hlarry14 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I go to Guitar Center for accessories (strings, picks, etc…) pretty regularly, and agree with most of what’s been said here and other places about the general quality of their guitar stock. I do like to try different things though, so I’ll often pick up a model I’ve never played before just to see how it feels. Until very recently I had never played an acoustic there that impressed me (I’m sure some of them were fine guitars if they had reasonable strings and set up, but if it doesn’t sound/feel good when I try it, I don’t know enough to be able to judge how it would sound and feel with fresh strings and a good setup.) Anyway, several weeks ago I was there, and they had a new Advanced Jumbo hanging on the wall. I’d never played or heard one, so I picked it up to try it. I wish there would have been someone videotaping it (maybe there was?) because I’m sure I looked pretty comical, doing an actual double take after the first chord. It sounded crazy good, and when I dug in a little I was amazed at the volume – “the cannon” indeed, it’s got more volume than my J-200. Playing bar chords up the neck, they almost sounded as good as open chords (and I’m not a very good player – I have trouble getting clean bar chords on most acoustics, and when I do hit them cleanly they sound muffled compared to open chords.) I was not in the market for a guitar and thought maybe I was just having a really good playing day – it just seemed too good to be true. I left it there, but kept thinking about it, so I went back a couple more times and tried it again, and it was consistently great. I decided to wait and see how our taxes came out, and if I at least didn’t have to pay and if it was still there I’d go ahead and get it. Then, I decided it was too much of a risk to wait that long – surely someone would buy it. I saw that GC had a promotion going where if you traded something in, they gave you 15% off what you bought plus what you get in trade. They generally don’t give you much in trade, but I had an Epiphone EJ-200 that I had bought before I got my Gibson SJ-200. With the 15% off I actually ended up getting more out of the Epi than I had paid, and it looked like I got the Advanced Jumbo just before a Gibson price bump (that’s what the salesman told me, and when I checked the price online later that day it had indeed gone up.) The only bad thing was that by leaving it there as long as I did (a few weeks) someone had put a fairly good ding on the bottom near the end pin. They offered to order me a new one from Gibson for the price I had negotiated, but I really think this one is special, so I’m living with the ding (actually, having the first ding out of the way before I bought it was almost a relief…) Unlike any other guitar I’ve played at Guitar center, I don’t know that this one could be set up any better – great low action, super easy to play, no fret buzzing, etc. From the serial number it looks like this guitar was made in Nov. 2009, so even the strings were pretty fresh. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now, and I’m so glad I went for it. I still don’t know what my taxes are going to look like, but I don’t care at this point. If I hadn’t gotten it I know I would always think of it as “the one that got away.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenumber2 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Gorgeous! Congrats on a fine purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 very, very nice. i completely understand the "one that got away" situation. i've had a few myself. enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockjawdavis Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Beautiful guitar! I think I played something similar at my local GC that, unfortunately, was not set up as nicely as yours. The strings were about an inch from the neck. Congrats on a great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Congrats on your AJ. They are terrific guitars. Glad you found a keeper, and could live with the ding. Since it already has one, you'll feel more sanguine when you add one yourself. Enjoy! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Good job! I haven't had the opporyunity to play an AJ yet,either. It sure is a fine lookin' guitar. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sacdubro Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Congrats it's a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Congratulations. I know what you mean about the AJ. Bought 1 from Fullers last year and it's the only guitar I ever played that makes you feel that this guitar is too good to be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NevadaPic Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hurray! They are great guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Those AJs are blindingly great when you find "the one". Unfortunately they're nigh-on impossible to get hold of in the UK, so I've never owned one. I played (and tried to have built for me on Artist-Order) a great AJ at Gibson HQ in London, but was told they don't manufacture them for export to the UK...maybe I'll pick one up next time I tour in the US...or a custom-shop Dove...mmm :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Lordy that is beautiful. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vourot Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Ah, another happy AJ owner in the fold. Its like being in a secret club. Don't worry about the ding. I had mine out of the case for all of 20 minutes before I bashed it against one of the case snaps. Enjoy ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Green with envy (shameless plug)? Bargains can behad... http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=24342 ps. congrats harry--a good find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkharmony Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I forget the guy's name who does the bursts at Bozeman, but that man is a true artist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Nice AJ! I love mine and I am sure you will love yours! What year was it built? I noticed it doesn't have the "Historic Collection" Sticker on the back of the headstock like my 2005 AJ does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I forget the guy's name who does the bursts at Bozeman' date=' but that man is a true artist.[/quote'] Van the Man Feldner (I seem to be the only one who calls him that, but I'm going to keep doing it until it catches on!) -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185-4Me Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Van the Man Feldner (I seem to be the only one who calls him that' date=' but I'm going to keep doing it until it catches on!) -- Bob R [/quote'] HA! I've been calling Van that too -- go figure.... If I could concentrate on things the way Van does when he's spraying, I might have gotten some more stuff done, and done well! Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daylightrobbery Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Maybe it's just me- but, ear protection & no mask is probably the exact reverse of what I'd do if that was my job!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 HA! I've been calling Van that too -- go figure.... If I could concentrate on things the way Van does when he's spraying' date=' I might have gotten some more stuff done, and done well! Fred [/quote'] Maybe it's just me- but' date=' ear protection & no mask is probably the exact reverse of what I'd do if that was my job!![/quote'] I may be going out on a limb here but is it concentration or is he just stoned from the vapors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185-4Me Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I may be going out on a limb here but is it concentration or is he just stoned from the vapors? Actually, their ventilation system really sucks. In a good way, that is. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Maybe it's just me- but' date=' ear protection & no mask is probably the exact reverse of what I'd do if that was my job!! [/quote'] He used to wear a mask (and coveralls), at OSHA's insistence. But Henry saw this when he did a tour of the factory a few years ago, and knew that some of the other big guys had installed fancy high-tech ventilation systems that made special gear unnecessary, so he decided to install one too. Working in there without a mask is now OSHA-approved. I got a chance to try it myself (briefly, on a scrap top) awhile back, and the scent of the volatiles in the lacquer, while noticeable, is not strong at all. Nowhere near as pronounced as when spraying lacquer from a can in your backyard. And ear protection isn't necessary, as there are a couple of walls between the spray booth and the main floor with the woodworking equipment. It's not loud in there. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 HA! I've been calling Van that too -- go figure.... Fred, Excellent! I'm sure we can start a trend. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkharmony Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 You guys seem to have some sort of acquaintanceship with Mr. Felnder. Next time you see him, tell him thank you, and that my J-200 and J-45 are works of art, and I think his work should hang in a gallery! :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlarry14 Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share Posted January 26, 2010 Nice AJ! I love mine and I am sure you will love yours! What year was it built? I noticed it doesn't have the "Historic Collection" Sticker on the back of the headstock like my 2005 AJ does. Thanks, Taylor Player! If I'm decoding the serial number correctly it was built in Nov. 2009, so just a few months ago - it's still a baby!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I'm jealous. Very very jealous. But very very happy for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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