MorrisrownSal Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Hey folks, I wanted to tell you about my visit to Russo's today in Asbury Park. I had visited once before, but not since they moved to Lake Ave. I had yesterday and today off from work, and today found me with nothing to do, and an email in my inbox from Manager Scott Engel, which informed me of the Gibson Bus coming tomorrow. Well, I did not have Wednesday off from work, and today was a rare day where I had no responsibilities whatsoever. Uh Oh. Rut Roh. Danger... Their showroom is stunning, with an impressive selection of electrics, and an acoustic room to die for if you are a Taylor fan, and especially a Gibson Montana fan. Scott made me feel right at home. I immediately tried all the new models. The new J35 was nice. Just nice. The LG2 was also nice. Again just nice. The J100 with the batwing bridge was wonderful sounding, but again... just nice. The trouble began when the J45s started flying around. I had a semicircle of guitar stands around me - tobacco heaven truly. The semicircle eventually tightened to four guitars - a J45 standard(excellent sample), a FiveStar Southern Jumbo, a Southern Jumbo True Vintage, and a J45 True Vintage. The semicircle then really tightened to the SJTV and the J45TV. I really played the heck out of these two guitars, and it was clear that they both spoke to me, and would have my attention the rest of my visit. The J45TV was brand new. No electronics. And it was much different than the sample I tried at Russo's over the winter. Gibson made changes. First off they changed the tuners to three on a plate ivory tuners which are gorgeous. They also left the pickguard off, and the red spruce wide grain is stunning. They also did something really neat to the back of the mahogany neck. They let the grain show through, and gave it a mini burst. It is not something you would notice from the front of the guitar - it's kind of a personal secret pleasure for the player. This guitar was dry, growly, incredibly balanced, and I just could not imagine how good that guitar must sound a year or two from now. It sounded amazing just today. It was up there in the top three guitars I have ever played. The other two were a J45TV that I played at the Guitar Center near Fenway Park in Boston, and the SJTV I will describe next. The SJTV was also stunning. It has no electronics. The inlays on the neck (split parallelogram)are gorgeous. The neck felt like... well like home. Like coffee. The old style pickguard was gorgeous - same as I have on my Five Star J50. This guitar had slightly different back bracing than the J45TV - it has a little more mass on some of the braces in the body. And it had a tiny bit more bass than the J45TV. At one point I had the room all to myself, and I sang and played some songs I like to do. The Southern Jumbo True Vintage, with its slightly increased bass, was heaven. The price of the J45TV has gone up about 20% from a year ago, due to some of these features I described above. The SJTV was markedly less expensive, stunning, and I had to do everything in my power to not walk out with it today. HOWEVER I could not let the SJTV just sit there, with the possibility that someone off the street might come in in the next week, play her, and take her home. I put down a layaway deposit. And I do have some other gear I could trade in as partial payment. Frankly I do not need another guitar. My J50 is great. And I ain't swimming in dough right now... What do I do guys? Talk me down. Help a brother. Lord give me a sign! (Lord GIB one of your SONs a sign!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 buy it, love it, keep it, remind yourself it's cheaper than a night in Vegas on decent drugs. Job done..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 You have had all the signs you're going to get, and so far you have responded correctly. Gotta buy it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 . I just went through what you're going through. My New Years Resolution was to acquire a vintage series Gibby. The process took a while. Came down to a SJTV, a 45TV and a Custom AJ. Ended up with the SJTV. So I'm encouraging you to go for the SJTV. Your post clearly shows you've spent plenty of time auditioning samples, and you mentioned the SJTV is like home. That's a quite a match. See if you can talk them down a bit - never hurts. Wish you the best. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 I say, do what you have to do, to make it happen! Especially if it has a 'properly-aligned pickguard'. I keep reading good things from other members about the TV models....must be something to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Sal , sell the gear =) ... you will be alot happier with the SJ . JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smurfbird Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 First, let's find out how many here are being compensated by Gibson to tilt the scales? I'd make sure I could afford it and not end up selling it come tax-time. After that, why not? Who doesn't love a guitar that speaks to them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Sal, if you're that excited by the SJTV, sell the other gear. A guitar you're excited about will facilitate more playing, and prime the pump of your creativity and passion. I visited Russo's the summer before last when I was in NJ on business. I don't know what street it was on then, but it seemed to be in the center of town (or at least where the majority of shops and restaurants were), and located below the street if I remember correctly. Great shop, and friendly people. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 If you were really in a position to acquire this guitar it would already be there at your home. There will be more. Don't let infatuation under your skin. This is pretty much paraphrasing my wife, just before I bought my 3rd expensive guitar this year. I am of little use in trying to talk another out of buying a good guitar. If it was me, I'd buy it without question or justification - just understand that there are always consequences, some good, some potentially not so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Thanks for the music shop review, Sal! Well done, I really enjoyed your review style, and look forward to you join to Staten Island, etc..... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Why did you ever sell that J-45TV Sal .... then you would have not such dilemmas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Why did you ever sell that J-45TV Sal .... then you would have not such dilemmas... Ha. Yes. The sale achieved its purpose though... That sitka topped J45TV was awesome. It's been a tough year. I am not sure this infatuation will happen. But I do have other guitars that do not get play, as well as toys. Maybe I can convince myself that I am not selfish if I sell enough gear to buy the SJTV and throw some more in the college fund for number 2 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 Sal, if you're that excited by the SJTV, sell the other gear. A guitar you're excited about will facilitate more playing, and prime the pump of your creativity and passion. I visited Russo's the summer before last when I was in NJ on business. I don't know what street it was on then, but it seemed to be in the center of town (or at least where the majority of shops and restaurants were), and located below the street if I remember correctly. Great shop, and friendly people. Red 333 Red, what distinguishes the SJTV from the FiveStar Southern Jumbos? I tried both yesterday. I know the Five Star Southern Jumbo I tried yesterday had a different saddle, nut, as well as tuners (rotomatics like my J50), and a pickup. Are there other differences? The SJTV sounded very different and more alive, to me at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Red, what distinguishes the SJTV from the FiveStar Southern Jumbos? I tried both yesterday. I know the Five Star Southern Jumbo I tried yesterday had a different saddle, nut, as well as tuners (rotomatics like my J50), and a pickup. Are there other differences? The SJTV sounded very different and more alive, to me at least. Sal, I wish I could help, but I've not seen or played a 5-Star SJ. Sorry, Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-200 Koa Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Good guitars are easy to find. Great guitars that truly speak to you come around rarely. Grab it, sell your other stuff for it, whatever. Life is short. Enjoy the new SJTV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Red, what distinguishes the SJTV from the FiveStar Southern Jumbos? I tried both yesterday. I know the Five Star Southern Jumbo I tried yesterday had a different saddle, nut, as well as tuners (rotomatics like my J50), and a pickup. Are there other differences? The SJTV sounded very different and more alive, to me at least. Ahh. This may explain it. The SJTV at Russo's is a one off. Apparently made in January this year, confirmed by factory, with hide glue not only at the neck joint but in the top bracing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Now that you've locked it in with a layaway I'd sell all the stuff that you can that "isn't as good as" and go get it out of layaway as soon as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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