Gibson J 160

[BeatleBob]

I plan on buying a Gibson J 160, however, I don't want the P100 stacked pickup.

Do I buy a Gibson P90 neck or P90 lead pickup - and is this the same as what was originally used by the Beatles?

Meaning, am I going to get the same Beatlesque tones?

 

thanks

Rob

 

Epiphone Casino Elitist VS

Epiphone EJ200

Epiphone EJ160E

Fender Japan Rosewood Telecaster

Gibson LP Jr

Gretsch Country Classic

Ibanez AE0NE Grand Concert Classical guitar

[Buc McMaster]

.....am I going to get the same Beatlesque tones?

 

Well' date=' the J160E is the guitar they used on a lot of tracks, with the original single coil pickup, but getting the same tones depends on too many things outside of the guitar to say. You should get a reasonable representation, but every player attacks an instrument in a different manner. And you have to remember your mental picture of these tones is that of a studio recorded guitar, with George Martin at the board, captured by who knows what kind of microphone. Lots of variables, huh. Don't get the cart before the horse: make sure the J160E is [i']right[/i] as an instrument, then look to reproducing the tones.

[BeatleBob]

Essentially I want a P90 in it rather than a P100 - I understand about mic set up and recording nuances.

I just don't know whether or not is should be a P90 neck or P90 lead?

 

thanks

Rob

[pohatu771]

I'm not sure that there was a difference at the time the original guitars were produced. I'm guessing, though, that a neck pickup would match the string spacing at the neck position better.

 

You'll need to measure pole spacing on the P-100 and compare it.

[Buc McMaster]

The John Lennon J160E Peace from Gibson has the P90 pickup in it. And it's the only 160 listed as current production.

[BeatleBob]

there is a Gibson J 160 standard

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-J160E-Standard-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=517028

 

AND the price just went up $200 from only a couple of months ago!!!

[Buc McMaster]

there is a Gibson J 160 standard.....

 

.....with a P100 stacked humbucker pickup. And that model is no longer listed on the Gibson Acoustic site as current production.

[BeatleBob]

thus my inquiry about putting a Gibson P90 to change out the P100.

i mention this in my posts....

 

i will get a Gibson P90 neck position for this current model and hope for the best!

 

thanks

for all the advice?

[rar]

i will get a Gibson P90 neck position for this current model and hope for the best!

 

You won't get close to the sound you want with the J-160E Standard, and the pickup is the least of your problems. This model has a solid top and is X-braced; the Beatles' J-160Es had laminate tops and were ladder-braced. This makes a huge difference, even plugged in. If you can't find a ladder-braced J-160E at a large dealer (such as Fuller's), get a quote on one. Whether it's "in production" or not doesn't affect the price, and a lot dealers' prices are better than MF anyway, so this may save you some money as well as get you the guitar you actually want.

 

-- Bob R

[Red 333]

.....with a P100 stacked humbucker pickup. And that model is no longer listed on the Gibson Acoustic site as current production.

 

 

The J160E Standard is equipped with a P90 now, and has been for a few years. When in was first released, it did have a P100, but Gibson reverted back to the original pickup in subsequent years. Of course, it is entirely possible that Gibson has changed spec yet again and brought back the P100, but I don't THINK so at this point in time. I'm fairly certain that if you buy a new J160E Standard, you'll get a P90.

 

Even with the P90, the J160E Standard is a different guitar than the original spec models, like the J160E Peace.

 

The Standard is a modern interpretation of the original J160E, and is built to be a better acoustic guitar than its historical predecessor.

 

The original J160E (and the original spec reissues, like the Peace) is an electric guitars in acoustic guitar clothing. It has a thick laminated top and ladder bracing so that it's feedback resistant when amplified. This gives it the limited response and dead quality its reknown for when miced or played acousticly.

 

The J160E Standard, by contrast, was designed to be a "better" acoustic guitar. It has a solid top and x bracing. Due to the poition of the bridge and the style of x bracing, it still has a very dry and percussive acoustic quality, but it is more dynamic, has more overtones, and is recognizably more "acoustic" than a laminated top/ladder braced model.

 

I believe the J160E Standard was voiced to deliberatly ape the sound of a ladder-braced/laminated top J160E that was close-miced, like you'd hear on a Beatles record. It is close, but it's an even richer sound. You could fiddle with the EQ and mic placement and get that sound pretty easily if you're recording with it. But, your friends are less likely to ask if your guitar is stuffed with old socks when you play to them unamplified, like they would if you had the ladder braced/laminated top model. They would however, tell you they've heard better... As a Beatles fan, you may love the unique sound, though.

 

The Standard easily approximates the sound of the original spec models when used as an electric. You'll party like its 1964.

 

If you can afford the Peace, and you already have a good acoustic, I'd say get it. you'll hear what the Beatles heard, plugged in and unplugged. The Standard is a good compromise, though, as its more versatile, but it may not scratch your itch for a really great acoustic, as its not meant to be one.

 

Red 333

[BeatleBob]

i know all about the ladder bracing and the x bracking and the plywood vs. spruce

 

and MF did raise the price $450 either because the KNOW they have the only ones on hand and Gibson is no longer making them OR Gibson said to retailers up the price?

 

i have done my homework on this guitar, just trying to complete it with the Pickups.

 

i realize that this guitar is NOT exactly made the same way the Beatles were, however, it is the ONLY game in town.

[rar]

i realize that this guitar is NOT exactly made the same way the Beatles were' date=' however, it is the ONLY game in town.[/quote']

 

No, it's not. "In production" doesn't really mean anything when dealing with Gibson acoustics. Guitars are built-to-order, one at a time, and they will happily build more of any guitar that has ever been a production model for any dealer who care to order them. If you want an X-braced, solid top J-160E, fine. If you don't, have a dealer order what you want.

 

-- Bob R

[BeatleBob]

I am not following you, as it stands, NO ONE has a current J 160 standard listed, except for MF and the price has been bumped up from $2249 a month ago to $2699 (regardless of reason)

 

so are you saying i can have MF or GC or West LA music, request a Gibson J 160 with a P90 and Ladder bracing?

 

or have i been strumming to loud and can't hear what you're saying......

[zombywoof]

Geez, at that price you could go find a refinished original like the mid-1960s J-160E at Dave's Guitars last year (it had been professionally refinished black)and still have money left over in your pocket

[rar]

so are you saying i can have MF or GC or West LA music' date=' request a Gibson J 160 with a P90 and Ladder bracing?

[/quote']

 

That's pretty much it. Special orders are not a big deal. About 1/3 of the guitars built in Bozeman are something other than current standard production models. Any dealer can order anything. Whether a big on-line dealer is willing to order something special for you (and give you a good price on it) is up to them: MF is basically in the business of selling you something already sitting in their warehouse, and I don't know whether they want to be bothered with one-off special orders. I would recommend going with a smaller dealer who does a lot of special orders for customers (which can also get you a significantly lower price than the MAP that the MF/GC/... conglomerate charges).

 

-- Bob

[Buc McMaster]

A Lennon J160E Peace model is exactly that. Ladder braced, P90.......like what you want.