Joe M Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Just spotted this on my local CL. Very cool looking but I've never seen a J200 with a bridge like this one or the three piece back. What do you experts think? https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/msg/d/livonia-1972-gibson-j200-pristine/7093709186.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 (edited) "Experts". That's funny. Ah, yes- the Heritage bridge. . . they did that back then. A fairly large placard of rosewood. Someone else can give the "play before pay" caution for guitars from that era, but whoever combined that quilt maple center piece on the back was having a fun day at work: Edited March 15, 2020 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 A Common practice then to have a three piece back. Doves were like that too. Even with the Artist bridge. Norlin had a way to use up wood that would of been tossed . Ive had both the Doves and 200s with those features. as for value. Not much difference from your Normal models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Love it !!! JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted March 16, 2020 Author Share Posted March 16, 2020 Thanks for the input, guys. And 'burst, most of you are way more expert than I'll ever be....😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 I’ve had both a Dove & Heritage Custom from the early ‘70s that utilized the same bridge (but not the same inlay). Personally, I think that guitar is a beauty. I would not shy away from giving it a test run & serious consideration. Most of the negatives from that era revolve around instruments being overbuilt in order to enhance durability. It’s not as if the workers in Kalamazoo totally forgot how to build a good guitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) Gibson started putting the Dove bridge on the J200 in 1972 so nothing unusual there although you will still some from that year with the closed mustache bridge . I have never eyeballed one with the middle back panel though. While I am not a fan of how that bridge looked on that guitar, I think the back is cool looking. Edited March 17, 2020 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 The Gibson J200 Regal they build now has the 3 piece back. As well as the Monarch J250. They do look nice too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I wouldn't shy away from that at all...give it some lap time and see how she flies. I'm sure the 3-piece backs of the era were intended to use up some pieces of timber that were pretty and potentially toneful but too small to be used for a two-piecer, but of course that was how the D35 was born, one of Martin's best guitars of the '60s/early '70s. I have played some Norlins that have been superb, and some that have been less so. I love the look of this one though and it could well be a gem. Worth further investigation for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomPhx Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 (edited) That's a really cool looking J200. I like the three piece back. Pic #20 shows some bridge lift on the left corner. Would that be a problem, or considered normal for one of this age? There's a lot of bridge surface holding it onto the top. It would be worth trying out to hear what it sounds like... Edited March 18, 2020 by TomPhx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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