Cougar Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 I guess it was a couple years after they first came out, I had Music Villa in Bozeman keep an eye out for me for a new Gibson J-15 burst. The reviews were through the roof on this new Gibson model with a walnut back. Just as one came in, a New Hartford Guild F50R popped up on reverb which I ended up getting for a great price (and which I still have and love). I put the J-15 idea behind me.... until now. A guy over on AGF had one for a good price I couldn't pass up. Not a burst, but the top is stunning. It's in great condition, 2014, abalone rosette, very nice silky top, walnut back -- not the greatest figuring on the back like some I've seen, but it's weird -- the dark areas change to light and vice versa, depending on the angle you're looking at it. I think 12-strings are easier on the fingers, lol. (I guess that's why I have 5 of those -- 4 Guilds, 1 Epiphone.) Still, I'm liking it! Haven't taken photos yet - here's the ad photos.... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Congrats The back is damn cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloff Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Beautiful 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Oh that's a great looking guitar! I hope it sounds as good as it looks. Cause that's one good looking guitar. You scored. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtim Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 It looks very nice. I think the back looks great myself...and the front has a nice grain to it too ....enjoy!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 I like it! Very nice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Congratulations. That's a fabulous guitar! 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 that's a nice one How much? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 (edited) 40 minutes ago, duane v said: that's a nice one How much? Thanks, Duane and everybody. As I recall, they were $1350 when they first came out. Gibson's site has them at $1800, which I guess was in 2019 when they discontinued. Oddly, most for sale used are for MORE than they cost new in 2014. Well, this one was less than that -- in fact a little less than the lowest priced sold listing on reverb. 😁 Edited April 12 by Cougar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Cougar said: ....a little less than the lowest priced sold listing on reverb. 😁 Well, now I see that's not the case! Thought I made a great deal, lol. It was $1195. Still a good deal for a great all solid wood Gibson in excellent condition. Edited April 12 by Cougar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil OKeefe Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Wow, baby's got back! 😄 Congrats on the very cool new guitar! I absolutely love my J-15. It has a pretty cool looking back, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil OKeefe Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 BTW, the list price when I purchased mine (which was from the last production year — 2020, IIRC) was either $1,900 or $1,950 for the sunbursts. I think the natural tops were $100-$150 less at the time — around $1,799, which IMPO is a great deal on a really nice American-made acoustic guitar. I have no idea why we discontinued them. Again, I really like mine! Mine has a few slight mods that were done to it. It now has gold hardware, a Deluxe TRC, and I swapped out the stock bridge pins for bone with abalone dot inlays. It came from Montana with a bone bridge, which is not standard, but the folks in Bozeman told me they'll sometimes sub out things like that if they are low on Tusq/Graph Tech. I also removed the stock LR Baggs Element under-saddle pickup and replaced it with an LR Baggs Lyric mic setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil OKeefe Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 16 hours ago, Cougar said: ...walnut back -- not the greatest figuring on the back like some I've seen, but it's weird -- the dark areas change to light and vice versa, depending on the angle you're looking at it. The back of mine does similar things, depending on the light and viewing angle. The top section of the back is more figured than it appears in the photo I posted (it's more like the lower section appears), but you have to look at it from the right angles for it to pop out more. It's also a bit darker overall in person, too - more similar to yours, but maybe not quite as dark. I really like the deep, rich coloration of the back of your guitar. That looks really sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Ye olde chatoyance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 A thing of beauty to behold. Congrats and well scored 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx-ogre Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 Very nice. Congrats. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 On 4/12/2024 at 9:40 AM, Phil OKeefe said: BTW, the list price when I purchased mine (which was from the last production year — 2020, IIRC) was either $1,900 or $1,950 for the sunbursts. I think the natural tops were $100-$150 less at the time — around $1,799, which IMPO is a great deal on a really nice American-made acoustic guitar. I have no idea why we discontinued them. Again, I really like mine! Wow, they really increased the price from its "IPO." Apparently they were listening to the reviews and how everyone loved them! That back on yours is what I mentioned -- really nice! I guess mine is bookmatched, too, but it's harder to tell. And of course Gibson does great teardrop bursts. I would have preferred a burst, but a close look at the top of mine reveals a super fine apparently AAA soundboard. Yeah, just a super guitar! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil OKeefe Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 On 4/13/2024 at 10:10 AM, Cougar said: That back on yours is what I mentioned -- really nice! Thanks! Quote I guess mine is bookmatched, too, but it's harder to tell. And of course Gibson does great teardrop bursts. I would have preferred a burst, but a close look at the top of mine reveals a super fine apparently AAA soundboard. Yeah, just a super guitar! The top on yours is exceptionally nice! Did you get a chance to play one when they were new? I'm wondering how ~10 years of aging have changed/improved the sound of the one you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted April 17 Author Share Posted April 17 On 4/15/2024 at 7:20 AM, Phil OKeefe said: Did you get a chance to play one when they were new? I'm wondering how ~10 years of aging have changed/improved the sound of the one you have. Nope, never played one until now. Actually, I've been playing mostly 12-strings for the past couple years. Not sure why I succumbed to this purchase.... other than nostalgia and sucked in to a pretty good deal. And it's a gorgeous guitar, of course. But it's hard to put down my 12-strings.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil OKeefe Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 That's a really pretty Guild! I love the ring, overtones, and chime of a good 12-string, but I have shorter fingers and it's always been a challenge to play them without having my hands cramp up. I've been through a few of them (mostly acoustics) over the years, and finally landed on a Taylor 150e, which fits my hands pretty well. For electric 12, I always wanted a Ric (to go with my Ric 610 6-string), but while doing a large studio purchase in '98, I wound up throwing a Danelectro DC-12 into the pile of gear, and I've kept it ever since. It hasn't completely wiped out my Ric 12 GAS, but it's come close. It's hard to justify such an expensive purchase when the Dano plays and sounds so great for the occasional times when I need an electric 12-string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 On 4/17/2024 at 10:05 AM, Cougar said: Nope, never played one until now. Actually, I've been playing mostly 12-strings for the past couple years. Not sure why I succumbed to this purchase.... other than nostalgia and sucked in to a pretty good deal. And it's a gorgeous guitar, of course. But it's hard to put down my 12-strings.... You must have callus’s on your callus’s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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