Clayfingers Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi there, Is it just me, or are second hand AJ's going cheap at the moment? Some on the bay are going for less than $1,500, which seems like a steal for a whole lot of guitar. They seem to be cheaper than a lot of what I would see as similar standard guitars - MC's etc. What do you people reckon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 It's been that way for a while now. I end up selling mind about $150 under what I felt it should have gone for. Doesnt seem to have a market niche, like the D28 (even though its a good bluegrass guitar, the J200 (even though its a good strummer) or an L00 (even though you can play blues on it). Maybe folks cant warm up to the inlays. In any case, the factory run Gibson made in the 00s seems to have saturated the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayfingers Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 I hear you rambler, I was thinking of selling mine, but there are so many out there going under what I reckon its worth. I'm lucky enough to be in a position to hold onto it for a while and see if it picks up. I have also thought as a discontinued line, maybe there's dealer discounts driving down the price. They are a good all round guitar, I got mine back yesterday from a shop where it was on consignment, put a new set of strings on it, and fell for it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I just bought a 2007 AJ Supreme (adi top with madagascar B/S) and it wonderful instrument! It is quite remarkable that a version of this great guitar is not currently being produced by Gibson. My guess is that the AJ does not have the same status as J-45s / J-200s / D-28s have in the market. If i'm not mistaken only about 300 AJs were produced in the 30's before Gibson started reissuing them in the 90's. The original AJ have earned iconic status as one of the best Gibson flattops ever produced. However, this is only among guitar weenies and collectors; the general guitar buying public are proably not aware of this pedigree which has influenced demand for the reissues. Sometimes it is just not enough to produce a great guitar... Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Yeah, I was looking at an AJ sometime back but the inlays were a deal breaker for me. Just can't associate them with Gibson. I know its all about the tone, but ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 It is quite remarkable that a version of this great guitar is not currently being produced by Gibson. Did you mean the AJ Supreme (which was just a name made up for a limited edition in Adi over Madi) specifically, or the AJ in general? Gibson is no longer building with Madagascar rosewood, so there won't be any more "AJ Supremes". But they're still building plenty of AJs. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayfingers Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Bob R, I don't think they are making them any more - except the Randy Scruggs sig(I think that's who it is?), which is the only one listed on their website. Does anyone know for sure? Clayfingers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 My Maple AJ may be favorite guitar right now...light as a feather, and a boomer! And I got it for a steal at the GC of all places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I don't think they are making them any more ... . The website just lists "production models", but 1/3 of the guitars built in Bozeman aren't standard production models. The regular AJ is currently a Five Star Dealer exclusive -- could be worse: it was a GC-family exclusive a few years ago -- but lots of big dealers have custom AJs of various descriptions. Generally speaking, Bozeman will happily build you one of any model they've ever built (subject to availability of materials). There's no such thing as "they aren't making them any more" with Gibson. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I wasn't thinking about the AJ Supreme in particular, but more of a "normal" version of the AJ. Although, AJs do seem to be available as dealer specials, I still think it's a pitty it is not a standard production model and listed on the website. The AJ is an iconic Gibson guitar, although maybe best know by guitar freaks, that deserves some more attention. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 You know, when markets are slow, it may be better to trade rather than sell, trading equally or trade plus cash, rather than sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 My Maple AJ may be favorite guitar right now...light as a feather, and a boomer! And I got it for a steal at the GC of all places. Your maple AJ, short scale or standard ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Your maple AJ, short scale or standard ? Standard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotTheSilver Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 As others have mentioned, I believe the AJ is still being produced, it is just not shown on the Gibson website. Gibson makes plenty of guitars that are not shown on their website. I have noticed there always seems to be quite a few on eBay, though. I got mine a couple of years ago when GC was blowing them out for $1600 brand new! Plus I had a $50 off coupon! They had 3 to choose from, one of which the guy brought out from the back and opened the box in front of me. I picked the best sounding one of the bunch and got a great guitar for $1550! They are now priced at about $2500 brand new at GC. And I love the inlays!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Your maple AJ, short scale or standard ? Just FYI, there are AFAIK only something like three short-scale AJs in maple. The short-scales were a one-time special order by Brasswind and Woodwind (a/k/a guitarsale.com). They called Gibson and asked if they could get an assortment of "short-scale AJs" in rosewood, mahogany, maple, koa, and whatever else they could think of. After a brief delay to recover from the shock, the answer came back "Okay, why not?" Bozeman's been building real (i.e., long-scale) AJs in maple as customs almost as long as they've been building AJs, and has done the occasional limited run in maple -- including some real beauties in birdseye a few years ago -- as well. I don't know what the total is, but they're not that rare. The number of long-scale maple AJs dwarfs the number of short-scales. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vourot Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I was smitten right from the start. I LIKE the inlays, I really think they make the AJ its own. Hey, I like J-45's to0 but IMO there is no contest when it comes to volume. I like that I can go from a whisper to room filling in a second. I think they are great value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Just FYI, there are AFAIK only something like three short-scale AJs in maple. The short-scales were a one-time special order by Brasswind and Woodwind (a/k/a guitarsale.com). They called Gibson and asked if they could get an assortment of "short-scale AJs" in rosewood, mahogany, maple, koa, and whatever else they could think of. After a brief delay to recover from the shock, the answer came back "Okay, why not?" Bozeman's been building real (i.e., long-scale) AJs in maple as customs almost as long as they've been building AJs, and has done the occasional limited run in maple -- including some real beauties in birdseye a few years ago -- as well. I don't know what the total is, but they're not that rare. The number of long-scale maple AJs dwarfs the number of short-scales. -- Bob R This one at Elderly is from the same run as mine and looks exactly the same. http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-13001.htm Assuming it is like mine, the person who has it on hold will be getting a lot more than $1750 worth of sound and playability. These guitars are wonderful..and did I mention that it is as lightweight as my '46 J-45?...maple is of course lighter than mahog...but still, this thing surprises everyone that picks it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espasonico Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 This one at Elderly is from the same run as mine and looks exactly the same. http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-13001.htm Assuming it is like mine, the person who has it on hold will be getting a lot more than $1750 worth of sound and playability. These guitars are wonderful..and did I mention that it is as lightweight as my '46 J-45?...maple is of course lighter than mahog...but still, this thing surprises everyone that picks it up. I bought one Rosewood AJ at Elderly on wednesday. It should arrive on friday ! It was difficult to find one in stock in Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nid2007 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 I bought one Rosewood AJ at Elderly on wednesday. It should arrive on friday ! It was difficult to find one in stock in Europe Congrats and enjoy. It will surely be great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcorner Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Hi there, Is it just me, or are second hand AJ's going cheap at the moment? Some on the bay are going for less than $1,500, which seems like a steal for a whole lot of guitar. They seem to be cheaper than a lot of what I would see as similar standard guitars - MC's etc. What do you people reckon? Everyone I know who has purchased an AJ - new or used - has sold it within three years. My view on why I gave mine up is that it was a terrible guitar to sing with because it barks rather than sings, and it was not as good a flat picking machine as it was intended to be because the low mass bridge and thin neck didn't help sustain. Short, loud front end on the notes, rapid decay. People have a hard time describing why they sell an AJ, but one thing is certain -- they almost always end up going on the block. I know there are exceptions -- people who love the AJ and won't play anything else. Mark Knopfler has an original one he plays a lot, and good for him, but he also barks more than sings. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Just FYI, there are AFAIK only something like three short-scale AJs in maple. The short-scales were a one-time special order by Brasswind and Woodwind (a/k/a guitarsale.com). They called Gibson and asked if they could get an assortment of "short-scale AJs" in rosewood, mahogany, maple, koa, and whatever else they could think of. After a brief delay to recover from the shock, the answer came back "Okay, why not?" Bozeman's been building real (i.e., long-scale) AJs in maple as customs almost as long as they've been building AJs, and has done the occasional limited run in maple -- including some real beauties in birdseye a few years ago -- as well. I don't know what the total is, but they're not that rare. The number of long-scale maple AJs dwarfs the number of short-scales. -- Bob R Bob--must have hit G/S at exactly the right time, because I was able to play a maple and koa side by side. similar sounds, clear, even, sweet tones, the koa being a little thicker sound but not by much. That sweetness appealed to me, but the more I think about it, I'm inclined to gravitate to something with a little more ring to it. The killer guitars in the room that day (to this ear) were the J45L and an OJ, which whupped (imho) 45 and Sj TVs. Biggest disappoint that day? A J185 historic. Just didnt ring my bell. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Everyone I know who has purchased an AJ has sold it within three years. . terrible guitar to sing with because it barks and not as good a flat picking machine as it was intended Good call and pretty much what I was trying to say earlier. I do think the bark factor is huge--singers want ring and bluegrassers want boom. Bark, huh? Is it the P90 pickup sound of acoustic guitar-dom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Good call and pretty much what I was trying to say earlier. I do think the bark factor is huge--singers want ring and bluegrassers want boom. Bark, huh? Is it the P90 pickup sound of acoustic guitar-dom? I think that's a pretty fair way to categorize part of the AJ's tonal character. Since I'm neither a singer, nor a bluegrasser, I was somewhat taken with the unique voice of the AJ. I do like the fact that in general, most of the AJs that I've played have been fairly balanced. I typically prefer mahogany bodied guitars, but I find that the AJ works pretty well for roots-infuenced fingerpicking. Probably largely due to the balanced presentation, lack of excessive overtones and yes, the "bark factor". The AJ I found actually has fairly beefy neck profile and a 1 3/4" nut making it very comfortable to play. This topic makes me think of people who use the term "tone canon" to describe a guitar. I don't get that, I've never considered tone and volume to be related. My guess is that a lot of people get sucked in by the canon (volume) aspect of the guitar while overlooking the instruments actual tone. It's an unique guitar — I can definitely understand why it might not work for a lot of people. As far as market values go, who knows? It hasn't exactly been the best of times to be selling guitars. All the best, Guth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayfingers Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 I started this topic because I was looking to sell mine, but couldn't. I took it home from the shop it was on consignment in and played it for the first time in months,and loved it. But I think in the 2 weeks I've had it back I'm losing my feel for it. I think that bark knocks my socks off if I haven't played it for a while - loud and agressive - but after a while I just want the more sedate ride with my Roy Smeck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 If you are in a position such that you don't have to sell for financial reasons, then hang on to the guitar until the overall market improves. You might find that the contrast it provides proves to be enjoyable for limited playtime. That's not to say that you should hang on to it long term, but you might find a way to enjoy some aspects of the guitar until the market improves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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