rocky_raccoon Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Hi all, I am thinking of either purchasing a brand new Gibson 50s J-50 Original or a used Gibson Sheryl Crow Southern Jumbo from 2012. Anyone have any experience with either of these guitars and what they sound like in terms of tone etc? I see it as Sitka spruce top vs Adirondack and more bling on the SJ but would be get to people's thoughts on both guitars. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG76 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I just bought a 50s reissue J-50. I love it. It sounds much older than it is and has that authentic Gibson thump and warmth. I like the pick-up and the neck profile too. Oh and it doesn't have an adjustable bridge, which will appeal to some people. (I posted a video of it in a recent thread, although I'm an extremely limited player and used very basic recording technology.) Finally, although it will get even nicer, the top is already a lovely colour brand new. Photos often don't do that justice. I'd been thinking of getting an older model but I'm really glad I plumped for this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG76 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Just now, TomG76 said: I just bought a 50s reissue J-50. I love it. It sounds much older than it is and has that authentic Gibson thump and warmth. I like the pick-up and the neck profile too. Oh and it doesn't have an adjustable bridge, which will appeal to some people. (I posted a video of it in a recent thread, although I'm an extremely limited player and used very basic recording technology.) Finally, although it will get even nicer, the top is already a lovely colour brand new. Photos often don't do that justice. I'd been thinking of getting an older model but I'm really glad I plumped for this one. The consensus on my thread was that people loved the guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky_raccoon Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 40 minutes ago, TomG76 said: Finally, although it will get even nicer, the top is already a lovely colour brand new. Photos often don't do that justice. interesting. I always thought it was a bit pale from the pictures.. I love the look of that butterscotch hue from those vintage models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG76 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Studio lights make the definition better but wash out the colour more. I nearly didn't get it because of the colour looking so white. It's lovely in the flesh. And will darken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG76 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Look how this same model J-50 seems to change colour in this Don Ruffatto video purely because of studio lights. My own one looks white in a photo but is actually a nice straw gold. Edited July 20, 2020 by TomG76 Embedding link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul14 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 (edited) I’ve got a J-50, that I dearly love, but wouldn’t mind having a Sheryl Crow Southern Jumbo. what to do? Edited July 21, 2020 by Paul14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I have a 60'd re-issue of the J50 and love it but I have never even seen a jumbo anywhere much less play one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I owned a 2012 J-50 Modern Classic. Really a perfect guitar; good luck hunting! If you are not playing in person, then be sure to read the specs carefully. Today, there are many more neck profiles than a decade ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoSoxBiker Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 The online demos on the Sheryl Crow SJ from that era have all been astonishing. There's one video posted here a few months ago. It is a great example and not all will be that good, sure, but if it's in the ball-park. It was my initial search and find. I was bummed I could not find one, but they I got my SJ-200 Pre War Historic collection and have no complaints. In reality, I consider these guitars to be quite a ways apart. Both awesome, of course. Here's that video that someone post a few months back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 51 minutes ago, PatriotsBiker said: The online demos on the Sheryl Crow SJ from that era have all been astonishing. There's one video posted here a few months ago. It is a great example and not all will be that good, sure, but if it's in the ball-park. It was my initial search and find. I was bummed I could not find one, but they I got my SJ-200 Pre War Historic collection and have no complaints. In reality, I consider these guitars to be quite a ways apart. Both awesome, of course. Here's that video that someone post a few months back. Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12MoreGuitars Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 I just got a new original series southern jumbo. I didn't go for the TV model because I wanted a mahogany giutar. I tried to find a Sheryl crow but no luck. Probably couldn't swing it anyway. I am happy with my SJ though. I have mot ever played a J50 only 45's and a humingbird. Looks like a nice guitar. And the Sheryl crow in the video. I think my SJ sounds very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 On 7/20/2020 at 2:58 PM, TomG76 said: Look how this same model J-50 seems to change colour in this Don Ruffatto video purely because of studio lights. The J-50 is a chameleon! I have a 2008 J-50 and the color completely changes depending on the direction of the light and your position relative to both the light source and guitar. Try it sometime, move around the guitar and look from different angles, the color changes drastically. This is most noticeable with a single point source of light. Must have something to do with polarized light. My 1965 J-50 exhibits a similar effect too. I guess this isn't as noticeable on a guitar with a burst finish. Don't know, never owned one of those, I always liked natural finishes. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 My J50 is a true shape shifter. Those who are old timers here know the tale but it is a cool story which took no less than three Pros from Dover to unravel. The FON shows the guitar started life as a J50 in 1942. But one of the book matched top pieces accidentally got flip flopped. Somebody down the line must have caught the screw up and decided on the spot to shoot a burst to cover it up. So I guess that makes it a J47.5. But the story does not end there. Somewhere in its life it lost the burst as well as its pickguard and bridge. My repair guy, who found the evidence of the original burst, decided it needed to be restored so copied the finish on a 1944 J45 he had in the shop at the time. Here it be as I stumbled across it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.