Flare4roach Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Hey everybody, Yesterday was my lucky day. I was able to score a 56' J-185 from a buddy who no longer plays guitar. He wanted me to have it. Anyway, it came with a horrendous case that looks like it saw better days 40 years ago. It's not a Gibson case and just is terrible. This beauty deserves a nice case. I would love a Gibson case but I don't necessarily need a vintage one...doubt I could afford it. So, who are you go-to cases for something like this? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Dear Goodness congratulations. and welcome to the forum. I've had a serious jones to have another go at a J-185 lately- but a 1950's example from a friend who no longer plays would only happen in a dream. . . how fortunate for you. Of course, you must upload a pic to imgur.com and post it here (please). There just aren't a lot of them out there. Cases, or J-185's, for that matter. So if I had your dream scenario, and came across this one looking to be from the 1990's on Reverb, https://reverb.com/item/11071720-gibson-hard-case-for-j-185 it would be a fine place to keep that '56, unless it was going to see some hard road use. Even though the shipping from Japan would almost be as much as the case. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to email Gibson Customer Service to make sure they can't hook you up with one first. Again, congrats, and please consider treating us to a photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidalgo Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) Congratulations, F4r. I am sure that any Gibson dealer can order a labeled Gibson case for you. If you buy a generic Jumbo case, they're not all the same dimensions. Most are 17" at the lower bout. I think the J185 has a 16" lower bout (versus the J200 at 17"). My J35 lives in a Hiscox Pro II . It's a true flight case. Dimensionally, I think you'd want the dreadnought/folk style size, but you'd need to confirm that. Musician's Friend sells Hiscox and offers free shipping on cases. They often put out coupon codes for 20% off. Post some pictures of that '56. Edited September 14, 2019 by Fidalgo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Cool! What case you go with depends on how you use the guitar. The Hiscox is a great recommendation if you take the guitar out the door on a regular bases on trips down the road a piece.. ig plus is they are a lot lighter than something like the Armitage case I keep my 1942 J50 in. If the guitar stays home a lot or only makes local trips something like a TKL (which supplies cases to Gibson & Martin) will work fine. My wife's 1960 J200 was residing it its original Lifton case which was really starting to show its age and the miles put on it. She only takes it out on short trips to local gatherings a couple of times a month so it ended up buying her a TKL case. In terms of older cases, my favorite remain the Victoria Luggage cases Gibson used in the 1960s - black with yellow lining. Not the lightest case out there nor the best fit as they were generic sizes but well built with thick lining and good quality hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flare4roach Posted September 14, 2019 Author Share Posted September 14, 2019 Hey everybody, Thank you for the help. Two things. 1. I was able to post some pics in IMGUR so here's the link: 1956 Gibson J-185 2. I spent a lot of time researching cases and even called Gibson who told me to contact either TKL or Cedar Creek...I kind of gave up hope of finding an original Gibson case. However, I do like to hunt and I scoured the internet and FOUND one! It's a newer J-185 case but that suits me just fine. It was exactly what I needed. Thanks again for your help. I have a 44' Banner LG-2 that was my Grandpa's guitar that I'll share another day. PS. If you really want to be jealous...when I purchased the J-185, I also spotted an old, roached out Gibson 12 string in the corner. I asked about it and my buddy GAVE it to me. Now, this very well might be beyond restoring but either way...I'll hang it on the wall as a conversation piece if I have to. Still, pretty good day. I go to buy a vintage piece from a buddy and walk out with 2 old Gibsons? I've been waiting on that deal all my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 That's a nice guitar that appears to have had a pretty hard life. I don't know what part of the country you're in, but I would get it to a qualified luthier who specializes in vintage repair to see what work might be necessary to stabilize it and turn it into a great player. Congratulations. Now, post a picture of the "roached-out" 12-string, along with its serial number, and we'll help you determine exactly what you have, and whether it's worth repairing or should just be a wall hanger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Because of the 16" lower bout, a J-185 will fit reasonably well in many dreadnought cases. Try before you buy to assure a good fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Congrats! Except for the loose binding it looks in pretty good shape. Glade you found a case. I was going to recommend you to keep a watch on reverb at https://reverb.com/shop/boutique-wholesale-never-retail They seem to get a lot of oddball cases. I've bought from them a couple times I took my J185 and tried it in a Martin D, Gibson J and Gibson J200 case. Did not fit the first two and was too loose in the J200. Apparently the Jumbo shape does come into play J185 cali case Martin D Gibson J Gibson J200 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flare4roach Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 Awesome! Thanks for the photos. Appreciate the insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) Interesting little comparo Dave's put together there- valuable for anyone shopping for a J-185 case, and it's also telling to illustrate the difference in the body shapes of the above guitars. Now- a green Brownie point for anyone who can identify the guitar Dave has only described as a Gibson "J" ! Edited September 15, 2019 by 62burst removed clue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flare4roach Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) 24 minutes ago, 62burst said: Interesting little comparo Dave's put together there- valuable for anyone shopping for a J-185 case, and it's also telling to illustrate the difference in the body shapes of the above guitars. Now- a green Brownie point for anyone who can identify the guitar Dave has only described as a Gibson "J" ! Is that a 1942 J-45 Legend? Edited September 15, 2019 by Flare4roach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Flare4roach said: Is that a 1942 J-45 Legend? Here's the Legend with a real vintage Edited September 15, 2019 by Dave F updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 (edited) Lol, Dave, and thanks for playing along FlareR. The reason I threw the question out there was because all the checkboxes I was using to identify Dave's guitar didn't add up. . . thanks to Gibson being Gibson (in their picking and choosing what features they leave off of guitars when they dust off an old model). (Edit: and the model might be pertinent to case fitment) Edited September 15, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flare4roach Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 I'm sorry...what is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 hint: something missing from the headstock that was on the original version. . . and it isn't the banner. (also- a guitar of this type might be pertinent to a discussion on case fitment) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalex Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 I'll have a go. The original doesn't have headstock wings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 4 hours ago, Jalex said: I'll have a go. The original doesn't have headstock wings? Dave’s mystery “J” does have at least one change in it’s guitarchitecture, but that’s not it. stare at the fretboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Is it a Jackson Browne sig Smeck reissue? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) That’s what I thought at first, Jinder, but the Jackson Browne guitar (which is walnut) has the snowflake fretboard inlays. you are definitely getting warm. (Edit: fwiw- the JB had the bound fretboard) Edited September 16, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) Jinder was close enough to Smeckville. Here's what Gibson left off of Dave's LTD... that was the Limited, wasn't it Dave❓ (Roy's name was hard to miss on other r.i.'s): other fine images of the guitar here: https://reverb.com/item/14801835-2016-gibson-custom-shop-roy-smeck-stage-deluxe-acoustic-guitar-vintage-sunburst-721-r82ac , but check out the 8-string love machine in the last photo of the panel while there. Edited September 16, 2019 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 2 hours ago, 62burst said: Jinder was close enough to Smeckville. Here's what Gibson left off of Dave's LTD... that was the Limited, wasn't it Dave❓ (Roy's name was hard to miss on other r.i.'s): You know me too well 😉 Historically mine looks good. Here's Norman With his 1935. From the caption I'm assuming they started putting standard necks on some non Hawaiian models without the Smeck logo or NL inlays. Maybe Tom can shed some light. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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