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38 AJ


JuanCarlosVejar

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Nice!

 

Those are the Gibson equivalent of a pre-war Martin 'Bone, except a lot more rare.

Absolutely. I'm surprised our resident keeper of one of these hasn't checked in with his.

 

 

Many years ago I walked into a music shop. They had an original AJ hanging on the wall with a price tag of $750. Back then though it might have well have been a million bucks.

Oh well. Were you into long scale rosewood slopes at the time? Or would you have made an exception?

 

Juan Carlos- thanks for putting that up- it certainly sounds fine. Anyone hear a bloom of resonance/sustain at a note that doesn't even seem to be struck at 1:05? Wow.

 

It is a mixed blessing that a guitar such as the one above has become so valuable- personally, growing weary of the "all about the tone" thing. Fondly remembering the early years of playing when just having "a guitar" was sufficient- is it most enjoyable when barely aware of what guitar is being played. Keeping a priceless old wooden box like that around... and this is a question for anyone: would you/could you get comfortable with a guitar such as that, to the point where you get used to it, take it around, and not merely keep it as a hothouse flower?

Edited by 62burst
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Absolutely. I'm surprised our resident keeper of one of these hasn't checked in with his.

 

 

 

Oh well. Were you into long scale rosewood slopes at the time? Or would you have made an exception?

 

Juan Carlos- thanks for putting that up- it certainly sounds fine. Anyone hear a bloom of resonance/sustain at a note that doesn't even seem to be struck at 1:05? Wow.

 

It is a mixed blessing that a guitar such as the one above has become so valuable- personally, growing weary of the "all about the tone" thing. Fondly remembering the early years of playing when just having "a guitar" was sufficient- is it most enjoyable when barely aware of what guitar is being played. Keeping a priceless old wooden box like that around... and this is a question for anyone: would you/could you get comfortable with a guitar such as that, to the point where you get used to it, take it around, and not merely keep it as a hothouse flower?

 

I'd play it every day. However rare a guitar is, or how much monetary value is attached to it, it's still an instrument and instruments need to be played and heard...especially ones that sound THIS great!

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Oh well. Were you into long scale rosewood slopes at the time? Or would you have made an exception?

 

At the time I was not into much of anything as I was not all that experienced with guitars so had not yet figured out what worked for me. I did not even know what an AJ was as I had never run across one. What I did know is that I liked the sound better than any Gibson or pretty much anything else - old or (at the time) new that I had played.

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It is a mixed blessing that a guitar such as the one above has become so valuable- personally, growing weary of the "all about the tone" thing. Fondly remembering the early years of playing when just having "a guitar" was sufficient- is it most enjoyable when barely aware of what guitar is being played. Keeping a priceless old wooden box like that around... and this is a question for anyone: would you/could you get comfortable with a guitar such as that, to the point where you get used to it, take it around, and not merely keep it as a hothouse flower?

 

My experience is the opposite of yours- as time goes by and my ear has become a bit more refined, I find myself to be "all about the tone". I also remember in earlier years feeling that having "a guitar" was sufficient, but I also recall longing for instruments out of my financial grasp. "Nostalgia is death" said Dylan in an interview, and the older I get the more I agree with this sentiment. None of my four vintage Gibson guitars (which some would consider pricey) are hothouse flowers- i'll take 'em and play 'em wherever i choose. I try not to bang them around, but neither do i wear white gloves when handling them. To each their own, and so on...

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It is a mixed blessing that a guitar such as the one above has become so valuable- personally, growing weary of the "all about the tone" thing. Fondly remembering the early years of playing when just having "a guitar" was sufficient- is it most enjoyable when barely aware of what guitar is being played. Keeping a priceless old wooden box like that around... and this is a question for anyone: would you/could you get comfortable with a guitar such as that, to the point where you get used to it, take it around, and not merely keep it as a hothouse flower?

 

 

That first guitar for me was not just "sufficient" - it bordered on magical. Did not matter if it was the biggest P.O.S. in the universe. Wish the heck though somebody had clued me in that you could actually have a guitar set up.

 

Because I have never owned an acoustic worth the bucks a 1930s AJ is, I do not know if I would be overly protective of it or not. Chances are I will never find out. I am not real paranoid about the 1930s and 1940s Gibsons I do own. I figure if they have survived this long they will do OK.

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I'd play it every day. However rare a guitar is, or how much monetary value is attached to it, it's still an instrument and instruments need to be played and heard...especially ones that sound THIS great!

Agreed, but at the very least, the next time you have to sell a guitar to get the car repaired, you could buy a new car, and not worry about that sort of thing for a long time. [mellow]

 

 

My experience is the opposite of yours- as time goes by and my ear has become a bit more refined, I find myself to be "all about the tone".

Been there, done that. And continuing to appreciate those who say how much of your tone is due to technique. #jaded.

 

"Nostalgia is death" said Dylan in an interview, and the older I get ... None of my four vintage Gibson guitars (which some would consider pricey) are hothouse flowers- i'll take 'em and play 'em wherever i choose. I try not to bang them around, but neither do i wear white gloves when handling them. To each their own, and so on...

Could that tone also be intertwined in nostalgia, as well?

 

I actually prefer taking the old ones out more than the newer ones. . . pre-relic'ed is less stress, and a more comfortable time. It's just that the guitar in the OP, and those like it, represent an extreme, and it might be good to keep that in mind from time to time.

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