cyWong Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Hello All, My name is Wong, I am from Hong Kong. I'm new member here & I want to say Hello to you all. You guys are guitar experts and I earned so much guitar knowledge here, so, Thank You Very Much! I am a proud owner of a J45RW MC & it's sweet! Recently, I played a 2003 Luthier's Choice AJ (serial number: 00293042) in a local guitar shop. It's a used one & Wow, I love it just when I played the first G chord, I wanna take it home but I don't know much about this guitar & of course, it's pricy (about 6900 US). I can't find any informations of this model on Gibson's website, therefore, much appreciated if you guys Gibson lovers can tell me the detail specifications of this model. And what is the used price you suggested? Thank you so much for all your help! Best regards, Wong
Stubee Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Some links: My link My link My link There are other discussions from this forum and elsewhere. I do not have that special model but have a regular edition Gibson AJ reissue--Indian RW back/sides--that is a tremendous guitar. That said, guitars vary so one AJRI may not be as good to you as another. If you do a web search for "Gibson Advanced Jumbo Guitar" you'll also find history on the model, etc. In a nutshell: Gibson made the original ones c. 1936-1939 or so. It was their top line flattop. I've played two of the vintage ones and they were incredible and that's what set me on the hunt for a good example reissue. They started the reissues in the early '90s. I've played a number of those and mine is great, about as good as a guitar can be IMO and I've owned more than a few. The Luthier's Choice was a reissue with Madagascar RW etc. I don't know prices in HK but if you loved the guitar, it is perhaps a very nice one. Have fun!
rar Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Recently, I played a 2003 Luthier's Choice AJ (serial number: 00293042) in a local guitar shop. It's a used one & Wow, I love it just when I played the first G chord, I wanna take it home but I don't know much about this guitar & of course, it's pricy (about 6900 US). An early-2003 Luthier's Choice AJ would likely be made from Brazilian rosewood, which is regarded by most people as tonally superior, in general, to the Indian rosewood used on standard AJs. (Gibson was also building "tri-rosewood" AJs around that time -- Brazilian bridge, Madigascar fingerboard, and Indian sides and back -- around that time, but I believe the label on those said "Brazilian Rosewood bridge" rather than "Luthier's Choice".) Gibson stopped using Brazilian rosewood in mid-2003, for environmental reasons. There are very few of these guitars out there, and many -- including Gibson's Master Luthier, Ren Ferguson -- think the best of them are among the very best guitars that Gibson has ever built. They are generally a little nicer than than standard production AJs of the time, with a full 1-3/4" wide neck, bone nut, bone saddle, bone bridge pins, and Waverly tuners. Truly great guitars with a list price between about $7800 and $9000. (Seems like the better ones were higher priced, in my experience, but I'm not really sure why the list price varied so much.) -- Bob R
rar Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Gibson made the original ones c. 1936-1939 or so. It was their top line flattop. Not even close. The Super Jumbo 200 was the top of the line -- it cost well over twice as much. -- Bob R
cyWong Posted February 28, 2011 Author Posted February 28, 2011 Thank you for quick response and the informations. And what about the guitar top? Adirondack or Sitka? Or it varies from one to the others (even the same model name)? Thanks
rar Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Adirondack or Sitka? Or it varies from one to the others (even the same model name)? Adirondack. -- Bob R
cyWong Posted February 28, 2011 Author Posted February 28, 2011 Hi, Bob, You are so helpful, Thank You Very Much! Wong
Stubee Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 Not even close. The Super Jumbo 200 was the top of the line -- it cost well over twice as much. I was close enough. Gibson introduced the AJ in '36, it was their top dreadnaught and was priced at $80, I think. The higher priced SJ-100 and SJ-200 were introduced a couple of years later c. 1938 when the AJ was about done as a model. Those super jumbos then became their 'top of the line' flattops. I'm probably boring the OP w. these details.
rar Posted February 28, 2011 Posted February 28, 2011 I was close enough. You're absolutely right that it was the top of the line flat-top for part of the period you quoted. -- Bob R
tpbiii Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 The original AJs were made from red spruce and East Indian RW. Apparently a supply of EIRW was available to Gibson from about 1934 up until WWII. The situations was confused by Gibson's own ads from the 1930s which talked about wood from Brazil, but not about rosewood. Examples have now been tested, and it is EIRW for sure. Of course, this has nothing to do with modern AJs. Let's pick, -Tom
cyWong Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 Hi, Tom, Stubee & Bob, You guys are also so kind to a newbie like me, thanks for teaching me about the AJ. In fact, yesterday I also sent an email to service.gibson to asked about this guitar, and got reply that based on the s/n (00293042) they can't find any information. I just don't get it! If you guys have time, you may visit the site of this local shop http://www.guitarsofa.com/pro.asp?id=1480, to see if this is a true or fake Gibson (I believe it is true). Thank you so much again! Wong
rar Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 The original AJs were made from red spruce and East Indian RW. ... Most of the original AJs were Indian, but Gary Burnett's '35 prototype -- the one Ren used as the basis for the modern repros, because it was thought to be the best, not just of Gary's extensive collection, but of the bunch Ren had access to -- is Brazilian, as are (purportedly) a few of the early production guitars. There's also the matter of the bridge. All the original '30s AJs have Brazilian bridges and fretboards; just the back and sides were Indian. The early '90s AJs production models started off as 100%-Indian, but Gary thought that use of an Indian bridge hurt the tone, did a bridge swap on one of his, and judged the result to be a major improvement. Gary told Ren of the experiment and the results, Ren checked for himself, and agreed. So production AJs came with Brazilian bridges from about '92 through Henry's ban on the use of Brazilian in '03. -- Bob R
Rambler Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Wong--looking beyond the specs, let's talk Tone. Your J45 RW (24.75 scale) is going to be sweeter/smoother, more blend to the notes, like a choir. Your average AJ (25.5 scale) barks. Individual strings stand out more, not blend so much (like soloist singers fighting for space). Kind of like a RW board Start vs a Telecaster. Which is fine if that works for you. Didnt for me, when I had one. Cheers, Rambler
Stubee Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 If you guys have time, you may visit the site of this local shop I tried the website but couldn't get the pictures to open. Would suggest you call Gibson and describe what you are looking at with all the information, and perhaps ask the shop to also call Gibson and confirm it's 'real'. It does look like an AJ reissue. I think Rambler has described the AJ tonal character: it is a powerful guitar with a lot of string separation, when required, if it's a good one. I like that but can see that some might not. I've played Gibson dreadnaughts for many, many years--still have a '52 J-45--and my AJRI captures what I wanted in a Gibson plus some. It does have great 'cutting' ability and while the tonal note separation is more than in, for example, my J-45 or other short-scale Gibsons I've had, it is still warm when played to get that out of it. I find mine has great dynamics--e.g. you can very tone a lot by picking close to the bridge or nearer the fretboard--plus is vary sensitive to attack. To be honest though: guitar choice is pure & simple an individual thing. I've played my guitar on for various people, in jams, solo stuff, weddings, small stage performances and have had a number of comments on it, including other guitarists coming up after and asking 'what is that guitar'? So I'm very lucky in that I have a good example + know it well enough to make it sound the way I want. Gotta add here that I really like J-45s and a bunch of other guitars... But enough on that. You played that guitar and liked it. If you are really interested, I'd check it out some more via playing it a lot if you can, and if it's from a reputable shop & you can assure yourself it's what you want, go from there.
BigKahune Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Here's the blow up guys - Man, that back RW grain is beautiful.
Stubee Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Elderly AJ Link Here's one Elderly had. The 'custom' truss rod cover is odd but easy to change. I've played 'luthier's choice' guitars but it's been awhile so can't say the interior label is right. I'd continue to check it out as I mentioned earlier. Good luck.
modoc_333 Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 what about the bridge? an option? definitely not a normal AJ bridge.
rar Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 what about the bridge? an option? definitely not a normal AJ bridge. I think it is. That's just a shadow on the soundhole side. -- Bob R
rar Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 ... it's been awhile so can't say the interior label is right. It's right, although I've never seen one glued down that aggressively. -- Bob R
brians356 Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 I would have someone at Gibson look at the pics. I once had an e-mail exchange with a chap named Bob Burns at Gibson, who looked at some pics of a "Super 400" guitar a local person had for sale. It turned out to be a fake, probably made in China, but it was a very poor fake and pretty obvious. This "AJ" looks very nice indeed. Another way to find out if it's fake: Offer the store, say, $3K USD for the guitar, and see if they snap it up. If they do, change the offer to $1K and watch the tap dance. The fact that Gibson can't track the S/N is troubling. Brian
rar Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 So, that means it's a real Gibson? It's either real or quite a good fake. If you're nervous about it, I would recommend that you invest a little more effort in checking out the serial number. First, make sure that the number on the label matches the number impressed on the headstock. Second, if you called Gibson Customer Service in Nashville before, try calling Bozeman (406-556-2100) to have someone check it out as best they can. -- Bob R
BigKahune Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 It's either real or quite a good fake. If you're nervous about it, I would recommend that you invest a little more effort in checking out the serial number. First, make sure that the number on the label matches the number impressed on the headstock. Second, if you called Gibson Customer Service in Nashville before, try calling Bozeman (406-556-2100) to have someone check it out as best they can. -- Bob R +1 My concern is the absence of a serial track at Gibson, coupled with that label not looking "crisp", especially the Gibson logo on the label.
brians356 Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 BigKahune, It's funny, isn't it? You'd think the label would be the easiest part to counterfeit today, wouldn't you? Yet I agree, that label definitely looks suspicious. Bottom line: If Gibson cannot find the serial number for a guitar that valuable, and relatively new, in their database, something's fishy in Den..., er, China. It's possible the wrong person at Gibson did the search. Brian
brians356 Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Is it me, or is that HK web site screwed up? I can't navigate at all.
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