Larsongs Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 I bought a Bozeman Masterbilt Solid Top J-160E new 11 years ago.. Mahogany Back & Sides with Spruce Top. Of all my Guitars it is the most Played. Including my Martin's which are also great... I seldom hear these Guitars discussed here? Lots of J-45's though.. Which are also great Guitars... But, after playing a variety of J-45's my conclusion was this particular version of the J-160E was the one for me... Any other J-160E players here? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 I don't own one, but I am totally with you on the love for them. I have long held the desire to own a J160E and fit a K&K or similar, with the volume or tone pot changed for a rotary blender to enable the SBT and P90 to be combined as required. Stylistically they are absolutely gorgeous. Weirdly, I find the golden top hat knobs against the sunburst in particular are something I could gaze at for hours. One day... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 I have owned a 1957 CF-100E and still own a 1956 Harmony H40 ( with a Gibson P13 pickup) but never a J160E. How the CF-100E could crash and burn commercially and the J160E sell well though is beyond me. I guess the guitar buying public was not ready for a cutaway flattop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 I think Red has a few of these?? I have never seen one in a store to try out amazingly enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 I had a '55 J160E in the house for a bit somebody was trying to sell me. This one still had a solid top. I loved the sound plugged it but unplugged - meh. Then again those built in Kalamazoo were meant to be plugged in. I do not recall ever having even played a Bozeman-made version but I am willing to bet this is one model where they outpace what Kalamazoo turned out when it comes to playing sans electronics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Salfromchatham said: I think Red has a few of these?? I have never seen one in a store to try out amazingly enough... Yup. I have a solid topped Standard and a Sixties spec model with laminated top and adjustable bridge. I play the Standard a lot. It's not the most resonant of my slopes, but it has a very tight, muscular sound. I believe the way the bridge is relocated closer to the soundhole due to the neck joining the body at the 15th fret (instead if 14th, like a J-45) accounts for that. And for that reason, too, I think it has the most Gibson Thunk of any of my guitars. And it's dang cool looking. I wouldn't call it the traditionally best sounding of my guitars, or even my favorite, but it is distinct. I can see how the Standard might be a great recording guitar (not solo guitar, but in a mix) since it's rhythmic qualities are pronounced and it doesn't have as much bottom or as many overtones that could compete with other instruments. A much undervalued and unappreciated member of the Gibson family. Red 333 Edited December 30, 2020 by Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 The CF-100 was on my radar for a while but all the vintage ones looked in pretty bad shape and the newer ones were so scarce I couldn’t get a good deal on one. I would still like to try one out, but like Sal, I’ve never seen one in person. I too think their cool looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Dave F said: The CF-100 was on my radar for a while but all the vintage ones looked in pretty bad shape and the newer ones were so scarce I couldn’t get a good deal on one. I would still like to try one out, but like Sal, I’ve never seen one in person. I too think their cool looking. Oddly the CF-100s built later in the 1950s are harder to come by than the early ones. As they were not selling Gibson continued to cut production starting by mid-decade before pulling the plug on the whole project in 1959. When I bought mine I had a choice between the '57 with the pickup and a '51 without it. Took them both home to kick the tires. The '51 was really beat up while the '57 exhibited only some pick wear around the soundhole. I actually really liked the guitar but ended up throwing it into a trade which brought me the '32 L1 Edited December 30, 2020 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brixa Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Agree - the 160 gets very little attention these days - maybe it’s because it’s been out of regular production for a while. I have a 2008 solid top versh and it is well loved as an electric guitar played through a Vox. Being a Fabs/Lennon nut it sits alongside my Ric 325 Miami and gives me loads of fun thrashing through those early songs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 My Solid Top Bozeman Masterbilt J-160E sounds great plugged or unplugged.. I play it unplugged a lot & also quite a lot plugged in through Vox & Fender Amps as a rule so I use Electric Strings.. I went through many different kinds of Strings in all price ranges trying to find some that sound great plugged in or unplugged.. Currently I'm using & liking Martin Retro Monel Round XL' s.. I really wanted a reissue CF-100E but they were gone by the time I found out they had been reissued.. I'd love to see Gibson reissue Solid Top versions of them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Didn't John Lennon have a J160E ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomG76 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 4 hours ago, fretplay said: Didn't John Lennon have a J160E ! I think he did and that this might be his one that James Taylor is playing in this video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 John & George both had J-160E's. I've read it's the only one of their Guitar's to appear on every Beatle Album. John played one before Hard Days Night & thru their Beatle a Career.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Had an EPI J160 about 15 years ago. Didn’t care for it at all. It was on a different planet from a friend’s Gibson J160 which was very impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 On January 5, 2021 at 3:52 PM, MissouriPicker said: Had an EPI J160 about 15 years ago. Didn’t care for it at all. It was on a different planet from a friend’s Gibson J160 which was very impressive. Yes.. Indeed they aren't the same... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 On 1/1/2021 at 5:12 PM, fretplay said: Didn't John Lennon have a J160E ! He had 2. 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 George had at least one also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 37 minutes ago, Larsongs said: George had at least one also... Yes, indeed - it generated one of this Board's Kaiser-threads 10 years ago. Enjoy ~ Plus this one from 2015 ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Since this thread appeared I've been unable to stop GASing for either a J160E or a CF-100E. I can't afford one just now (the last year hasn't exactly been fruitful for us full-time pickers and grinners/grimacers!) but in time I'd love to own one. The reissues are gorgeous and in certain cases the originals aren't a huge amount of money. The original 160s all seem fairly beaten up...probably down to the fact that the pickup made them primarily stage instruments. I think a solid top, x-braced reissue might suit my needs better than a ladder/lam original, but it would be an interesting flavour to have in my musical kitchen. As much as I love the Beatles (and I very much do), I would have to make a point of playing no Beatles songs at all on my 160...mainly because I think once I'd heard it used that way, I would be incapable of un-hearing that connection. A dream, perhaps, for days to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 George had at least one also... I just saw a 1957 CF100E on Reverb for $7500.00! I'd like one in addition to my Gibson J-160E but will look for a reissue.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Larsongs said: George had at least one also... I just saw a 1957 CF100E on Reverb for $7500.00! I'd like one in addition to my Gibson J-160E but will look for a reissue.. Yeah the original CFs seem to fetch really strong money for some reason, more than most 160s, even with the Beatles connection! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBSinTo Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 On 1/12/2021 at 7:15 AM, Jinder said: Since this thread appeared I've been unable to stop GASing for either a J160E or a CF-100E. I can't afford one just now (the last year hasn't exactly been fruitful for us full-time pickers and grinners/grimacers!) but in time I'd love to own one. The reissues are gorgeous and in certain cases the originals aren't a huge amount of money. The original 160s all seem fairly beaten up...probably down to the fact that the pickup made them primarily stage instruments. I think a solid top, x-braced reissue might suit my needs better than a ladder/lam original, but it would be an interesting flavour to have in my musical kitchen. As much as I love the Beatles (and I very much do), I would have to make a point of playing no Beatles songs at all on my 160...mainly because I think once I'd heard it used that way, I would be incapable of un-hearing that connection. A dream, perhaps, for days to come. Jinder, Don't want to spoil your recollections, but nonetheless thought you might appreciate this: Hope you enjoy it. RBSinTo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) I play in a couple different Bands normally... One does a lot of British Invasion Period music.. We call ourselves "The Fab-Tones". We play a lot of Beatles, Byrds, Stones, Badfinger & other similar type Bands music of that time.. For Acoustic my J-160E is a natural.. It's just a really great Guitar! The other Band I'm in plays Originals. Almost nothing like the British Invasion stuff... Rock, Country, Smooth Jazz type music.. I use many different Guitars. For Acoustic Guitars. I do use my J-160E a lot for this Band as well.. No issue with cross over as it sounds great... I have Martin's that I use in both scenarios as well. Edited January 16, 2021 by Larsongs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovadelic Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 I’ve had 2 J160Es previously. One was a 62 reissue with ladder bracing. It was essentially a jazz box type guitar and sounded horrible as an acoustic. I later picked up a solid top J160E. I loved it, thought it was just as good as a J45. I did not like the pickup due to it being designed for nickel strings (as opposed to bronze). With that said, I don’t think the guitar will ever lose it’s signature early 60s Beatles association - which might work for it and against it from a popularity perspective. I think that’s perhaps what makes lean towards niche instrument in addition to it’s hybrid appointments. 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.