Larsongs Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Evidently Gibson doesn't keep a lot of information regarding Guitars they've built over the years. I recently called them to get accurate information & the correct Specs for my 2002 Gibson Bozeman Masterbilt J-160E. That was the terminology used when I bought it new from MF back in 2002. I thought it was a typical J-160E. Plywood Top, Ladder Braced with P90's.... I wasn't very savvy about Guitars then (I still have a lot to learn) but since then I've learned it's a Solid Top, X Braced & has a P100 Pickup. I called Gibson & gave them the Serial Number. I asked if they could get the Original Specs for the Guitar. After several minutes on hold the Rep came back & gave me information that it was vague. He said he'd check it out & email the accurate Specs.. A few days later I got an email from him. It said, it's a 2002. Hope that helps. Their Website is better than it used to be but still vague in many areas... I love my Gibsons & Epiphones but wish I could get more accurate information. Any thoughts as to Sources to find out accurate Specs & info about my/our Gibson Guitars??? Thanks, L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 14, 2019 Author Share Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) This site has a lot of knowledgeable people. If you want to know about acoustic Hogeye in the Acoustic forum knows a ton. There are guys on here who know a lot about SG's and LP's ect. Just post your question and it will usually get answered. And there is the internet, but ya know about that cause I also look like Brad Pitt. There are any knowledgeable people here for sure & I'll do that.. But, so many times the responses are opinions, should be's, may be's, I think it's, IMO etc. It would be great if you could get Actual Spec Sheets from Gibson.... Didn't they have them to begin with? Thanks, L Edited January 14, 2019 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 14, 2019 Author Share Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) Yes I'm sure Gibson has the spec sheets if they will send you one is something I can't answer. In my recent Phone a Call to them that doesn't appear to be the case. Or from their Email reply after I requested it. It shouldn't make any difference but I own 10 Gibson Guitars. Including 4 Epiphones.. Seems like they would want to provide that info to me & any Gibson Owner... Do the Guitar Blue Books have any of that info? Do they still even have Guitar Blue Books? Thanks, L Edited January 14, 2019 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtim Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 You could also try to search ebay for old guitar magazines that may have a review of some of the guitars you have from years gone by. Even old ads in them help. Also alot of times there are brochures to be found on there too. I do that sometimes too. I wish I had kept all of those musician friend magazines from the past too because it would say enough in them sometimes on certain models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Hmmm? I didn't know if things changed any at Gibson since their problems but 6 years ago I sent them a email about a 6 year old Gibson I bought and they answered me everything I wanted to know plus the original cost of it in 2007. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek R Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I’m the same as larsongs,I’ve got a Gibson guitar I would like more information on. When I emailed Gibson they were not very helpful,saying they did not have the spec of the guitar in question,WTF,they built the thing but do not have any idea what the spec of it is ,what kind of company doesn’t keep track of what they produce and sell to the public .i understand that they produce lots of guitars but when you give them a serial number and description of the guitar you’d like to think they at least have an idea of what your asking about,it’s not as if the guitar in question is an old guitar,it’s a quite recent guitar. I’ve spent hours on the internet trying to find anything about this particular guitar and there is not a lot of information out there,I’m just an ordinary guy who bought a guitar and would like to know a little about the history of the guitar I’m now the owner of and now playing. This is not a rant about Gibson,but a genuine query about how to find some details of what I own,Gibson’s are the only electric guitars i own,so I’m just curious about what I’ve paid for,I’m not wanting to know who owned it before me or where it’s been,just some spec on the build of the guitar Cheers Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 The courteous, polite, well spoken non-political super geniuses in The Acoustic Forum haven't been able to provide you with every single detail, including who's DNA has been spilled on your Bozeman Masterpiece? lolz rct 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtim Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 What he said!! LOL!! The courteous, polite, well spoken non-political super geniuses in The Acoustic Forum haven't been able to provide you with every single detail, including who's DNA has been spilled on your Bozeman Masterpiece? lolz rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 I took your advice & posted my question on the Acoustic Section of this Forum and so far no responses... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyTanglewood Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 (edited) On 1/17/2019 at 11:41 AM, Larsongs said: I took your advice & posted my question on the Acoustic Section of this Forum and so far no responses... Hi Lars, Old thread I know. 😉 What you are looking for was once on the internet, so it can often be retrieved through the internet archive, which archived material on most websites. You go to Web dot Archive dot Org and you can search for the Gibson dot com website, It will show you a variety of years and days when it crawled the site. Your J-160E is a subset of the J-45 series, which could be branded as the signature John Lennon model. Here's the link and a pdf I took of your model J-160E. https://web.archive.org/web/20021202161629/http://montana.gibson.com/guitars/J-45/j-160e.html I was on there looking for information on the "Star" and "Starburst" guitars which don't seem to show up either. But the specification sheet from the year 2000 website says that the only guitars they make with star inlays on the neck and bridge are the J-180 (no pickup) and the J-185EC (pickup and cutway.) Some would be labeled as a "Star" and some labeled as a J-180EC , and your guitar some would be labeled as a Lennon signature model and some just as a J-160E- I guess. Except the "Star" and Starbursts" had Florentine cutways, not rounded ones like the J-180 or the J-185's. Gibson probably was more worried about selling their instruments than keeping historical records - but at least there are clues. J-45 Round Shoulder Acoustic Guitars J-160E.pdf Edited January 28, 2021 by BillyTanglewood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 Welcome.. You are much needed here! Thank you for posting that information. I get why Lennon used it extensively.. It’s so versatile.. Great as an Acoustic & is also great as an Electric.. It has such a unique sound but instantly recognizable.. I love the Neck on this Guitar. It feels much like playing a Casino or Les Paul... It’s very easy to jump from one to another.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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