6 string mystix Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Hi, Been lurking for a bit---even before I bought my CJ-165 RW and thought I would introduce myself. Love the site and appreciate all the knowledge that i have gained here. Just wanted to kinda wanted to tell my little story of how I came to be a Gibson owner---after years and years of Martin and/or other brands. Hope no-one minds if I should ramble a bit. I have owned many Martins and had never really been into gibsons---oh sure I always loved those Elvis clips and admired the SJ and the J-45 in particular--but I always ended up going back to Martin. I also had a couple of Guild Jumbos and loved those as well. Lately I had been gravitating towards finally moving up the chain and getting a collings/bourgeois/huss & dalton---level guitar and was nearing in on a final decision when a Martin J-40 caught my ear and appeared to do everything that the other would --but for a lower price. It appeared to be the final choice. I sold my Martin D-35 Sunburst---which was one of those special guitars that you hear about----the one that when you pick it up after playing tons of guitars---just speaks to you---and i bought it on the spot after a long process. I had played that D-35 for going on 3 years when I went through another process---buying a house---and , regrettably ended up having to sell a lot of stuff to get the house which had become a priority for the wifey and I---as i am sure most of you understand. Back to selling the D-35 which was painful; I sold it and got the house and a few months later---I was back and ready for my dream acoustic (kept my Don Grosh RC electric though). I had been researching throughout this whole time and (again---gone through the boutiques---and back to the Martin J-40) had again---decided it was going to be the j-40---mind you I had been pretty anal about this and completely shocked myself by what happened next.... After all of that---I found a Gibson CJ-165 on the Buffalo Bros site in San Diego,Ca...and I had bought my Don Grosh there---and they have the famous trade in policy---where you get back in trade whatever you paid for it---to trade up on a new (or used) guitar. Now, I had done a little research and had come across the cj-165 and had not really considered it----but I don't know what---something just made me inquire. Long story--longer....I ended up trading the Grosh for the cj-165----AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PHOTO POSTED. Sight unseen...just like that---all I had to go on was the salesman telling me it was a 2007, sunburst and appeared new and unplayed---a customer had traded it in to get a collings or santa cruz---or something. I jumped on it....waited nervously and felt like an idiot for being impulsive and ----after being so anal---just jumping on something----on nothing but a GUT FEELING... Boy I felt stupid.... this was in December....it was cold as hell...and the guitar arrived on a day that was ---in the 20's---I live in Texas... I pulled the CJ out---(after waiting about six hours---hopefully to let the guitar acclimate)---could not wait any longer...and there she was....beautiful to look at ---beautiful smell....but I played her and after ten minutes....I was crushed.... I did not like the sound....I had never played a short scale...I had made a mistake.... or so i thought.... For the next couple of days I went from playing it sporadically to looking up other guitars on the internet....to scanning want ads...to playing it again....etc...i did not even want to tell the wife i had made a bad choice...a mistake.... On the third day I picked it up in the morning....had some coffee and started playing....then... She spoke to me...I turned my head like a dog does when you whistle at it....and i thought...what the hay????... played some more...wow...she sounded beautiful...fingerpicked----gorgeous... flatpicked---gorgeous.... I was ...like...what happened? after a couple of hours---I had to put it down----ONLY because my fingers hurt---- she needed a set-up.... took it to my luthier who has always done fantastic work....he did his magic---set it up for a light to medium touch---or in other words---set it up perfectly---to my playing style.... he said when I picked it up....you know...that's a funny little guitar...i had never heard of it...it is quite funny...it is small---but the body is wide---not like an OM...it is shaped like a Gibson Jumbo---but it is not a jumbo size....it is .....funny...but I could not stop playing it....the notes are round---but sparkly...the strumming is tight and it gets loud if you dig in a little...i really like it a lot.... Since then I have played more acoustic than any time in my life and ----I am NEVER ---EVER---NOT blown away by this little guitar...it always hits me in a new and different way---just keeps surprising me over and over again... I have the Rosewood model---non-cutaway model--the sunburst is only painted sunburst on the top---back and sides are AAA rosewood in natural... Songs have come out like you wouldn't believe...maybe the old thing about a guitar---sometimes having songs to give at a certain time---or maybe i am just so in love with playing it that I just feel inspired enough to write new songs... but one thing is for sure---she is going nowhere. Final note (apologies----if you have read this far---i really appreciate your indulgence) I just restrung it with John Pearse Phosphor Bronze and Silk Wound 12-53 ga. ---and WOW---I love the tone... I just wanted to try the silk---thing to see if it was anything different---and i am blown away... Thanks again and hope I didn't bore anyone... Tino Austin,tx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 We never get bored with guitar tales. I have a 2007 CJ-165RW as well. I almost never play it but it's there if I want it. Mine is natural topped, non cutaway. I think it might have 2 or 3 hours use on it, tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Great story--we do love to talk(and hear) about those 'and then -- what the hay?' moments. I believe that when you get what the Gibson sound is all about, your relationship to acoustic guitars changes. Forever. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6 string mystix Posted April 13, 2010 Author Share Posted April 13, 2010 funny, on the times when i did try to play a gibson...it was usually in a guitar center type of place---where the guitars can be hit or miss---the set-up is usually off-- and I had played a few and the only one that i REALLY liked--was a songwriter deluxe I tried in the Hollywood Guitar Center---where i used to live until 2005... but all the other Gibsons i had tried, although some were good---I had always gone back to Martin---because i would stumble on a martin that would blow me away.... but this CJ has really endeared itself to me... yeah, now I get it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.