bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Hello Folks-- There is a 2014 Stage Deluxe LTD for sale with a $2500 asking price on reverb: https://reverb.com/item/814349-gibson-stage-deluxe-ltd-2014 I understand this is supposed to be a limited run of Smeck inspired guitars. Here are the specs listed in the ad: Wood: Adirondack red spruce top, mahogany back and sides · Neck: Mahogany, classic V-profile with 1.805” bone nut · Neck-to-body: Compound dovetail secured with hide glue at the 12th fret · Binding: Single-ply top and back, multi-ply single-ring rosette · Finish: 1930s-style Vintage Sunburst, Nitrocellulose Lacquer · Bracing: Advanced 1930s wide X-bracing · Fingerboard: 12” radius rosewood with mother-of-pearl dot inlay · Scale: 24 3/4” short · Bridge: Rosewood, open-slot rectangle with mother-of-pearl dot inlay, Tusq saddle · Pickguard: Traditional AJ-style firestripe · Tuning Machines: Waverly nickel ivoroid, 15:1 · Strings: Gibson light gauge .012 - .053 Electronics: TranceAudio Amulet M All of this sounds very Smeck like (12 frets, 1930's wide X bracing), but these important measurements are not listed and all my internet research has yet to give me answers: Width Upper Bout Width Lower Bout Depth Neck Block Depth Tail Block Saddle Spacing Obviously I want to make sure that the dimensions of the guitar are the same or very close to the original Smecks, like the Jackson Browne models in Walnut. I know how many times Gibson "reissues" can vary from the originals greatly. I'm not interested in just a J-45 body with a bigger nut width, 12 frets, and an Amulet pick up. I might as well buy the new 12 fret Southern Jumbo then (which is a fine guitar, just not what I want). So I was wondering if any of you folks know the above measurements of this model and does anyone own or has anyone played this model? I also find it interesting that this guitar has been on reverb for 8 months. I have sent this inquiry to the seller but I haven't heard back yet (it has only been a few hours ago). The seller does have good reviews FWIW, but no listed return policy. On a separate note and to muddy up the waters even more , there is a Santa Cruz Roy Smeck model also on sale for a $2750 asking price with a lot of buckle rash. I don't really care about that if it's got good tone. The clips I've heard of this model (not this particular guitar) sound very good and research shows the specs track the original Smecks pretty closely. https://reverb.com/item/1341220-santa-cruz-rs-sunburst So, any insights here? Thanks!
Dave F Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 I'm pretty sure the Stage Deluxe Rosewood, Stage Deluxe LTD (Mahogany) and Jackson Browne (Walnut) are the same dimensions.
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 I'm pretty sure the Stage Deluxe Rosewood, Stage Deluxe LTD (Mahogany) and Jackson Browne (Walnut) are the same dimensions. Nice! Do you own these?
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Yes. I'm partial to the rosewood. Cool! Thanks!
62burst Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Quite the photo, Dave. Another vote here for the rose' Stage D. But Dave- isn't the Limited a deep body, like the SDR, and the JB - not so much?
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Quite the photo, Dave. Another vote here for the rose' Stage D. But Dave- isn't the Limited a deep body, like the SDR, and the JB - not so much? According to the Gibson website the JB has these measurements: "Construction 1930s Gibson Jumbo body style, with depth increased to 4.55" at head block and 4.83" at tail block" So if correct it would be a deep body, since the Smecks were actually a little smaller at 4 1/4" and 4 5/8".
62burst Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Ok, BayouBeng- I must've been so turned off by the shallow neck profile on the Jackson Browne, to the extent that anything else about the guitar (besides it's beautiful small burst) was forgotten. Just didn't feel right (no support for the thumb 'round back). It was traded for an old & barky Lg-2. Perhaps the Gibsons, either of the Stage Deluxe models, would be a good way to try on the guitarchitecture of these 12 frets, then think about the Santa Cruz down the road: the Gibsons would be much easier to move on if not a good fit, even though the 12 fret market is already a bit of a niche.
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Ok, BayouBeng- I must've been so turned off by the shallow neck profile, that anything else about the guitar (besides it's beautiful small burst) was forgotten. Just didn't feel right (no support for the thumb 'round back). Perhaps the Gibson, either of the Stage Deluxe models would be a good way to try on the guitarchitecture of these 12 frets, then think about the Santa Cruz down the road: the Gibsons would be much easier to move on if not a good fit, even though the 12 fret market is already a bit of a niche. Thanks for the thoughts!
Dave F Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 They're all pretty close to each other probably well within their building tolerance _________LTD___RW___ JB depth @__4-1/2__ 4-1/2__4-1/2 neck depth @__4-13/16__4-7/8__4-13/16 end Upper____11-1/2___11-3/8___11-3/8 Bout Lower____16____15-7/8____16 Bout
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 They're all pretty close to each other probably well within their building tolerance _________LTD___RW___ JB depth @ 4-1/2 4-1/2 4-1/2 neck depth @ 4-13/16 4-7/8 4-13/16 end Upper 11-1/2 11-3/8 11-3/8 Bout Lower 16 15-7/8 16 Bout Thanks so much for taking the time to do this, Dave. This has answered my questions!
Dave F Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 As 62Burst mentioned the JB has a low profile neck shape. The LTD & RW have the modified V shape.
j45nick Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 As 62Burst mentioned the JB has a low profile neck shape. The LTD & RW have the modified V shape. The JB essentially has the Luthier's Choice neck, I believe. Wide at the nut (1.78-1.80"), but a shallow D profile. It's a very different feel. I have one of those necks on my Fuller's Vintage Guitars 1943 Southern Jumbo re-issue. It takes some getting used to if you don't have fairly large hands and use a thumb wrap for bass notes on the 6th string. It would really be a handful with a 1930's V-profile neck and the wide nut. The late 1930's V-neck with a 1.75" nut width (that's the combination on my l-OO Legend) is a really comfortable neck for me. Coincidentally, the Martin OOO-28 EC has a similar neck carve on the same 1.75" nut width. The other really good neck/nut combination is the late-1940's to early 1950's full C shape, even with a 1 11/16" (1.69") nut width. To me at least, it's more about the total girth of the neck, with the actual profile being a secondary consideration. To each his own, however.
Dave F Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Here's an earlier thread when we kicked this subject around. For around that asking price you could probably get a new one. Checkout the one at Wildwood. They're always open to offers. http://forum.gibson....luxe-smeck-ltd/
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Here's an earlier thread when we kicked this subject around. For around that asking price you could probably get a new one. Checkout the one at Wildwood. They're always open to offers. http://forum.gibson....luxe-smeck-ltd/ Thanks for the tip on Wildwood, but it looks they have the rosewood model but not the mahogany. I'm partial to mahogany. :)
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Ok, BayouBeng- I must've been so turned off by the shallow neck profile on the Jackson Browne, to the extent that anything else about the guitar (besides it's beautiful small burst) was forgotten. Just didn't feel right (no support for the thumb 'round back). It was traded for an old & barky Lg-2. Perhaps the Gibsons, either of the Stage Deluxe models, would be a good way to try on the guitarchitecture of these 12 frets, then think about the Santa Cruz down the road: the Gibsons would be much easier to move on if not a good fit, even though the 12 fret market is already a bit of a niche. and now to hijack my OWN thread...62, do you still have the Guild Orpheum 12 Fret Slope D (Ren's Smeckian creation) that you bought in 2014? I may have a chance to buy one, and I was wondering about your thoughts on it now.
62burst Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Another victim here of disobeying the one-out-before-one-in-rule. It's such a sweetie, hard to cut this one loose, even though I'm into rosewood now. Currently. The attention to detail to the build- it's as if Ren Ferguson was enjoying his new direction, and wanted to demonstrate it. FULL C neck, bound soundhole, top/back/side/headstock (sides) 'bursted, and light as a feather. 'Sounds like you've been doing your homework, which would relate how I'd a/b'ed the Guild with one particular 1930's Smeck while still in the return grace period of the Guild. the Guild stayed. In fairness, each guitar can vary, and a vintage instrument sitting in a shop that doesn't get played much would take fresh strings and a good bit of playing to wake up.
bayoubengal1954 Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 Another victim here of disobeying the one-out-before-one-in-rule. It's such a sweetie, hard to cut this one loose, even though I'm into rosewood now. Currently. The attention to detail to the build- it's as if Ren was enjoying his new direction, and wanted to demonstrate it. FULL C neck, bound neck and soundhole ,top/back/side/headstock (sides) burst, and light as a feather. 'Sounds like you've been doing your homework, which would relate how I'd a/b'ed the Guild with one particular 1930's Smeck while still in the return grace period of the Guild. the Guild stayed. In fairness, each guitar can vary, and a vintage instrument sitting in a shop that doesn't get played much would take fresh strings and a good bit of playing to wake up. Yeah, I read that thread with great interest. Gives me something to think about!
slimt Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 Another victim here of disobeying the one-out-before-one-in-rule. It's such a sweetie, hard to cut this one loose, even though I'm into rosewood now. Currently. The attention to detail to the build- it's as if Ren Ferguson was enjoying his new direction, and wanted to demonstrate it. FULL C neck, bound soundhole, top/back/side/headstock (sides) 'bursted, and light as a feather. 'Sounds like you've been doing your homework, which would relate how I'd a/b'ed the Guild with one particular 1930's Smeck while still in the return grace period of the Guild. the Guild stayed. In fairness, each guitar can vary, and a vintage instrument sitting in a shop that doesn't get played much would take fresh strings and a good bit of playing to wake up. ya.. I think Ren is Behind those.. Thats a Nice one... whats your take on the balance weight wize? how does it play and sound? I might go in a different direction of buying if there going to presenting Cool Guilds like that..
62burst Posted February 18, 2016 Posted February 18, 2016 Yes, Slim, Ren F is now at Guild, Oxnard, CA, putting finishing touches on the new facility there. Re: the balance/ergonomics of this guitar; excellent. That is one of the things many players appreciate about the 12-fret design in general. Still has the mahogany emphasis on the fundamental, but the ebony bridge/fretboard may give it a little more something. This particular guitar has really developed some "ring" to it I've not seen in a hog. The original thread from 2014 "Funny thing happened on the way to Smeckville" was the last time I'd gushed over any brand not displaying the Gibson name on these pages. Well aware of who our gracious host is. Much has changed, however; Gibson has really gotten on board with offering a selection of 12-fret guitars. Now, if they would only make the leap and offer one with the string break of a slot head as seen on this Guild Orchestra model: Wishful thinking.
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