hlarry14 Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 Hi – I’m the proud new owner of a used SJ-200 (picture below.) There is a “Gibson Custom Shop” decal on the headstock – can anyone tell me exactly what that means? Is there a specific set of features that the custom shop guitars have, or does it mean that every “custom shop” guitar is actually custom ordered? Regardless, I love this guitar- it’s the best sounding, best playing guitar I’ve played.
BCSC Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 I don't think I've ever seen a flamed back that beautiful. If she sounds as lovely as she looks, you've got a keeper. I'm sure someone will be along soon who can answer your question.
rar Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 There is a “Gibson Custom Shop” decal on the headstock – can anyone tell me exactly what that means? We've discussed this before' date=' and the answer is, unfortunately, that there is no one who can tell you, because it doesn't exactly mean anything. Back in the days when there was a Custom Shop in Bozeman, it meant that the guitar was built in the Custom Shop. In more recent times, it means the guitar is [i']somehow[/i] different from any of the current standard production models. Gorgeous guitar, by the way! -- Bob R
TWilson Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 I can't answer your question, but from one SJ-200 owner to another, that's a beauty! Welcome to the Forum.
ajsc Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 That's an amazingly beautiful guitar. Congrats on that one. That's a once in a lifetime find. Good for you!!
MR GIBS Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I love this guitar- it’s the best sounding' date=' best playing guitar I’ve played.[/quote'] This is the most important part of your post :-) Your new guitar is a peace of art. Just a fine peace of work. As to the speciffics of an SJ 200 Custom Shop and according to what I have seen as an info here and there in internet - the fretboard and the bridge of an SJ 200 Custom Shop should be made of ebony, not of rosewood. Matter of fact Ksdaddy should say his word in this case.
hlarry14 Posted April 15, 2009 Author Posted April 15, 2009 Thanks everyone, for all your comments. I find it interesting that there is so much mystery about the Custom Shop designation – the Gibson web site is really no help at all in this regard. This bridge and fingerboard on this one are rosewood, so the use of ebony for these parts doesn’t appear to necessarily be a Custom Shop feature. The model marked on the orange label in the guitar is “SJ-200 Quilt”, which as far as I can tell was not a standard model, so what Bob R said (“it means the guitar is somehow different from any of the current standard production models”) makes sense. At any rate, my enthusiasm continues to grow as I play it – I finally understand what people are talking about when they say they find a guitar that speaks to them!
maninblack Posted April 15, 2009 Posted April 15, 2009 Definitely not standard, probably not a one off either. I would guess they did a small run of these, maybe for a particular dealer, but more than likely just for the heck of it. I notice the tuners, the pearl bridge in-lays (only 1 set like the J-150) and obviously that WOOD are far from standard. Really beautiful instrument.
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