New Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard - Specs?

[darach]

I have the current Songwriter deluxe and was interested to find out what changes beyond the cosmetics, red spruce bracing and raduised fingerboard they had made, but there are zero specs on the site, it's all blurb.

 

I've mailed both the Euro and US Gibson customer services to try and get the nut width, neck profile and string spacing at the bridge but haven't had any response.

 

Wouldn't mind an 11/16" nut, slightly rounder neck combined with the new fingerboard, would make it a really nice player especially if the upgrades contribute to enhanced tone especially for fingerstyle.

 

Anybody have any idea if they're exactly the same as the "old standard" and anybody got to play one yet?

 

Also doesn't seem to be any photos of the Sunburst version which seems to be an option on the site, but comes up blank when you choose it...would be very Guild D55 looking, but nice.

 

thanks

[Jayla]

Though the specs as presented on the site are woefully incomplete, there is more than just blurb. When you're on the page of the guitar you want to learn about, look just above the pic of the guitar; you'll see a horizontal menu with a few choices, including "features." Check those out. You might find some of what you're looking for there.

 

There've been some recent threads on the near-impossibility of getting complete, reliable specs on Gibson acoustics, including one by someone who actually called more than one Gibson employee and was given conflicting information. You could probably find them by doing a search, if you wished.

 

I wish you good luck.

[darach]

unfortunately, I browsed the site end to end including the features section which is also devoid of any standard specifications

it seems to be across the board for all their guitars, which is at odds with most other manufacturers who generally display the full spec in some kind of table format for easy comparison.

 

I've also searched the web and consulted several dealer sites to no avail so if I get any replies will post them for ref.

[darach]

Anybody got to play one yet? Would be interested to hear if the small changes have much of a tonal impact.

 

Got a reply back from Gibson Europe on the spec, seems to be identical to the current model with the exclusion of the radiused fingerboard.

 

****************************************************************************************

The nut width is - 1.725" (inches)

The string spacing is 2.165" (inches) at the outside bridge pins.

 

There is not really a neck profile to be given like is done on our electric guitars; please keep in mind also that each and every neck is hand rolled on the sander, making that each neck may vary from another. It is always better to try out the guitar at the dealer, to feel the differences.

 

There is a compound radius fret board mounted on the Songwriter Standard only, which starts at a 12" radius and graduates to a 16" radius.

****************************************************************************************

[Gibson101]

I will agree Gibson's web-site is subpar at best!

I just don't get it! Spend a little time and effort to make the information availible! I just get the feeling they don't like to be locked down to specifics in case they make changes.

Yes while most Gibson nut widths are 1.725 it would be nice to get specs on string spacing, materials used and so on.

[Jayla]

I just don't get it! Spend a little time and effort to make the information availible! I just get the feeling they don't like to be locked down to specifics in case they make changes.

 

Either that or perhaps there are no across the board specifics and no one really knows the exact features and appointments of guitars being made on a given day...?

[JT Foote]

Though the specs as presented on the site are woefully incomplete' date=' there is more than just blurb. When you're on the page of the guitar you want to learn about, look just above the pic of the guitar; you'll see a horizontal menu with a few choices, including "features." Check those out. You might find some of what you're looking for there.

 

There've been some recent threads on the near-impossibility of getting complete, reliable specs on Gibson acoustics, including one by someone who actually called more than one Gibson employee and was given conflicting information. You could probably find them by doing a search, if you wished.

 

I wish you good luck.[/quote']

 

I can echo that. My Gibby was advertised as being installed with a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup. But the volume control was missing, so I contacted Gibson. After a couple of weeks they finally called and said the pickup was a LR Baggs Active Element, and gave me a partial refund, due the pickup being a cheaper model. So I ordered a volume control wheel. But when I took the guitar to my local luthier to have the control soldered to the preamp, the luthier told me that the pickup was actually a Fishman Matrix Natural II.

 

If Gibson can't keep track of something like this, then I'd suspect their documentation to be somewhat sketchy. If the same kind of record keeping applies to other aspects of their instruments, getting detailed information might occasionally be somewhat difficult, IMHO.

 

Of course, other companies are guilty of the same thing. There's a "P""A" button on the dash, below the stereo/radio/AC controls of my F-150, and I can't for the life of me figure out what it is or what it does. It's not listed in the manual, and I'm resistant of the idea of going all the way to a dealership just to ask about a button.

 

It figures, huh?

[Jayla]

It figures' date=' huh?[/quote']

 

What figures, as far as I can imagine, is that they are not able or willing to keep accurate records on all of the instruments they are making. Or perhaps employees have leeway to vary certain components according to availability or for other reasons, as long as they remain within the "general ballpark" of the guitar in question. Of course, these are just suppositions.

 

As maddening as the lack of complete, consistent info can be, it doesn't take anything away from the sound of the guitars, which is the main thing. It certainly doesn't help, however, when you want or need to know the specs of a guitar you're considering buying.

[Guido]

Last year's model sounds great, but the new one is absolutely wonderful; the tone sold me. Radiused fingerboard makes a difference in playability. Now, I'm gonna buy me one them 09 songwriter deluxe standard, with flame maple binding all around, rosewood body. But i'm particular about my strings, and I CANNOT find anything that declares what gauges come on it from the box. The Gib dealer told me that my d'addario EJ16 's are an "unusual" size. Go ahead and google Gibson SAG-MB12. Same string.

[Jerry K]

My impression from touring the factory last year is they have definite specs for each model (though the specs are subject to change). This is particularly true of the necks, since they are carved by a computer controlled machine (see pic below). The website, I agree, is woefully lacking. It wasn't great before but now it is even worse. I am guessing here, but it looks to me like the website is controlled by corporate headquarters, not Bozeman. It's glitzy looking, but does not contain much in the way of specifications.

 

They should hire me to be webmaster for the acoustic division. The site would respond a lot faster if they let me loose on it let me tell you. I would also get the spec information well organized in a database which could be tweaked at will. Heck, I'd even move to Montana.

 

[darach]

Guido, thanks for the insight, appears you're the first man alive to have played one ;)

do you reckon the neck/nut/spacing are all identical, but that the radius gives your hand a better "wraparound"?

looking forward to getting to try one out.

 

JerryK, that's what I would have reckoned, most production guitars are built to within a very fine tolerance so there should be very little difference in neck/nut/spacing, main difference is in the mojo factor that is the coming together of the particular cuts of woods, joints and glue to give it its tone. I'll write you a reference for the job, it's a nice site layout, but sluggish and lacking details, pity, but hopefully they're taking note of forum feedback to improve things.

[Guido]

darach, you are correct: there ain't much on the website except sales pitches. The shape of the fingerboard/neck most definitely affects my ability to play whether i'm at the first fret or the 14th. Look: I believe that the tone, the action, and the beauty make this box worth $400 more than last year's model.

I make the motion we elect JerryK to master the website. All in favor, say aye, all opposed and so ordered.

Has anyone determined exactly what gauge strings come on the Gtr out of the box?

[jannusguy]

jerry k said:"Heck, I'd even move to Montana."

 

moving to montana soon

 

just me and the pygmy pony

 

over by the dental floss bush

 

zappa

 

sorry

[Jayla]

Has anyone determined exactly what gauge strings come on the Gtr out of the box?

 

IIR, I have read on this forum many times that Gibson ships their guitars with light gauge (12s) Gibson strings.

[Guido]

Have verified!! Songwriter comes from the box loaded with Gibson SAG-MB12 strings: 12, 16, 24, 32, 46, 53.

Vintage Sunburst is not available on this year's model, unless you really, really, want it. Then you call Mr. Gibson in Bozeman.

Have changed my "avatar" to depict the furniture I'm ordering.

 

Also: Taylor T5 Koa

Simon Patrick showcase flame maple cutaway

[Johnt]

jerry k said:"Heck' date=' I'd even move to Montana."

 

moving to montana soon

 

just me and the pygmy pony

 

over by the dental floss bush

 

zappa

 

sorry[/quote']

 

Never apologise for Zappa, Rob

 

he never did!

 

LOL