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Posts posted by Leonard McCoy
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On 6/1/2022 at 11:47 AM, Jinder said:
I had a cherry red J180 which was lovely. Really balanced and recorded very well. I didn’t particularly think the pickguards had a damping effect, but the guitar had a resonant node around the third fret of the bottom E which bothered me no end. I traded it for my ‘95 Dove a few years ago and have zero complaints as I love my Dove, but if the J180 hadn’t had the wolf note at the G I wouldn’t have parted with it.
That might have been fixable. Probably the usual suspects like the electronics, tuner posts or even the output jack, the latter being more often the cause than not.
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This is bad news. Since the cleaning product that got splotched on the guitar contains strong chemicals, chances are it reacted with the (fairly fragile) nitrocellulose lacquer finish of the guitar, aside from the damage the water might have caused softening the lacquer.
If you can't rub the splotched spots out using moist breath, clean rags with naptha (lighter fluid) and/or Gibson's own various guitar polishes, there is little else you can do besides air-drying the guitar for the water splash damage. But even then, the softened lacquer may never be truly hard again.
Post pictures of the damage if you can. Maybe there's more to recommend here.
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I've done that. If you're replacing a like-for-like, it's an easy drop in. Otherwise, it's not.
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It looks like a tiny nick in the binding.
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Test the pickup resistance and the guitar's potentiometers more in-depth: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/how-to-test-guitar-pickups-with-a-multimeter. Make sure the circuit is correctly reassembled and that the pickups are indeed original and undamaged.
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This might help:
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With time on hand, the right tools and know-how, you can really do this yourself. But, even though it sounds simple enough, restoring metal parts is such a tedious job that it is best left to professionals in my opinion. Anyway, here is an example of a master at work:
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For anyone wondering, this reimagination of Cat's guitar does not feature, despite having the period-correct bridge and neck, the shallow waist depth the original Gibson Everly was introduced with in 1962 (4.375") and which Cat's 1960's vintage original certainly shares. The dimensions of the new model are ca. 16.02" wide and 4.88" deep at the waist, which is standard J-185 or J-180 (reintroduced specs) fare.
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It would be better to look into derusting the original screws. They can usually be brought up to a mirror shine again with a little bit of work.
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6 hours ago, BoSoxBiker said:
I saw this come through in an email and figured the resident Cat Stevens / Yusef expert would be all over it. Leanard McCoy, are you getting one? 🙂
I know lots of folks were leery of baked tops on Maple B&S. I can say that the thermally aged Sitka does very well with the Maple B&S on my Artist Series Frank Hannon Love Dove. Hopefully it works out well for folks with this rather pricey J-180.
Probably not, as there are no lefties being made.
Limited to only 50 units globally, the guitar is actually a steal for the price. Its value will only skyrocket in price on the secondary market.
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Cat was actually playing the prototype a while back:
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I don't think you'll get spare parts easily or at all for this. It's probably more efficient to go repair the board itself, checking for continuity, etc. and replacing any missing or broken components.
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A Tribute to One of the World's Greatest Singer-Songwriters
"With his long dark hair and beard, slender frame, and black Gibson J-180 Cat Stevens stood as the embodiment of the 1970s singer-songwriter, a modern troubadour on a quest for spiritual enlightenment through music. And it was on his J-180 that he wrote and recorded many of his most beloved hits including "Wild World," "Peace Train," "Father and Son," and many more.
"Bought in London’s famous Selmer's Music Shop in 1969, Cat was initially drawn to the J-180’s elegant style, however, its percussive quality soon became an essential component of the intimate sound of his seminal albums ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser And The Firecat.’ At the end of the 1970s, Cat sold all of his musical equipment, including his J-180, with the proceeds going to charity. However, in the decades since he has been reunited with the original guitar and acquired a vintage backup to tour with.
"The Gibson Acoustic Custom Shop is proud to introduce the Cat Stevens J-180, which is based on the guitar that helped define his legend. It features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, mother of pearl moon and star headstock and graduated star fretboard inlays, and an interior label hand-signed by Yusuf / Cat Stevens. Limited to only 50 units globally, a Certificate of Authenticity and a selection of patches, pins, and stickers inspired by the iconic artwork of Cat Stevens are included, along with a Cat Stevens hardshell case."
$7,499.00
Cat Stevens J-180 Collector's Edition Specifications
Body
Body ShapeJ-180Body MaterialMapleTopThermally Aged Sitka SpruceBackMapleSideMapleBracingTraditional Hand Scalloped X-bracingFinishNitrocellulose VOSNeck
MaterialMahoganyProfile60s CustomScale Length24.75" / 628.65mmFingerboard MaterialRosewoodFingerboard Radius12"Number Of Frets20FretsStandard Small CrownNut MaterialBoneNut Width1.73" / 43.815mmInlaysGraduated Mother of Pearl StarsJointCompound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint; Hot Hide GlueHeadstock inlayGibson Logo and Moon and Star in Mother of PearlHardware
Tuner PlatingNickelBridgeBelly Up Adjustable, PinlessSaddle MaterialBlack TUSQ, AdjustableTuning MachinesKeystone WafflebackPickguardTortoise J-180 Double MoustacheTrussRodAdjustableTruss Rod CoverCat Stevens; Extra Black and White TRC Included in the CaseBridge PinsNoneElectronics
Under Saddle PickupLR Baggs M1 Soundhole PickupControlsVolume Control on the PickupOutput Jack1/4" Endpin JackPreampLR Baggs M1Miscellaneous
Strings Gauge.012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053CaseCat Stevens Case IncludedAccessoriesCertificate of Authenticity and a selection of patches, pins, and stickers inspired by the iconic artwork of Cat Stevens -
Yes, unfortunately the model and finish color are susceptible to that happening in that area around the neck-body joint.
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I'm not sure what I'm looking at here.
There are areas on Gibson guitars and specific models—and especially with specific finishes such as alpine white—where finish checking is more likely to appear. You can also force finish checking by exposing your guitar to sudden temperature changes.
Needless to say, refinishing a Gibson guitar highly affects its resale value negatively.
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To be honest, there is not much you can do other than ruining your guitar when doing it yourself, or pouring money down the drain contracting a professional.
The lacquer deciding to sink in leaving a ridge between fretboard binding and neck is unfortunate, but it can happen at specific spots susceptible to it, such as at the first fret top-side of the neck.
Depending on how pronounced the transition area is, there might not be enough finish to sand the spot flush. On the other hand building up the clear coat to smooth out the ridge would take months and months and then even more time—hardly a financially feasible task if you ask me.
If the guitar is new and this issue is triggering your guitarist's OCD, then returning it might give you the peace of mind you're seeking.
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Only 5-dollar tuners pair well with my three-thousand-dollar guitars. If it's not the cheapest of the cheap, then what are we living for? Same goes for strings. I'm always looking in the trash pile first. And who the heck needs a professional setup? I've got a three-thousand-dollar guitar, mate! Learn some economics.
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I'm sure they're saving their unique J-180 model for something else. God only knows for what.
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Not to be confused with the J-180 model, Gibson's J-185 was also built in ebony, probably in very small batches in order not to clash with the J-180, though I have never seen it with double pickguards, but these could have been added later on.
Despite the US production sticker on them, they were actually custom-built guitars with custom features delivered to only very select Gibson Acoustic Dealers and directly shipped out of Bozeman, Montana from Gibson. (They called the program "Gibson Montana Direct".)
Going by the serial number yours seems to be a 2007 model. More pictures always help. Gibson can probably provide more information.
J185 EC fishman preamp missing buttons
in Gibson Acoustic
Posted · Edited by Leonard McCoy
I'd charge for a large general supplies store and look for similar buttons. For now, just use the unused phase button for either the tuner or anti-feedback function. Or try to find a donor Aura Pro on eBay or something. I fear you'll have to a get a little creative.