gotomsdos Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I just found my Ren's 2011 J-35 reissue has 3 UNSCALLOPED [just tapered toward 2 ends] tone bars ! No wonder its bass is not least boomy. I wonder if the bracing is good. Before I bought it, an owner of it said it's 3 scalloped tone bars. The finding makes me change my purchase plan of 50s J-45 from unscalloped to scalloped, i.e. from post-1955 to pre-1955 (1951-1954). I did not mean Ren's J-35 is not good. I like it, especially mids and tremble, and balance. It's bell like. I just would like to tell its bracing structure which I did not know before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Every guitar is different JC, especially in the 'aged' market.. specs and years are no guarantee of anything. Tread carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 When I was in Australia I got a chance to play a whole bunch of 50's and 50's Gibson slopes. While I thougth the 40's vintage was a cut above the 50's I hear a distinct difference between the 51' SJ and 57' J-45. I found the 57' model had to be pushed much harder to get a decent tone, and I think the non scalloped bracing had quite a bit to do with that. Personally I would definitely go for scalloped, just gives you a bit more horsepower .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Goto, It could be that the example Ren copied the specs to make the limited run of which your guitar is a part of had unscalloped tonebars . and why do you doubt Ren's craftmanship would be of less quality on your guitar ? JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotomsdos Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Goto, It could be that the example Ren copied the specs to make the limited run of which your guitar is a part of had unscalloped tonebars . and why do you doubt Ren's craftmanship would be of less quality on your guitar ? JC JC, I did not mean Ren's J-35 is not good. I like it, especially mids and tremble, and balance. It's bell like. I just would like to tell its bracing structure which I did not know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotomsdos Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 When I was in Australia I got a chance to play a whole bunch of 50's and 50's Gibson slopes. While I thougth the 40's vintage was a cut above the 50's I hear a distinct difference between the 51' SJ and 57' J-45. I found the 57' model had to be pushed much harder to get a decent tone, and I think the non scalloped bracing had quite a bit to do with that. Personally I would definitely go for scalloped, just gives you a bit more horsepower .. BTW, some like mid/late 50s J-45. but they're unscalloped. so I wonder why. (Only because Jorma has a 59's J-50 ?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 BTW, some like mid/late 50s J-45. but they're unscalloped. so I wonder why. (Only because Jorma has a 59's J-50 ?) I think some folks like to dig in a bit more, and you need to do that with the non scalloped models. I trust Zomby will chip in as I know he prefers the mid to late 50's slopes, but I think he also like to give those boxes a bit of a hard slap and dig in a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Aha - Scalloped or straight thin or thick braces - first of all it's a question of mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 BTW, some like mid/late 50s J-45. but they're unscalloped. so I wonder why. (Only because Jorma has a 59's J-50 ?) Sounds like you have drunk a good dose of scallop bracing Kool Aid. You should play a bunch of 1955 -1959 Gibsons and I am guessing you will quickly see why a good number of us are extremely fond of those guitars. Just big banging punchy and quick sounding guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotomsdos Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Sounds like you have drunk a good dose of scallop bracing Kool Aid. You should play a bunch of 1955 -1959 Gibsons and I am guessing you will quickly see why a good number of us are extremely fond of those guitars. Just big banging punchy and quick sounding guitars. I believe you said right. But if I've drunk a good dose of scallop bracing Kool Aid, then, I guess, so have the majority of guitar guys. Because Few guys will buy a 2000+ Gibson guitar that has unscalloped bracing, right ? (In themselves, there are few 2000+ Gibson guitars that have unscalloped bracing, right ?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Because Few guys will buy a 2000+ Gibson guitar that has unscalloped bracing, right ? (In themselves, there are few 2000+ Gibson guitars that have unscalloped bracing, right ?) Nope. I sure have. And I am not alone. My main guitar for a lot of years was a 1956 SJ. If I listened to folks about what kinds of bracing was the best or what kind of "tonewoods" I should seek out I would have missed out on some great guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotomsdos Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Nope. I sure have. And I am not alone. My main guitar for a lot of years was a 1956 SJ. If I listened to folks about what kinds of bracing was the best or what kind of "tonewoods" I should seek out I would have missed out on some great guitars. Hi, zombywoof. Do you have any sound clips or videos of your (not other guys') 55-59 J-45/J-50/SJ/CW ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Goto I had a ren J35 and I know you said you don't think its a bad guitar nor did I. But it was lacking something BASS. They just don't have it mine was good and worked good for some types of music but always left me craving a bit of boom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotomsdos Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Goto I had a ren J35 and I know you said you don't think its a bad guitar nor did I. But it was lacking something BASS. They just don't have it mine was good and worked good for some types of music but always left me craving a bit of boom. Motherofpearl, I see you have 1950 J-45. I'm considring buying an early 50s J-45, I need some your experiences of it, any inputs to me ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Goto from all the gibsons I've played the 48-55 are my favorite. Great bass response but balanced. The perfect neck. thick but fits the hand just right and they are super light also light to the touch. Well worth the money IMO. I bought mine unplayed at a great price and I'm extremly happy with it. I have only played about 6 from the years mentioned above and the 48 was the best and it was also the most haggard looking one. My luthier I had set mine up at myhers music in Edmonton Alberta owned it just a great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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