jefleppard Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 could this have the storied euro maple b/s? still, a sweet guitar. http://cgi.ebay.com/1991-GIBSON-J-200-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-w-Case-/260633941639?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3caefe5687 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Looking at the shot of the inside, it sure looks like the euro stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Pardon my ignorance, but could someone fill me in on the "euro maple" story? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Wow. 1991 is now considered vintage? Nice guitar, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 No pardon needed. In the 70s Gibson had a large supply of European Maple, sometimes called Sycamore. They used them on some acoustics, the MK53, maybe others. When Kalamazoo closed, the wood was shipped to Nashville and used on some acoustics there as well. At some point early in the Bozeman era the maple was shipped there for use on the J200s (maybe others, standard disclaimer here). That wood has travelled a lot. Bozeman used the Euro Maple until it ran out, which was sometime in the early 90s. It is very plain, almost no figure at all, but I've been told it is slightly softer, very consistent in hardness, density, and just a nice wood to work with. When they ran out, they went to Eastern Maple, which often has much more figure (standard disclaimer again). One person, who has been with Bozeman since 1988, told me he didn't believe there was any tone difference between the two types of maple. I certainly can't refute that, but there are those out there who say the tone of the early Bozemans with Euro Maple have a nicer tone, softer and not as brassy. If true (big if), then it comes down to a matter of personal preference. I can tell you I sought (and bought) an '89 J200 based on this legend or hype and I am very happy with it. Granted I didn't have the luxury of going onto a room full of them to compare, but I have since played other J200s and prefer mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 The "vintage" reference is kinda odd but I do know the best Bozeman-made J-200 I have played to this day is one of the first they made (not sure if it was made in 1988 or 1989). Unfortunately, there are a bunch of people on the waiting list should the owner ever decide to sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 No pardon needed. In the 70s Gibson had a large supply of European Maple' date=' sometimes called Sycamore. They used them on some acoustics, the MK53, maybe others. When Kalamazoo closed, the wood was shipped to Nashville and used on some acoustics there as well. At some point early in the Bozeman era the maple was shipped there for use on the J200s (maybe others, standard disclaimer here). That wood has travelled a lot. Bozeman used the Euro Maple until it ran out, which was sometime in the early 90s. It is very plain, almost no figure at all, but I've been told it is slightly softer, very consistent in hardness, density, and just a nice wood to work with. When they ran out, they went to Eastern Maple, which often has much more figure (standard disclaimer again). One person, who has been with Bozeman since 1988, told me he didn't believe there was any tone difference between the two types of maple. I certainly can't refute that, but there are those out there who say the tone of the early Bozemans with Euro Maple have a nicer tone, softer and not as brassy. If true (big if), then it comes down to a matter of personal preference. I can tell you I sought (and bought) an '89 J200 based on this legend or hype and I am very happy with it. Granted I didn't have the luxury of going onto a room full of them to compare, but I have since played other J200s and prefer mine. [/quote'] It's a cool story I hadn't heard, and gives your guitar a certain mojo too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Thanks for catching me up. That is a pretty interesting thought about the Euro Maple. That is one of the things I like about the guitar market. I love all the different aspects that make a guitar more or less valuable or resonant. They could just be superstition but I find myself typically falling for the hype. I will try to find one of these euro maple 200s to try out. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanfender Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I own one of the fabled Euro Maple J-200s from 1990. I have played about 25 different J-200s and this one is the best tone I have found. The Euro Maple produces a mellow full bodied tone with tons of volume. It just a tremendous guitar in every respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted July 13, 2010 Author Share Posted July 13, 2010 i see what KSD was talking about with reference to the figuring being more subtle. is it actually a little darker, more beige? a friend in town here has an '89 - the first bozeman 'vintage'. this guitar has tonnes of volume and is very well balanced - no brassiness whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanfender Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 i see what KSD was talking about with reference to the figuring being more subtle. is it actually a little darker' date=' more beige? a friend in town here has an '89 - the first bozeman 'vintage'. this guitar has tonnes of volume and is very well balanced - no brassiness whatsoever.[/quote'] Yeah, it might be a little darker but I think most of the color tone is from the finish aging over time. I think the last picture is a little darker than it really is due to light in the room. The other pictures are more color correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Fine looking 200, regardless of what wood it's made of. Something about a black Gibson just works visually. Other brands in black are, well, just other balck guitars............a Gibson in black is a glorious thing to behold! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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