Dreadfulnought Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 Not being a Gibson owner (yet) my question is, Can one find a respectable, players clean sunburst Advanced Jumbo for around $1400 and what questions do I need to ask and what do I need to watch out for? I'm new at buying used or vintage. Thanks to all for advice on the LG1 I was considering.
Dave F Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 Earlier this year I fell into a deal on an AJ for $285! It had a few issues I was able to fix, bought a new case and sold it a couple weeks later for $1600. Knowing how to or what it would take to correct minor issues can land you some great deals. Pawn shops on EBay are a great source. They usually don’t care as long as they make money. I see AJ’s between 1200-1800 quite often.
TheLeadFlatpick Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 Yes it is possible to find one for that price. Actually, about two weeks ago on Ebay there was one I could’ve gotten for $1,400 and then I think shipping costs (Ebay wont let me view what ship wouldve cost now but I think it was $50-$70) . The neck strap button had been moved, the pickup was removed, and there was a tiny (typical nitro finish) finish crack on the top, but it was otherwise very clean. I would’ve bought it if I wasn’t still waiting patiently for my new J45 to get back from the truss rod replacement (it may cure the itch I have for a advanced jumbo)
TheLeadFlatpick Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 2 minutes ago, Dave F said: Earlier this year I fell into a deal on an AJ for $285! It had a few issues I was able to fix, bought a new case and sold it a couple weeks later for $1600. Knowing how to or what it would take to correct minor issues can land you some great deals. Pawn shops on EBay are a great source. They usually don’t care as long as they make money. I see AJ’s between 1200-1800 quite often. $285!?! I thought I got a good deal on my brand new 2018 J45 standard that Im going to have $1,100 in, but that takes the cake
TheLeadFlatpick Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 I just realized the title was supposed to say “A Quest”😂 I was wondering what a queat was. Fixing that typo may help get more views (or maybe more people will view it to find out what a queat is)
Dreadfulnought Posted July 23, 2019 Author Posted July 23, 2019 2 minutes ago, TheLeadFlatpick said: I just realized the title was supposed to say “A Quest”😂 I was wondering what a queat was. Fixing that typo may help get more views (or maybe more people will view it to find out what a queat is) Oops.
EuroAussie Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 I think there is an AJ for around $1500 on the AGF right now.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 $1250 ask headstock crack https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=552699
Dreadfulnought Posted July 23, 2019 Author Posted July 23, 2019 1 hour ago, ThemisSal said: $1250 ask headstock crack https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=552699 Sent a couple of questions. Saw that but was scared away by crack. Is it yours?
Dave F Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 Personally I would pony up a couple hundred more and get one without the crack. They’re hard to sell off without taking a hit. I think this one is going to sit for a while at that price.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 19 minutes ago, Dreadfulnought said: Sent a couple of questions. Saw that but was scared away by crack. Is it yours? Not mine. I gave mine away. By the way... if it was a player, and I werent the type to swap frequently, I would have no issue at all with a repaired headstock crack.
Fidalgo Posted July 23, 2019 Posted July 23, 2019 I know the seller of the AJ on AGF. He and I have done a couple deals over the years. He is a straight shooter and great guy.
Dreadfulnought Posted July 23, 2019 Author Posted July 23, 2019 3 minutes ago, Fidalgo said: I know the seller of the AJ on AGF. He and I have done a couple deals over the years. He is a straight shooter and great guy. Thanks Fidalgo. That's always nice to know.
Dreadfulnought Posted July 23, 2019 Author Posted July 23, 2019 BTW, there are quite a few on Reverb. My "preference" is to find one that has a little mojo going on. Back to my initial questions. Are there years to avoid with vintage AJ's?
Dreadfulnought Posted July 26, 2019 Author Posted July 26, 2019 Just re-asking the question about whether there are any particular years to avoid the AJ? Or anything in particular to watch out for when looking. Thanks
MorrisrownSal Posted July 26, 2019 Posted July 26, 2019 Based on your rough idea of a budget - you are definitely not looking at vintage, but instead... a "player. recent model". Some of the recent post 2007 models have red spruce tops, and some have sitka. Sitka is warmer generally. There are no years to avoid on either in my opinion. Look for a good neck angle, enough saddle, and you are good to go. Excellent condition plain Janes sell for about $1800. Scuffed up models about $1500. And as you know... ones with "an issue" such as cracks... ($1250 on AGF right now). I think you could almost throw a dart and be confident you will get that AJ sound. The nuance is not there in my opinion.
62burst Posted July 26, 2019 Posted July 26, 2019 Sal- which nuance are you referring to? Gibson Sound, or the difference among AJ’s? asking because Mr. Dreadful has gone from LG-1 to AJ, and skipped right over the J-45, which is probably a better bet for someone just getting into the Gibson acoustic sound. Then, people might get curious about the AJ thing. As far as things to look out for when shopping AJ’s- there was a time in the 90’s when some of the filler around the diamond and arrows inlay on the headstock would bleed a bit, giving a look that was not too clean. But by and large they’re a pretty high-quality instrument. Powerful, as a long scale rosewood guitar can be. . . some might even call it harsh, but in the right hands, sweetness can be pulled out of it, too.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 26, 2019 Posted July 26, 2019 I mean... I do love the general sound of nearly all J45s.... AND I hear nuance between samples even in the same model I love the sound of BIRDS, AND i hear nuance between samples even in the same model With AJs... I Do NOT hear that nuance and variation as I do with the other models. And I agree... If you are doing Gibson for the first time, its hard to go wrong with a short scale slope. By the way... I sold my J50 (a great guitar) two weeks back to a guy who met me at the Chatham train station, and brought his J35 to play along side mine... to decide wheher he really wanted it. He and I played for a solid 40 minutes .... The difference in my opinion was stark between the J35 and the J50. Different bracing. They both sounded great... but the J50 was more full, and the J35 more treble...
Dreadfulnought Posted July 26, 2019 Author Posted July 26, 2019 I guess, in reality, I could be looking for either ... the AJ or the J45. I like them both. Both have stellar reps. Only reason I was looking at an LG-1 was birth year and I have a dread already. I'm a singer/songwriter looking for a tool, preferably with a little mojo. I may have to result in something cheaper. Seems I just had to spend 500 on a plumbing job while I'm on vacation so I'm down to about $1000 now. Such is life.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 26, 2019 Posted July 26, 2019 Not a Gibson... but Eastman slope shoulders are fantastic if you can play them first. I like the E10ss, and am intrigued by the E1ss.
Dreadfulnought Posted July 26, 2019 Author Posted July 26, 2019 59 minutes ago, ThemisSal said: Not a Gibson... but Eastman slope shoulders are fantastic if you can play them first. I like the E10ss, and am intrigued by the E1ss. I know Themisal, I've tried Eastman's and like em. Just more interested in a Gibson.
MorrisrownSal Posted July 27, 2019 Posted July 27, 2019 I’d be more interested in Gibsons as well. but $1000 and interested in a Gibson J45 or AJ is like $500,000 and interested in a 3br in San Francisco.
Harmonics101 Posted July 27, 2019 Posted July 27, 2019 Go get on Craig's List and Wanted sub forum and find out. Is there a Wanted sub forum on Gibson website? H
Dreadfulnought Posted July 27, 2019 Author Posted July 27, 2019 1 hour ago, ThemisSal said: I’d be more interested in Gibsons as well. but $1000 and interested in a Gibson J45 or AJ is like $500,000 and interested in a 3br in San Francisco. I believe you! I guess I'm going to have to wait a few months and try again.
62burst Posted July 27, 2019 Posted July 27, 2019 The Eastman E-20SS was an easy enough way for me to try out how rosewood might sound on a short scale slope shouldered guitar before spending Gibson money for it. Rosewood is cool on that guit-architecture, but a 'rose-45 made by the folks in Bozeman just felt more right, and the Eastman headed out. If you can make do without a Gibson burst (for now), a WM-45 is a little known gem that was made as a budget friendly '45 spec guitar. They were feather light, without electronics, and without the heavier coat of nitro necessary to get a glossy finish. Available from the late 1990's to early 2000's, the tops are now aging, picking up some of the mojo you were looking for, and sounding a little more broken in. There's one on Reverb with a side bump and totally acceptable finish crazing that would fit your price range: https://reverb.com/p/gibson-wm45-natural-1999. Guitar Ctr has one listed as well. Of course GC has that tempting 100% 45 day return policy, so you could almost hang on to the wm long enough to acquire the additional clams get you into a nice used sunbursted J-45 Standard, then return the wm for one of their used Standards(?).
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