttle looms bought and shipped from the Cone Oaks plant in Greensboro, NC after it closed in 2017 . Cone Oaks was the source of Levi's denim since the early 1900s. Jeans sewn by hand (often) in the US and sewn from US-made denim are pretty pricey. Usually $100 to $600 a pair. Same goes for those made with high quality Japanese or Italian denim. But companies like Texas Denim or Roundhouse jeans offers US made/US denim workwear jeans for about $60. That's still twice as much as the $30 Levi's you can get at Kohl's or Amazon, but it's nice to put some $ back into our communities when we can, I think. Red 333

It would be hard not to. 90% of all denim sold is prewashed to some degree, in order to soften it, remove some of the pigment to change the shade, or fade it or make it look broken in in some way. It also keeps the pigment from rubbing off on other clothing or furniture. It's been this way sine the '70s. Less than 10% of denim sold is "raw" or unwashed, though it's making a bit of a comeback. Perversely, you usually pay far more to buy denim in this state, often because its made with higher quality selvedge denim produced on rare and often old shuttle looms, and sewn by hand to some degree. Red 333

Yes. Red 333

I still do! Red 333

The True Vintage J45 and Legend J45 are two very different models. The TV is an amalgam of never-combined J45 features from over several decades. It's the greatest hits compilation of J45s. The Legend is a painstaking recreation of one specific 1942 J45, which was, if I remember, owned by Gibson historian and author Eldon Whitford. Having one is like having an unplayed 70 year old guitar that was found in some closet. Red 333

I don't believe Gibson put True Vintage or TV on the labels initially. I have two, and they both simply say J45 and Southern Jumbo. The signifier that the model is True Vintage was: 1.) The unique mix mix of features (including the Banner decal). 2.) The orange label itself. At that time, Gibson was using a white label. The orange label (at that time) was one of the mix of historic features. Mine's wonderful. I hope the OP's is too. Red 333

Yes, it's a True Vintage. Red 333

As usual, a well told tale with lyrics of great economy and specificity, with a haunting melody and accompaniment to match. Well done. Red 333

Terrific, Anne. I'm grad you had such a wonderful experience and response to your song and performance. Very Priney. Red 333

BK, it seems like your trusty luthier did a bang up job. Hope you get years of enjoyment from your new-to-you lovely Dove. Just curious, what was written on it? Autographs? Names of venues where the guitar was played? Lyrics? Political slogans? Sage advice? A madman's ravings? Recipies? Red 333

Gorgeous! I hope it brings you years of enjoyment! Red 333

Holy Smoke that's amazing! Red 333

A 12-fret J-45 was just announced as a Keb Mo model. It has a mahogany body, though (tapered, of course), and is slightly thinner, I think. Red 333

That's a beauty. Hope it provides years of enjoyment. Red 333

Thanks for posting that comparison. I listened on some monitor speakers as opposed to just the phone, in order to really hear the difference. I may be in the minority, but I much prefer the Gibson (though the Martin exhibits a lot of character and raw power). As you've pointed out, the Martin would certainly excel in a Bluegrass setting as its powerful midrange would not get lost in the mix of other instruments. But if I was accompanying myself with just guitar or especially in a modern setting, the more complex tone of the Gibson and its distictive, powerful bass would be my preference. You are blessed to have both and so many more historically significant instruments. Thank you for the forsight and preseverance to gather them over the years, the excellent results of your efforts to accurately document their sound, and for making your many videos accessible to all of us. Red 333

Yes, exactly. In terms of dryness, the 1942 J45 Legend > FVG 1939 J35 > SJTV > J45 TV. The Legend has a beautiful tone. It's also the darkest of the four, but by no means muffled. It's balance just tips toward the bottom. The low end is very strong, possibly in part due to the substantial neck. Hope that helps. Red 333

Wow, very cool! That's a 21 beer performance! Red 333

I have a 1942 J-45 Legend. Do you have a specific question I could answer? I don't think they are still made. The current Custom Shop 1942 Banner J45 is the closest incarnation being made today. It differs from the Legend in that "only" the neck and top braces are joined with hide glue; the Legend is all hide glue construction. Only God knows if that makes any sonic difference, but I like the idea. That, and the other traditional build details and techniques produced the closest you can get to finding a closet queen or new old stock pre-war guitar. Gibson also used Madagascar Rosewood for the bridge and fingerboard. I don't believe the CS 1942 Banner does. I'm sure it's a great guitar though. I have a few modern Gibson slopes: the Legend, a J-45 True Vintage, a Rosewood Custom Vine J-45, a Southern Jumbo True Vintage, a Fuller's Vintage 1939 J-35, and a short-scale Maple AJ (essentially the FV 1939 J-35 in AJ dress, with maple back and sides and a wider, flatter neck), so many variations on the theme. I also have an Advanced Jumbo and a 12-fret Rosewood Stage Deluxe, so if I can compare the Legend to one of those you may be familiar with, please let me know. Red 333

Looks to me like an AKG C 414 XLII.

One word for you--THANKS! And two more: Merry Christmas! Red 333

I was going for a Paul/Linda/Denny Wings' harmony thing, but I'll take it! Thanks so much and Merry Christmas! Red 333