guitarlegends1 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Any thoughts on the best acoustic guitar that Gibson makes? Ideally it would be able to plug in for live performances. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Welcome to the forum................Picking one is pretty tough. Depends on what I played last night, where I'm playing, what the crowd is like, what I'm like. These and numerous other factors decide pretty much what guitar I'm taking with me. Off the top of my head I lean toward the Hummingbird. Perhaps more because of its iconic name than any actual edge it has over any of my other Gibsons. J45s are J45s. What's going to beat it? Still, "the bird" is a monster sound machine and an awesome guitar to hide behind. Similar things can be highlighted for my other Gibsons. The fact is, I feel all of the my Gibsons fit what I want at a performance. Which one I take with me depends on what's happening at the time and it might be a spur-of-the-moment thing. Good question though. I suspect some folks like a particular guitar for a given situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbpicker Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I've owned/played a lot of Gibsons, but I played a Hummingbird Vintage with the cooked top last weekend, and my knees are still wobbly. That was an outstanding instrument. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 My vote goes to the Dove, but I don't think there is a 'best' of anything, it's just personal favourite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 The J200 without a doubt with the songwriter deluxe a close second. The songwriter deluxe is the most understated and least talked about Gibson acoustic but it is by far superior to most of the line (with the exception of the J200. This not not saying the other models are not outstanding as they are but... it is really to each his own and my vote goes for the 2 I listed. (I own a Hummingbird as well as a J35) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Well if your are playing in bars... And rock or acoustic rock... Then the best Gibson is a simple J45 and a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI. If you are playing intimate singer songwriter stuff... Then some of these Vintage lines are pretty special. Add in a great Trance Amulet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Best acoustic? Plug in? L-5CES. Duh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58 Relic Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Have to take you back quite a few years when I saw and listened to the Hummingbird for the first time . Unforgettable moment and the guy was an amazing guitarist , not strummed but fingerpicked it just sang .Also Ralph Mc Tells Old Gibson takes some beating to my ears , saw him on the island a couple of years back stunning sounds and songs just listen to "From Clare to Here ".If you asked me for the best all rounder it has to be the simple but complex sounding J45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 The thing with gibson acoustics is they all have a unique voice. You will love many of them and start to collect them because you won't decide which is your favorite . If I had to pick one it would either be a J 185 or a Hummingbird JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smurfbird Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Damn, we are NOT making this easy on the OP. No consensus forming. I love an LG-2. Can't say much about the LG-2AE but the ones I've played from the '50s and '60s just tickle my fancy. A J45 is the classic workhorse and the good ones are life-changing. Same goes with the Hummingbird. Sounds like the new torrified tops are to die for. But everyone should have one. A J200 is a monster and a powerful live weapon. Maybe the Jackson Browne -- a guitar so classy you're afraid to get down and dirty with her. So you go back to your J-45. That's a HARD question to answer. Every Gibson speaks differently to its players. You might not get along with one, but then another will sweep you off your feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Best acoustic? Plug in? L-5CES. Duh? That's funny. Maybe the Jackson Browne -- a guitar so classy you're afraid to get down and dirty with her. So you go back to your J-45. That's true. That, and the shallow neck profile on the JB. (re: Hummingbird) ". . . and an awesome guitar to hide behind." Smile of the day, right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesh Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Though I don't own one (yet); of all those that I've played, it would be the J-185. Same character as the SJ's and a smaller footprint, and some nice features (I quite like the use of inlays). Gibson - it would be nice to see these appear in the 2016 run sometime; I'm OK with a limited run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponty Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Have to take you back quite a few years when I saw and listened to the Hummingbird for the first time . Unforgettable moment and the guy was an amazing guitarist , not strummed but fingerpicked it just sang .Also Ralph Mc Tells Old Gibson takes some beating to my ears , saw him on the island a couple of years back stunning sounds and songs just listen to "From Clare to Here ".If you asked me for the best all rounder it has to be the simple but complex sounding J45 As above. Ralphs' career was made on a J-45. I love them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Guitarlegends!, First, it depends upon your budget. Since you stated no limitations - assuming you are talking about models currently in production, it would obviously be the most expensive one. Or, an H'Bird Vintage. Of course, outside of brand spanking new guitars - I believe the best Gibson Acoustic is ... MY THREE !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livemusic Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I don't think it's possible to answer the OP question. Shop, shop, shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Well if you are playing out and plugged in a CJ165. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Easy. Early 50's J-45. Have only had the opportunity to play a few but could not justify the $5,000 + that these guitars command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Not only is it a hard question to answer but an impossible one. There is no best; they're all different. If you're going to be playing plugged-in, it's more important that you get something with a pickup that you like. If you're comparing 10 guitars with the L.R. Baggs Element in them, they'll all sound pretty much the same! Unplugged, or with a microphone, on the other hand... and everything changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Easy. Early 50's J-45. Have only had the opportunity to play a few but could not justify the $5,000 + that these guitars command. Here's a 1954 for $3500 :) http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Gibson/Vintage-1954-J45-Standard-2-Tone-Sunburst-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Here's a 1954 for $3500 :) http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Gibson/Vintage-1954-J45-Standard-2-Tone-Sunburst-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar.gc Belly Down Bridge? Rosette looks a little strange, and the pick guard. This looks pretty modified to my untrained eyes. This one does not blow my hair back, but this one does. Played it a few weeks ago, but at $8,000 I probably will shy away. http://www.williesguitars.com/index.cfm/gibson_acoustics/7/inventory/7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Belly Down Bridge? Rosette looks a little strange, and the pick guard. This looks pretty modified to my untrained eyes. This one does not blow my hair back, but this one does. Played it a few weeks ago, but at $8,000 I probably will shy away. http://www.williesguitars.com/index.cfm/gibson_acoustics/7/inventory/7 Eek, yeah. That bridge is heinous. Maybe that one just needs some TLC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Any thoughts on the best acoustic guitar that Gibson makes? Ideally it would be able to plug in for live performances. Thoughts? There isn't one best acoustic.......there are many.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 J-45 of course. It stood the test of time and always gets voted fave Gibson on forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 A more suitable question might be "What do you think is the best acoustic guitar Gibson made" ? Thinking about this, it's gotta' be every dang one of them, flat top, arch top, harp, etc, etc. Just remember the old proverb? or saying "there's an *** for every saddle". Are we talking, acoustic or electric? No matter, they all float someones boat. Get one of each, just as many of us have done. Enjoy 'em... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Any thoughts on the best acoustic guitar that Gibson makes? Ideally it would be able to plug in for live performances. For that application, go maple. Its a trasparent sound. Low end doesnt boom, high end is clear. Get you big ringing chord sound. J200s, the Everly Bros, Doves. T Petty has used all three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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