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The story I heard wad that Dave Guard when he was still with the Kingston Trio was the pioneer player of Gibson’s initial 12 strings. Dave Guard left the trio in 1961 (replaced by John Stewart, who later on in the trio played a stunning looking all blonde/natural 12 string that I believe may have been a custom Guild.) QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

John Hardy is a great song. I forgot about it until you mentioned it. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

That is certainly something I automatically do first thing when I get a 12 string in my hands. Not sure anyone younger understands that, though. In my case after I play the “Walk Right In” riff, I then go into The Kingston Trio’s “If You Don’t Look Around” 12 string riff. Not sure many even our age understand or know that one, but it is also a great 12 string riff. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Glad to learn you are able to still play it and hope your Dad gets to hear you. I’m sure your good intention is somehow felt by him even now. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Keep us posted on how it looks, sounds, plays after you receive it. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

It’s an absolute beaut! QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Very cool. And, that music in that location with those of instruments is overwhelmingly moving. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Can’t really tell from the photo, but looks like it’s meant to affix around the headstock and the end pin button to me. I’d be careful with that type of strap with the metal on it, unless you’re prepared to take the strap on and off of the guitar each time you use it and store it in the pick box in the case so it doesn’t scratch the guitar when not in use. Personally, I prefer a strap that I can leave on the guitar all of the time with nothing on it that can scratch the guitar, but it is a cool looking strap. You might want to try going to a guitar center that has it in stock to see if it has the capability to fit on both the end and heel button. Looking at the photo it looks like it fastens to the end pin button and around the headstock to me. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Yes. Seriously. Or, buy a strap that comes with an attachment for the headstock that has a string or a plastic or leather buckle attached to it. This has nothing to do with whether a guitar is a Gibson or any brand. Straps can tie around the headstock and have been used for years this way. Straps can be inexpensive or expensive, but when they connect at the headstock, they all need to connect one way or another there. A good strong shoe string as a connector is quite common and works well. It’s very common. Nothing unusual. Plus, it’s a material that doesn’t hurt or scratch the guitar. Just trying to help. Check out my strap attached to my Gibson 2006 J-45 1964 Custom Shop Reisue in this video. That non-invasive shoe lace connector at the headstock on that guitar has been working fine for over +10 years. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

A simple solution is to not use the heel strap button but instead to tie the strap behind the nut on the headstock, the way guitarists do when there is no strap button by the neck heel. Personally, I like tying the strap between the 5th and 6th string across between the 1st and 2nd string on the headstock. You’ll need to obtain a good shoe lace for the tie and wrap it around a couple of times and tie some good knots for safety as well as through the strap. Or, use a strap that comes with a good fastener around the headstock spot. Works fine there as it did for many years before strap buttons by the heel became a thing. Hope this helps. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Typically, having added or not added a strap button on a guitar has historically had no impact on the value of a vintage guitar. I doubt that will change, especially as there are about five different places where strap buttons are typically added in a guitar either by manufacturers, luthiers, or guitar owners. (Now if a strap button was added to an actual unusual location such as on the top of a guitar or in the back of the neck at the 7th fret or something, that would devalue a guitar.) This subject seems overthought IMHO. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Congrats on the new guitar! I’m a big fan of what Epiphone is doing with their quality and value! QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Beautiful guitar... QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

I suggest contacting Gibson Customer Service and asking them how to proceed for a warranty repair. Make sure you ask if you can directly contact an authorized Gibson repair person in your area. Also, ask Gibson if CME is who you should contact about the warranty issue. Sometimes Gibson prefers that the authorized repair person picks up the guitar from an authorized Gibson dealer rather than the guitar owner working directly with the Gibson authorized repair person. The best thing to start with is calling Gibson customer service. Somewhere on Gibsons website, it says how to contact their customer service. Regarding CME, they have an excellent reputation in all regards. And, they may end up being the ones you work with on this, but I suggest calling Gibson first. Hope this helps. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

A few years ago, out of the blue, my bridge lifted during a gig I was playing at on my 2006 Gibson 1964 J-45 Custom Shop guitar. I continued on during the gig, but called an authorized Gibson repairman during a break time. A few days later I brought it to him and he called Gibson while I was there and received their authorization to repair it under its new guitar warrantee. A few weeks later the instrument was back in my possession as good as new with the bridge newly reglued down. No damage. Good as new! That’s why there are skilled authorized Gibson repair people and new guitar warrantees. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Congratulations! Bonding to and enjoying a guitar, can strike at anytime and with any model when it’s an instrument that allows your music to flow when it happens! And, when it happens, let that music come through it! It’s a cool and great phenomenon! Thanks for sharing! QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

I think it’s great that Epiphone is restoring their image by having high end hand crafted USA made models in their line-up, again. It will further establish the reputation of the Epiphone brand and in doing so help the reputation of the imported machine made models which have reached a new level of quality. Martin and Fender have successfully had co-existing high end models and lower priced models with good quality and value in their success formula for a number of years now. Martin and Fender buyers are able to understand the differences between high end and good quality with good value instruments. No reason the Epiphone brand can’t have success with that formula, too. Especially with their longtime heritage and sharing Gibson’s luthiers for the high end models and the great quality control they’ve pioneered and developed on their imported models. Just my opinion of course. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Regarding suggested strings for your upcoming L-00, I only use Martin Authentic SP Acoustic 80/20 Bronze Lights on my Limited Edition Mahogany Epiphone EL-00. I’m primarily a finger picker and melody jazz player and the strings work and sound great with the small body 00 shape. I also use them on my Gibson LG1. Plus, the strings are inexpensive and last quite a longtime. No reason for me to try anything else on the guitar. You might want to try them. Just my experience and suggestion. QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

If you are tuned to open C, then strumming unfretted at the 0 fret position equates to a C chord. If you then barre all of the strings (using, say your second or ring finger)at the 05th fret, then you’re playing an F chord. If you barre all of the strings at the 07th fret, you are playing a G chord. Barring all off the strings at the 02nd fret is an D chord and at the 04th fret is an E chord. Barring at the 09th fret is an A chord and barring at the 11th fret is a B chord. Barring at the 12th fret is a C chord, again. Keep in mind, you can also not barre all 6 strings, but only barre the 1-4 strings, provided you do not hit the 05th and 06th strings when strumming...and the non-zero position chords will all work. And, of course a slide put on the 03rd or 04th finger will also work to barre and slide into the chords...to play slide. You could also retune to open G or open D (or open E) and all this will also work, although the chords you will be hitting will need renaming in accordance with the scale, depending how no the open position you tune to. In open C, the barred fifth fret is F. In open G, the barred 05th fret is C, etc. etc. Look up how to tune to open tunings in the internet. They do not necessarily equate to just tuning to a standard tuning chord. For example an open tuning G, tunes the first string to a D note, not a G note like a standard tuning chord. (There are also variations, for example, when I play in open G tuning, I actually tune to G sustain not a regular open tuning G, so it’s more like five sting banjo tuning. But, if you’re just starting exploring open tunings, I don’t want to confuse you...so excuse this sidetracking.) The thing to remember in open tunings is you can also hit individual notes up and down the neck, rather than always barre chords. For example, hitting minor chord sounds can be accomplished for by hitting a note or two notes instead of barring in a major key. Slide tip: If you put a slide on your fourth finger, you can fret notes with your second or third finger when you are not barring with the slide on the fourth finger. But, that’s only if you’re interested in slide playing in open tuning. Hope this is helpful. Open tuning is a whole other new world of guitar playing to explore and work on. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

At one point I had only Gibsons with fixed bridges. I added a 2006 1964 J-45 Custom Shop guitar with an adjustable bridge to my collection. It’s not an either/or thing. Each has its uniqueness. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Good interpretation/version! QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

Sal-great vocals and guitar blend! And, song! Most enjoyable! QM aka “ Jazzman” Jeff

When I was 18 years old, my girlfriend and I bought a used motorcycle to share. Bottom line, I got into a minor accident on it and went flying off of it, which conveyed to me how dangerous it was. My girlfriend complained I was riding it more than her, so I let her have possession of it. Soon after we broke up. Cold weather came and she sold it to someone. Years later I have not ridden one since nor care to, (but I still have my motorcycle license, somehow passing a couple of written renewal tests) while my long ago ex-girlfriend has owned numerous motorcycles since. QM aka "Jazzman" Jeff

Beautiful guitar. Congrats and happy pick’n! QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff

Here’s an informative explanation. https://blog.andertons.co.uk/learn/understanding-guitar-scale-length#:~:text=What Are The Most Common Guitar Scale Lengths%3F, 625 9 more rows QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff