How many stars like Norlin Gibson ?

[gotomsdos]

I read, guys basically beware of or avoid 70's and early 80's Gibsons, because of not good changes and bad QC by Norlin.

But I read as well:

",,,the stars of the acoustic world are using 70's Gibsons and Martins as their main instrument."

Here I'm puzzzzzzzzzzled.

What persentage do those stars take up ?

(few, some, many ?)

[ParlourMan]

We covered this in another thread last week goto, see here: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/104872-interesting-take-on-norlin-era/

[E-minor7]

One person comes to mind - and he's been up before, , , many times.

 

Here it's not the square J-45 though - take a punch. . .

 

[gotomsdos]

We covered this in another thread last week goto, see here: http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/104872-interesting-take-on-norlin-era/

I read it.

No good, so no electrical feedback ?

It occured to me hat John Lennon had his J-160E which had laminated top aiming at restraining feedback (from web reading).

Seems like an ancient Chinese philosopher(Lao zi)'s saying "happiness is where mishap lies, vice versa". haha..

[Del Nilppeznaf]

I read it.

No feedback ?

It occured to me hat John Lennon had his J-160E which had laminated top aiming at restraining feedback (from web reading).

Seems like an ancient Chinese philosopher(Lao zi)'s saying "happiness is where mishap lies, vice versa". haha..

 

Good one Goto

 

a bit of ancient Chinese philosophy is always welcome on these pages

 

good to have you back my friend

[Gruffchris]

I was watching a BBC program the other week on Acoustic rock, the guy from Manic Street Preachers had a 70's Gibson, looked like a square shouldered 45?

[Murph]

I LOVE my 79 SG.

 

Oh, wait.....

 

You said STARS..........

[DanvillRob]

I LOVE my 79 SG.

 

Oh, wait.....

 

You said STARS..........

 

 

Murph, you ARE a star to us!

[zombywoof]

The mythology (or whatever the appropriate word is) about Norlin-era Gibsons is that a few really good sounding instruments did hit the streets. Thing is, everybody who owns a 1970s Gibson seems to have one of those rare few.

 

I remember when these guitars hit the store shelves. I and others gave them a spin. While I had first bought older Gibsons because they were all I could afford, those guitars from the late 1960s on made it a matter of choice. I knew nothing about tone woods, bracing or whatever. What I did know is I did not like the way these later generation Gibsons felt or sounded.

[Hall]

Gee, I'm one of those lucky ones who got a good one in 74 and has held onto it ever since, ugly duckling that it is to all but me!

[JuanCarlosVejar]

Goto,

 

as has been said Paul Weller uses a 70's square shoulder J 45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC

[EuroAussie]

Goto,

 

as has been said Paul Weller uses a 70's square shoulder J 45

 

 

 

 

JC

 

 

Not surprised given he's got a habit of also playing Ovations ...

[onewilyfool]

Here's a diagram of a 1976 double braced Norlin era top....check out the size of that sound killing bridge plate!!!!! I know there is a theory that this was done to eliminate feedback in high volume settings, but general consensus is that this was done to eliminate warranty problems:

 

 

Here you can see Martin's own trip into beefed up bracing and huge rosewood bridge plates from the 70's, generally considered the "dark" period of Martin guitars, sound wise. This is a good article:

 

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/SclpBraces/sclpbrace1.html

[j45nick]

Here's a diagram of a 1976 double braced Norlin era top....check out the size of that sound killing bridge plate!!!!! I know there is a theory that this was done to eliminate feedback in high volume settings, but general consensus is that this was done to eliminate warranty problems:

 

 

Here you can see Martin's own trip into beefed up bracing and huge rosewood bridge plates from the 70's, generally considered the "dark" period of Martin guitars, sound wise. This is a good article:

 

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/SclpBraces/sclpbrace1.html

 

 

I think you could support a small car on some of the tops from the Norlin era.

[E-minor7]

Here's a diagram of a 1976 double braced Norlin era top....check out the size of that sound killing bridge plate!!!!!

 

 

The bars of a sound-jail.

[E-minor7]

By the way as said before - McCartney played a square dark cherry burst J-160E in the very early 70's.

 

 

Upside down of course -

[Jayyj]

Here's a diagram of a 1976 double braced Norlin era top....check out the size of that sound killing bridge plate!!!!! I know there is a theory that this was done to eliminate feedback in high volume settings, but general consensus is that this was done to eliminate warranty problems:

 

 

Here you can see Martin's own trip into beefed up bracing and huge rosewood bridge plates from the 70's, generally considered the "dark" period of Martin guitars, sound wise. This is a good article:

 

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/SclpBraces/sclpbrace1.html

 

Thanks for posting this: If I wake up drenched in sweat tonight after a nightmare about gigantic plywood bridge plates I'll know who to blame...

[JuanCarlosVejar]

Not surprised given he's got a habit of also playing Ovations ...

I know he also has one of the Japanese texans ,an Everly Bros + most recently he has played a J 200 (montana built I guess)

 

 

 

 

to Goto I haven't seen many stars play those but I have seen photos of John Sebastian and another one of the Beegees guitarist with a 70's gibson acoustic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC

[onewilyfool]

to Goto I haven't seen many stars play those but I have seen photos of John Sebastian and another one of the Beegees guitarist with a 70's gibson acoustic

 

 

JC

 

Her's one John Sebastian played in the 70's!!!!

 

[zombywoof]

For comparison - a 1936 J-35.

 

[MissouriPicker]

I've heard many pros and cons on the so-called "Norlin Era" at Gibson. Two things have always tended to be constant in the comments I've read: the Gibsons were over-built, BUT, there were some gems also. My link to the Norlin guitars is that I bought a new Hummingbird around early 1979. I knew nothing about all the stories we now read and I knew nothing about all the knowledge we supposedly now have (hindsight is 20/20 they say). All I know is that I thought I had one-hell-of-a-guitar. I wasn't concerned with who owned Gibson, or what Taylor was doing, or Martin, etc. I don't know (or care) if the guitar was over-built, too heavily braced, had a spot of glue somewhere on the inside of the body. I simply had a great guitar and I loved playing it. I like to think I'd still have it if it wasn't for my own stupidity and a drunk at the Missouri State Fair (that's another story).......I figure if you've got a good guitar, it really doesn't matter if it's a Gibson or a Martin, Taylor, etc., and it really matters even less when it was made. A good instrument is a good instrument. I'm not saying that there were no problems during the Norlin years, but like most things in life there is always a certain amount of exaggeration in all directions. If you've got a Norlin Era Gibson and you like it, more power to you. Play the hell out of it and keep your music alive. Gibson Guitar is alive and well, and the Norlin years are just part of Gibson's history. You take the good, bad, great, and not-so-great, mix it together and move on.

[iwalktheline]

I've heard many pros and cons on the so-called "Norlin Era" at Gibson. Two things have always tended to be constant in the comments I've read: the Gibsons were over-built, BUT, there were some gems also. My link to the Norlin guitars is that I bought a new Hummingbird around early 1979. I knew nothing about all the stories we now read and I knew nothing about all the knowledge we supposedly now have (hindsight is 20/20 they say). All I know is that I thought I had one-hell-of-a-guitar. I wasn't concerned with who owned Gibson, or what Taylor was doing, or Martin, etc. I don't know (or care) if the guitar was over-built, too heavily braced, had a spot of glue somewhere on the inside of the body. I simply had a great guitar and I loved playing it. I like to think I'd still have it if it wasn't for my own stupidity and a drunk at the Missouri State Fair (that's another story).......I figure if you've got a good guitar, it really doesn't matter if it's a Gibson or a Martin, Taylor, etc., and it really matters even less when it was made. A good instrument is a good instrument. I'm not saying that there were no problems during the Norlin years, but like most things in life there is always a certain amount of exaggeration in all directions. If you've got a Norlin Era Gibson and you like it, more power to you. Play the hell out of it and keep your music alive. Gibson Guitar is alive and well, and the Norlin years are just part of Gibson's history. You take the good, bad, great, and not-so-great, mix it together and move on.

 

Well put brother, well put.