peiplayer Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I’ve been on the occasional hunt for a second Gibson for a while, tried a couple of Epiphones, but didn’t care too much for those particular ones……. What is the best Gibson deal for the money out there? I don’t mean J45 vs J200 vs Hummingbird etc.….I know they’re all good guitars and choice is mostly personal preference, but what do you folks think are maybe some of the underrated models, solid wood that can be had at a more budget-friendly price. Long and McQuade store here has a Songmaker in mahogany for $899. Sounds like not a bad deal for a solid mahogany guitar. They have it displayed right out in the main showroom too, not in the humidity-controlled section. What’s the deal with them? Any good? I was in for a quick string purchase and didn’t have time to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgwoods Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Songmaker- made in Canada at the former Garrison plant. Gibson bought them, converted the line to make the Songmaker series, then closed the plant shortly after. There are a few around for sale but not many were made at all. I don't think the future will be kind to them. They are "real Gibsons" because Gibson owned the plant that made them, but they are not like the classic Gibson designs so they come off as oddballs. All that being said I kind of liked the look of the Grand Concert size ones I saw and if it played and sounded good I'd buy one i f the price was right. Solid woods, made in North America, honest Gibson name...$899 would be fair - if you like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thabesh Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I don't think that you can go wrong with a WM45 and they seem to come along every so often at the price point you are talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Gospel. J160. Not to my taste, but deals can be had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Songwriter, Songwriter Deluxe and previous incarnations like Songbird. Often very good deals on these. As mentioned above, slope shoulder: WM-45 (it is a J-45!) and square: Gospel (mine compares very nicely to any H-Bird). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertjohn Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 +1 nid2007 and on the Songwriter. It's not to everyone's taste but great value for a Bozeman Gibson. Value is a judgemental thing. If you don't get on with a guitar, it's irrelevant. Don't buy a guitar you don't like. If you're not into the bling a J45 is a great place to start from a value POV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterGibs Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Go and find your own SWD. Let the quest begin now!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaz1009 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I am biased but I would have to offer the Rosewood J-30 Montana, no longer in production. It is without adornment, and square shouldered. It has a very full sound, throaty lows with crisp highs. It is full across the middle. The neck full near the nut so if you are looking for a profile like the Adv Jumbo this would not be it. I have both the AJ and the J30 and I would give up the AJ first though it is a much prettier guitar, and easier to play owing to the neck shape, particularly at the nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peiplayer Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thanks for the tips….I checked out the SW and though I’m sure it’s a great guitar and good value its not cheap and more than I want to spend for a second guitar to my J45 which I like very much. I just want something that would be semi-decent and less than a grand would definitely be a plus. I think I'll go back and check out that Songmaker..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenumber2 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 The Epiphone Masterbilts are more than decent and can be had for way under a grand. It's not a Gibson but some of them are pretty darn close in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr newhaven Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 you can get some used l-00 and lg-1 lg-0 for under a grand used... not bad at all... also you can get some nice vintage kalamazoo's for under a grand too...but to each his own i guess... good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchdogg Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Peiplayer, perhaps I am a little biased but the Hummingbird Artist is quite a deal for 1500 or much less used. Sweet mahogany Bozeman made guitar, that is much nicer than songmaker IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigogirl17 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Gospel. J160. Not to my taste' date=' but deals can be had.[/quote'] I played a used Gospel at a local Guitar Center...I loved it and have wanted one ever since. I think it was listed around $899 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beep Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 A Bozeman made J 30 from the 90's is a great deal. Most of them where Mahogany and they are basically a Hummingbird without the bling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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