powerpopper Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 As I have purchased my last guitar <cough> I am not interested myself, but has anyone played the Kristofferson Southern Jumbo? Is it essentially just a SJ Modern Classic with Kristofferson upgrades? Seems like it might have upgraded electronics too... Does this one look like a good example? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&item=160320177404#ht_500wt_1182 Just wondering because I'm out of the guitar buying business, yes sir... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLiveSoundGuy Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I saw that this morning. That's a fantastic price, and a great looker, but there's something funky going on with Kris's signature. It looks like it was signed first with a white/silver sharpie, but then was signed over that in pencil or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerpopper Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Spoke with Gibson customer service and they verified that the serial is real. There are no goodies (COA or special case) for the Kristofferson, so this one looked like the real deal except for the tuner mod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Foote Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Yep, I've got one ... Kristofferson SJ. I've played a couple of Modern Classics while at GC, and neither one had the depth of tone and projection of this SJ. This is more like playing a True Vintage model, but in comparison, I thought the TV's were a touch less dynamic in the mids (just a hair ... I had to think about it for a while!, but a bit more more pronounced in the treble. Comes down to personal taste, IMHO ... The case is really pretty standard, but with a burgundy lining. Now that I've had a chance to put a few weeks of playing time on it, I've decided that I like this instrument better than any other guitar I've ever played, with the one exception being a McCormick dread that he had completed - built special order for Emmylou Harris. I remember begging Mac (in vain, of course) to let me buy that guitar, for love, money, and a trade on my Guild. I'd would have been willing to sweep that man's shop for a year to take that one home. The Gibson is not quite that good, but I'm pretty darn excited about it, and I've been keeping it at arms length from my bed, just in case I get an urge to pick a couple of tunes. I've been playing guitar since the late seventies, and can't recall ever getting that attached to an instrument before, regardless of what I owned. My brother used to work in a good shop down in Georgia, and I'd go in there several times a week, for about three years, and play everything in stock. I found a '90s strawberry/gold burst HD-28 that was awfully good during that time, but that's the only guitar that I still regret not buying, out of all of them. And there's no doubt that this SJ is better than that. I'm definitely waiting to see what someone else more knowledgeable than myself has to say after playing one. That should be educational, if nothing else. <GRIN> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinNoName Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Hey JT, Sounds awesome - if you get a chance to put up some pics, that'd be great - I've only seen the stock images on the Gibson website... thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navajo Chief Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I played on and it sounded great. I also saw Kristofferson in concert a couple of months ago and he was playing one and it sounded great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Foote Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Hey JT' date=' Sounds awesome - if you get a chance to put up some pics, that'd be great - I've only seen the stock images on the Gibson website... thanks!![/quote'] I uploaded some here ... they aren't the best pictures, but at least I made an effort. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I've never been a huge fan of signature guitars, unless it was a huge improvement over a standard model (like the Lennon Casinos), or is different (like the Lennon Les Paul Junior), but this Kristofferson SJ is the first one I wanted to buy based solely on the signature. Kris Kristofferson is one of my favourite writers. Funny thing is, I always associate him more with Martins than Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 A+ for effort. she's a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedmac Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I was considering buying one myself. I noticed an online dealer had one of the first 14 which are signed by Kris on the pickguard. I am just wondering if the upgraded elect. really makes that big a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerpopper Posted March 13, 2009 Author Share Posted March 13, 2009 I was considering buying one myself. I noticed an online dealer had one of the first 14 which are signed by Kris on the pickguard. I am just wondering if the upgraded elect. really makes that big a difference. Spoke with Gibson customer service about this and it seems that if you get one with a signed pickguard it comes with a COA. As I already have a SJ MC, it would only make sense to me if the electronics are that much better. I love Kris's work, don't get me wrong, but I don't need to pay for his sig and the UFW logo at the 12th fret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsc Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I've never been a huge fan of signature guitars' date=' unless it was a huge improvement over a standard model (like the Lennon Casinos), or is different (like the Lennon Les Paul Junior), but this Kristofferson SJ is the first one I wanted to buy based solely on the signature. Kris Kristofferson is one of my favourite writers. Funny thing is, I always associate him more with Martins than Gibsons.[/quote'] I know what you mean , all his early stuff was with his trusty D-18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I went to House of Guitars this afternoon, and played one. I didn't plug in, so I'm not sure how the electronics were, but as far as I could tell, it was no different than any J-45 I've played, other than the inlay and signature. As much as I love his work, it's not worth the extra money to me, especially since I intend to play the guitar rather than store it. I'd rather have a good guitar and a signed record, instead of a signed good guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Looks nice! I have yet to see one in-person to try though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Dog Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Are the pickguards on the Kris SJ thick (0.060") like the Hummingbird? Looks like a good, thick pickguard. I think it looks good. Is it beveled? Here's a close-up from Sweetwater: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I don't know any technical terms in regards to pickguards, but it was certainly thicker than my Martin pickguard, or the J-45s I've played. It was right next to a Hummingbird, and it seemed to be about the same thickness. The edges seemed to be round, almost. My Martin is square to the top, electrics are beveled, this one seemed round, if that makes any sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Dog Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I don't know any technical terms in regards to pickguards' date=' but it was certainly thicker than my Martin pickguard, or the J-45s I've played. It was right next to a Hummingbird, and it seemed to be about the same thickness. The edges seemed to be round, almost. My Martin is square to the top, electrics are beveled, this one seemed round, if that makes any sense.[/quote'] That makes perfect sense, and I can see that now in the close-up. If it looks like the thickness of the Hummingbird pickguard, that's a good enough description; nice hefty pickguard, which I think looks great on the J-45/SJ. Thanks, pohatu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Foote Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I went to House of Guitars this afternoon' date=' and played one. I didn't plug in, so I'm not sure how the electronics were, but as far as I could tell, it was no different than any J-45 I've played, other than the inlay and signature. As much as I love his work, it's not worth the extra money to me, especially since I intend to play the guitar rather than store it. I'd rather have a good guitar and a signed record, instead of a signed good guitar.[/quote'] Can't find fault in that logic. But I could skip the signed record, too ... I'm really not into that sort of thing. Just to clarify, (and primarily because this is a discussion forum) that although I've found several of the songs I've heard Mr. Kristofferson write and play over the years enjoyable, and often appealing ... his endorsement, the different inlay, and the printed copy of his signature had virtually nothing to do with my selection. That kind of marketing-induced idolatry doesn't matter to me, except perhaps in the most vague, distant consideration toward possible monetary appreciation, assuming the guitar doesn't get dinged, cracked, or burned for firewood, and if I live long enough for that to be relevant. Which it undoubtedly won't, as I mean to play it, instead of admiring it from a distance. To my ear, which has had a smattering of training in the past, this particular model happened to sound the best. I was actually the most torn between this SJ and a '98 AJ, which was considerably cheaper, structurally sound, and had been well-played. But the SJ was closer to whatever variations in tone that most satisfies my ear, on an intuitive level. With all else being relative, I suppose the kind of over-all sound that most pleases the player/listener can be vastly dissimilar, on a subjective level. And it's a fact that some guitars are trash, some average, some good, some above-average; and on the really short list, there may be a select few that manage to stand out. With all of that being regardless of age, build, bracing, model, and the name on the headstock. It could be that I just got lucky ... that's very possible. But if I hadn't been unusually impressed, I wouldn't have brought it home to test drive. I did dream about a '56 SJ that was exceptional, but in the end, would have been a little too hard on my wallet. Can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. I'm in the market for a good, used truck, and I had to budget for that, also. Last thought ... don't get me wrong, I am certainly not arguing with your assessment. That would be beyond the scope of the ridiculous. (Why is this bleeped; I can spell!) :D My opinion doesn't mean squat in the greater scheme of things, except to me, in the privacy of my own domicile. LOL! But I admit to being somewhat disappointed that it sounded average to you. I guess I was hoping for a more enthusiastic response when these hit the racks. It's kinda like buying a new car that excites you no end, and then later hearing people talking about similar vehicles that have an engine design flaw. It drops a bit of lead out of your pencil, so to speak. Mind you, I'm not so much defending my choice of guitar, as I am the least possibility that someone might think I bought it simply because I was more enamored with the signature than the tone, or because that particular aspect was the deciding factor. That would be ... No-Sir-Ree-Bob. I'm not silly enough to buy a guitar just because a celebrity owns something similar, even if the celebrity-in-question is a talented guy, and makes my girlfriend pay more attention to the movie. And I don't think you are either, by-the-way, even if he is one of your favorites. Enough of my rambling ... Flame on! <GRIN> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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