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sbpark

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Everything posted by sbpark

  1. Thats nothing. Honestly I'd just live with it. Over time it will get dirty and just become part of the character of the guitar. Like I mentioned above, if that scratch annoys you, a bad repair will annoy you even more. Take it to a pro. You paid a lot of money for that guitar, don't cheap out and do it yourself to save money unless you know what your doing. I do a lot of work on my own guitars (set ups, cut my own nuts when I'm not lazy, have made saddles form blanks including slotted saddles for my AJ), but know when the work at hand requires a real pro.
  2. Depending on where it is on the guitar, I'll agree. If you're that worried about a scratch I'd take it to someone who knows what they doing, otherwise it could end up looking worse than the scratch itself, like a poor cover-up job of a bad tattoo!
  3. I have thought that most of the J35's tend to not have a very big, warm low end across the board. I think it's the bracing. It's the same bracing pattern as the Advanced Jumbo, and even though that guitar has rosewood back and sides, it's still a fairly bright guitar with a very punchy and articulate low end, unlike other dreds that have rosewood back and sides that and to be a little muddier and blurry in the low end. So combining that bracing pattern with mahogany seems to make the J35's a little too crispy for my liking, but on an AJ it's a great combo.
  4. Build quality is no less for the two guitars you mention compared to any other Gibson acoustics. Not sure how the particular cut of a piece of wood dictates the the guitar will be built to lower standards than something else that has a piece of wood cut differently? It's the same guys/gals making them. Also, I'd personally compare the way the guitar sounds and use that as more of a deciding factor, but that's just me. I'd rather have the one that sounds best instead of the one that appears "to be put together with a bit more care" (whatever that means). You've been mentioning that you've been "reading on the forums about..." but you'd do better to get out there and play more of them in person so you can make your own decision, especially since you mention that you're a bit hesitant given the amount of money you may end up spending. As far as knowing what you're getting for the price, keep in mind price does not automatically equal customer satisfaction and spending more doesn't guarantee you're getting the guitar you want. More expensive isn't always better. Find the guitar that has the looks and sound your after in a price point you can afford. You could spend $10,000 on a guitar and just because it cost that much doesn't mean it's going to be what you're looking for.
  5. I think it was the way he did it. the title of his thread screamed drama from the get go. Whenever someone posts an "Urgent" or "Need Help!" thread, it's bound to be drama.
  6. Glue drops don't bug me. I wish they could cut a proper nut from the factory. Why bother PLEK'ing the guitars when you can't get the nut right (on both their electrics and acoustics)?
  7. To get a good look at the underside of the top just pop your smart phone in there and take a pic. No mirror necessary.
  8. Those glue drops aren't an afterthought. They are there for a reason. Just like a luthier tap-tests tops when they are picking out wood for guitars, they later add the glue drops after the guitar has been assembled to fine-tune the guitar. It brings out and enhances those desirable resonant frequencies, or tames undesirable ones. So be aware, if you remove those glue drops (I call them tone blobs) your guitar will probably end up sounding worse.
  9. Oh, trust me I personally didn't think you were out of line. I actually appreciate the blunt and to the point replies. Others tend to get offended much more easily. Being blunt doesn't mean you're being rude.
  10. True, it was a bit of a blunt reply, but I have no place talking, since I can be a bit blunt as well. But in Buc's defense, the OP's title was a bit dramatic with the "need help" part. Reminds me of posts when people throw nothing like, "urgent, need help ASAP!" in a title, and you find its a thread where they are asking which guitar they should buy. Basically they are saying something along the lines of, I can't decide which guitar I should buy, so I need al of you total strangers who don't know me at all to hold my hand and make my decision for me! People get a little over-dramatic sometimes.
  11. A better comparison would be comparing your Gibby to a similar guitar from a super high end, boutique guitar maker.
  12. Tend to agree that just a touch more TLC would result in these kinds of things happening less and would make customers much happier, but really wouldn't bother me if the guitar sounded good, but like I stated previously can understand why someone else would be turned off by it. Although it doesn't happen as often with Martins, my HD28 has some imperfections that would drive others insane, but the guitar sounds GLORIOUS, so I overlook the imperfections. Also, my 2017 J45 was covered in a fine dust that was all over the guitar and in the case, most likely from sanding and polishing. All they had to do was wipe the guitar down better before sending it off. Some might look at something like that as a turn off, rationalizing that if they can't do something as simple as cleaning up a guitar before sending it out, how can me trust them to perform more complicated tasks consistently, right?
  13. All very insignificant things if it was my guitar, but understand these could bother others to the point of being so concerned that they'll post a thread on an online forum seeking opinions of others! Heck, I'm the type of guy who has bought Gibsons that suffered broken necks because they sound amazing as long as the repair was done properly to save quite a chunk of money, because the way I see it, I buy guitars to play them, not obsess over excess glue drops, etc. And if you play them enough, you're going to ding and scratch them up not on purpose, but because comes with the territory. Would you rather have the same exact guitar sans imperfections that doesn't sound as good as the one you have? Also, what is more important to you...cosmetics or sound? Are you a collector or a player? All are valid questions. And if you're a real perfectionist maybe look at guitars from some of the high end, boutique builders like Collings, Santa Cruz, or others that are even more high brow. You'll get an absolutely perfect guitar, but you'll for sure pay many times what you paid for your Gibson. FWIW, my 2012 AJ has those white spots on the inside. It's also suffered a broken neck that was professionally repaired. Neither make me lose sleep at night.
  14. You make absolute sense here, but don't be so hard on yourself. It's an internet forum after all, and places like this keep going because of discussion. Yes, it's ALL about personal preference, but it can provoke a decent discussion as long as people are respectful and cordial. Of course as the OP I know it's about what I like in the end, but you never know. Someone may say something or suggest something that you didn't think of or consider and it sets you down a totally different path of discovery that you may not have done otherwise. I'm not naive enough to just blindly take advice of others without going with what I like and prefer, but do enjoy reading other's opinions and perspectives.
  15. The thought has crossed my mind, but this time I may test the waters first with some smaller body guitars. I know it's apples to oranges given that the AJ and HD28 are long scale and rosewood over spruce compared to the short scale and mahogany over spruce, but I feel like I have the dred thing covered with those two i already have. I think I'm going to try searching for something to kind of fill the void between the super warm sounds of the all-mahogany 000-15M and the hugeness of the AK and HD-28.
  16. No disrespect taken at all. I totally get it. To some degree I do adjust my playing style for each guitar since each guitar is different. Some are more bass heavy, some more forward sounding, others more mid-range, etc. It's the tone of the two higher strings that bugs me with a J45, if that makes any sense.
  17. I have an AJ and love it. That guitar also plays like butter. For some reason all the sort scale Gibsons feel harder to play. I also noticed that J45's (at least to me) need a bit more relief and sound better with slightly higher action, or the choked and tight characteristic is accentuated. The AJ is killer. It's a very big, clean sounding guitar. it still has that Gibson sound for sure, but is a bit more well-behaved than a J45.
  18. Wouldn't you think it would be more appropriate to find a guitar that suits a particular player's playing style instead of changing how you play just so you can play a particular guitar?
  19. I have tried Sunbeams in the past, and do like how they feel, but I felt like I lost some of the oops and low end. Aside from that I have tried many different strings on my old J45; DR Rare, JP Nickel, JP PB's, D'Addario PB's, Martin and Gibson 80/20's, etc. Maybe it's just a matter of being patient for the right one.
  20. I posted a thread a little while ago about parting ways with my J45. Bought it new a few years ago, and a love/hate relationship with it, ending with me eventually selling it. Like I mentioned in the other thread I've played other J45's that I liked much better. Lately had been on the hunt for a new one. Most of the new ones I've played at shops (J45 Standards, NOS J45TV, SJ's) haven't really floated my boat. I did play a new all-mahogany J45 that sounded great, but didn't like the natural finish, but found another run of these all-mahogany J45's in the traditional burst. Problem was there are none local so I took my chances ordering one. Was gorgeous looking but underwhelming in the tone department. Also recently though I found a nice sounding J45 Standard and brought it home, but in the last week of owning it it's not floating my boat as well, and I seem to just gravitate toward my other guitars ('11 AJ, '12 HD28, '14 000-15M). I do like mahogany guitars but for whatever reason the mahogany Gibson slope shoulders I've been playing just sound very throttled and constructed, and even more constricted when capo'd. Also doesn't seem to work that well with open tunings compared to the others I own. Some J45's have that fat, growly warm bass that I love, but I just don't seem to like the way they sound on the two high strings; very plinky and biting. I'm thinking I'd be better off with a small body guitar, spruce over mahogany that's articulate, very "open" sounding (if that makes sense!). I have the flat picking thing covered with the AJ and HD28, but want something a little more singer/songwriter focused that can work as a fingerpicker and a strummer that has a more focused sound compared to the big, wide open feel of the AJ and HD28, and has a bit more clarity than my 000-15M (don't get me wrong, I love that guitar!). Was thinking about a Waterloo WL-K possibly? I'm also finding that longer scale guitars are easier to play for me. I know that sounds nuts, but I'm thinking it may have to do with string tension? My HD28 and AJ feel slinkier and easier to chord than most short scale guitars I've played. Could this be due to the fact that the shorter scale requires a higher tension? I used mediums on all my guitars, and pretty much have them all set up with the same specs, relief, action, etc., FWIW. I absolutely am in love with the looks of the burst on a slope shoulder, but am kind of coming to terms that maybe it's just not the sound I'm looking for? I don't want people to think this is a knock against Gibsons, because it's not. I love their guitars. Just looking for suggestions for something that you guys think might fit the bill for what I'm looking for? Also open to suggestions outside the Gibson brand. Thanks in advance guys!
  21. I like the TC Electronic Ditto loopers. Some of the best sound quality, no frills, small footprint and the footswitch is super sensitive/easy to operate.
  22. And where in my post was I perplexed why they sound different? Sounds like someone took my comments a little to personally! All I did was given my take on the differences between the two models. Never trashed the J15. Just stated i preferred the J45 with reasons why I think that way. I'm also well aware of the different woods used in each guitar's construction! Calm down, tiger!
  23. I think people are still loving these and they really are a killer deal if you like how they sound. I think they are absolutely gorgeous, but could never get into how they sound. A bit too harsh and forward and a bit strident for me compared to the J45, and still prefer my J45.I think the J15 is best suited for a full band setting, while the J45 is king as a singer/songwriter/solo type of guitar, but obviously this is a very huge generalization. I have no regrets spending the extra cash for the J45, and demo'd severalJ15's at the same time I was checking out J45's at Wildwood Guitars. I'm not knocking the J15 at all, it just isn't the sound I'm looking for, but I wish it was because I really love the look of the walnut and maple combo. FWIW, I think the J15's are way more consistent in how they sound from one J15 to another compared to other Gibson acoustic offerings.
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