Larsongs

Evidently Gibson doesn't keep a lot of information regarding Guitars they've built over the years. I recently called them to get accurate information & the correct Specs for my 2002 Gibson Bozeman Masterbilt J-160E. That was the terminology used when I bought it new from MF back in 2002. I thought it was a typical J-160E. Plywood Top, Ladder Braced with P90's.... I wasn't very savvy about Guitars then (I still have a lot to learn) but since then I've learned it's a Solid Top, X Braced & has a P100 Pickup. I called Gibson & gave them the Serial Number. I asked if they could get the Original Specs for the Guitar. After several minutes on hold the Rep came back & gave me information that it was vague. He said he'd check it out & email the accurate Specs.. A few days later I got an email from him. It said, it's a 2002. Hope that helps. Their Website is better than it used to be but still vague in many areas... I love my Gibsons & Epiphones but wish I could get more accurate information. Any thoughts as to Sources to find out accurate Specs & info about my/our Gibson Guitars??? Thanks, L

If I were in the market for an SG, & this one is causing me GAS, I'd get this FSR SG with Maestro.... Beautiful Guitar! https://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBSGOA19

If I was getting an SG right one I'd be jumping on this Special Run SG with Maestro.... https://www.zzounds.com/item--GIBSGOA19

I have a Bigsby on my Memphis Blacktop ES LesPaul. I don't have any serious Tuning issues. But, I had my Guitar seriously Professionally Set Up.. Including addressing the Nut...

Why not contact Gibson & verify it's authenticity & ask for a Sticker?

No. This is the Epiphone Forum.. Several Korean & MIJ Casinos with USA Gibson Pickups & Components are outstanding Guitars...

It could've been as simple as adjusting the Pickup height...

I too like the Trapezoids. Like my Gibson LP Std. Plus (9 1/2 lbs.) & my Gibson Memphis Blacktop ES Les Paul with Bigsby (6 1/2 lbs.) both are great Guitars. The weight relief doesn't bother me at all. I play the lighter ES LP more. My Gibson LP Jr Special P90's (8 lbs.) has Dots & on that Guitar they look right.. Gibson offers a lot of choices for LP's.. Seems like there should be one for everybody... Now if they would only make a 3 Pickup Traditional Sunburst Frirebird with Maestro & all Gold Hardware like the one Brian Jones played. I'd be happy to buy one & round out my Gibson Collection....

You can call Gibson or Sweetwater & they'll give the dimensions.

It is. For half the money but every bit as good! Als,if you can find any of the Ltd. Edition 50th Anniv. 1961 Casino's. Also really good Guitars for not a lot of money!

Try an Epiphone Elitist Casino. On par with any Gibson. Not sure if they make a comparable Dot 335?

I totally agree.. I played an original Fano with them a few years ago & have been sold on them ever since. I have a couple Casinos with USA Gibson P90's & one with Asian P90's that I don't particularly care for the sound of. I'm eventally going to put them in it bcause I like everything else about it including the Bigsby..

All Gibson P90's are not the same. Over the years materials & build procedures have changed. That said, I like the current Gibson P90's as much as Lollars, Fralins or Duncan's. Maybe more because they're the Originals that came with my Guitars... The Epiphones that are in your Asian Guitar are Metric sized as opposed to Gibsons which are Std. USA size. That said, I do like the Fralins if I were going after market....

I'd call Gibson & have them send me a Pre paid Fed Ex label & an RA number & send It to them to fix. It's under Lifetime Warranty..

Congrats & Welcome. Beautiful finish! You don't HB's in 330's very often.... Enjoy!

I owned a 1959 Gibson ES345 Stereo which was a Masterpiece Guitar. Never should have sold it. Best I've ever owned & I've owned just about everything. I have a newer Memphis ES335 & love it too. A beauty. I owned an Epi Dot about 8 years ago. It was a great Guitar. Don't know why I sold it? I have played some new Epi Dot Pros & think they are great as well. Better than the Std Dots. IMO. Worth way more than the asking price IMO..... I could buy one & be very happy to play it. Stock, no mods....except maybe a Bigsby.. That said I feel the Gibson ES335 is like a Rolls you buy it for life... The one I have now I won't ever sell. Lars

The latest Song I've learned is "My Back Pages". The Byrds version... Fun to play but man are there alot of Lyrics!!!!

I'm a working Musician & Session Player. On average about 4 hours a day. Sometimes more. The less stuff I have to lug around & have to mess with, the better. If I don't have to lug my Pedalboard I don't. A Great Amp & Great Guitar can produce some pretty amazing Sounds. Much of the time it's all I need. I've gone thru 3 Snarks & a D'Addario in the past year. Cheap plastic & break very easy. They also look like some alien appendage even on the coolest Guitar. I use them but I don't like them very much. Wish for something far better incorporated in the Electric Guitar. So far it hasn't come along.

The Guitars that have gone way more High Tech haven't been well received. Actually they've been shunned & slammed more often tha not. Almost no one buys them. Sacrilege! True, Electric Guitars are made to be played thru Amps. Most Amps don't have Tuners. Hence, we need to buy a separate Tuner. Probably some other Pedals, a Pedalboard & all the other stuff to put it all together.. Marketing genius $$$$$$$$$$$ Snarks break very easy I've gone thru 3 in the past year. I use the clip ons but don't really like them much. I have a couple D'Addarios that clip on the back of the headstock out of sight but get in the way when I chord a 1st fret E. Going backwards to ideas that didn't work well isn't the answer.. Some genius new unobtrusive natural looking design that's part of the Guitar without batteries that would be standard on new Electric Guitars. Not all but some. Got to cater to the Purists for sure. I don't know about one that you fit to an existing Guitar though. Seems like they'd never look right, would be more hassle & expense than most would want to deal with? Seems like a good idea but a really hard Sell.....

Is it inconceivable that a Tuner could be Engineered that doesn't require a Battery? I don't know? Just throwing it out there.... It just seemed backwards to me that the Old School Organic Ancestor to the Electric Guitar, aka the Acoustic Guitar, can have a Built in Tuner & most of us like them, use them & accept them. But it's like a sacrilege to have them in the modern higher Tech innovation, the Electric Guitar. I like the Pickup Tuner Ring idea. If only they didn't need Battery's or need to be wired into the Guitar. What about the Sound Waves the String produces? Couldn't a Tuner work more simply somehow?

Seems like most Acoustic Guitars have built in Tuners. And there pretty Organic Instruments. Very few Electric Guitars have built in Tuners. Not talking about Robo Tuners!!! Just simple regular old Guitar Tuners like the Ancestral Organic Acoustic Guitars have. Is there a reason why all of us Electric Players wouldn't want them? I wouldn't mind an extra space on my Pedalboard. Or to adjust Tuning just turning on the Tuner on my Guitar while playing without having to bother engaging a Tuner Pedal. What am I missing? Clip on Tuners are & look like a total afterthought. While they're convenient they look goofy even on the coolest Guitars.

Wow Déjà Vu.... I had a Sunburst '59 ES345 Stereo with Varitone & those amazing sounding PAFS too when I was a young guy. I had no idea what I had & sold it. I've been chasing that sound for the past 30 years. I've yet to find it. I recently purchased a new Sunburst Gibson ES335 with MHS Pickups. It is a great Tribute to the '59's & comes very close & may even be as good. Sometimes I wonder if it's the memory of the old Guitars we used to have that makes them seem just a little bit sweeter? Nah! That was the best sounding Guitar I've ever heard! Lars

I've had several Gibsons including a 1959 ES345 with original PAF's. It was one of those Guitars that sat under a Bed unplayed in the Case for 30 years & when I got it back in '89 it was like new. Mint. It sounded great but eventually I Gassed for something else & traded it. Big mistake. I've had many Gibsons with various HB's including a new ES335 & a new ES Les Paul with MHS's. All claiming to sound like the real Deal. None of them do. Some sound better than others but I haven't heard any HB sound as good as what were in my '59 ES345. Never should've sold it.

I can't agree more. These are great Guirars. I bought one 2-3 years ago & love it. It has a really good sounding brightness in it's sound. Which I really like. It cuts thru nicely in the Mix. I play it as much as my Martin D-35 & Gibson Bozeman Masterbilt J-160E.

Once many years ago. When my Mom passed away. I sat down & wrote a Song titled "Another Day". I still can't play it without tearing up. After that I've tried to write impersonal upbeat stuff. Lars