SJ-200 True Vintage, built in pickup?

[siggy14]

OK so my wife purchased on Saturday a gibson SJ-200 True vintage from Guitar center, they say it is new even though the guitar was made in December of 2006. We got the guitar for $2400 with case and it looks mint, sounds great and looks unplayed.

 

However, here is my problem, I noticed there is wiring inside the guitar and a battery capartment and pretty sure the strap butten on the bottem will take a cord, looks like any other that plugs in that way, however I can not find any information if these guitars came stock with a built in pickup, can anyone give me a hand?

 

Thanks,

 

Todd

[J-200 Koa]

All of the True Vintage Gibsons I have seen were without

pickups. It's my understanding that the whole "True

Vintage" thing was to replicate the models just as they

were originally built "back in the day". Since there

were no pickups "back in the day", the True Vintage models

did not have them.

 

If it has the brown case with pink interior and does

not have a compensated saddle, you probably have a TV.

Otherwise, it sounds like a Modern Classic.

 

If you can post a picture it would help.

[Riverside]

I went looking for an SJ-200 the other day...

 

Best Buy had a beater for @ $2600 - and quite a few nicks and gouges. That model seems to have a street price around 2999...

 

The True Vintage seems to be closer to 4/5k.

 

It was a great guitar, though, and if they'd have discounted it more for the nicks, I might have bought it.

 

For your reference:

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-SJ200-Studio-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=580328

 

vs

 

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-SJ200-True-Vintage-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=513686

[siggy14]

Thanks for the info so far guys, only thing is I thought the Modern Classics did not start till 2008, this guitar when I plug in the S/N to gibson dater shows it as a 2006 model, so that is where I am confused.

 

S/N 03426013

[siggy14]

OK, more info

The case they gave me comes from a 2010 SJ-200 Standard, the guy couldnt find the original case so he just gave me that one

 

Also it seems the modern classic has the grover romantics, however this one does not have the grovers.

[guitarstrummer]

Pretty sure it's not a True Vintage. Although they weren't called "Modern Classics" in 2006, they did have other standard models and that's probably what you have. They only changed the name to Modern Classic later on.

 

I would make sure that they didn't charge you for the True Vintage price, as there would be quite a difference. The True Vintage models do not have electrics.

[siggy14]

We got it on clearence for $2400, how much did the modern classics go for compared to the True Vintages?

 

Pretty sure it's not a True Vintage. Although they weren't called "Modern Classics" in 2006, they did have other standard models and that's probably what you have. They only changed the name to Modern Classic later on.

 

I would make sure that they didn't charge you for the True Vintage price, as there would be quite a difference. The True Vintage models do not have electrics.

[guitarstrummer]

Prices will vary from dealer to dealer, but generally, a standard model should run in the mid to high $2,000's. A TV will be about a thousand more. Also, the dealer's cost on a TV is quite a bit more than what you paid for yours.

 

Another note, I believe the TV models came with orange labels back then. What color is yours?

[siggy14]

Orange Label, so I guess it is a Modern classic it appears.

 

Prices will vary from dealer to dealer, but generally, a standard model should run in the mid to high $2,000's. A TV will be about a thousand more. Also, the dealer's cost on a TV is quite a bit more than what you paid for yours.

 

Another note, I believe the TV models came with orange labels back then. What color is yours?

[siggy14]

Orange Label, so I guess it is a Modern classic before it was called that? it appears.

 

Prices will vary from dealer to dealer, but generally, a standard model should run in the mid to high $2,000's. A TV will be about a thousand more. Also, the dealer's cost on a TV is quite a bit more than what you paid for yours.

 

Another note, I believe the TV models came with orange labels back then. What color is yours?

[J-200 Koa]

One other thing that might help: the first batch

of True Vintage SJ-200s had the reddish pickguard

with the larger flowers and no pinstripe around the

perimeter. Like the older J-200s rather than the

SJ-200s. The later VOS True Vintage guitars went

to the SJ-200 style pickguard with the pinstripe.

Confused yet?

[BigKahune]

Call Gibson C/S with the serial #, they should be able to tell you what you've got.

 

Sounds like a what amounts to a "Standard" - which went by a few different monikers in the last decade, including "Modern Classic". Not a TV.

 

The price you were given sounds like that for a discounted (NOS) "Standard".

[rar]

Thanks for the info so far guys, only thing is I thought the Modern Classics did not start till 2008, this guitar when I plug in the S/N to gibson dater shows it as a 2006 model, so that is where I am confused.

 

The "True Vintage/Modern Classic" distinction was introduced in 2007. Yours is a 2006, so it is, by definition, neither. It's simply a J-200, with no further qualifier. You might also say that it is a "regular production J-200", to make it clear that it is neither a custom nor part of a limited run with special features (the only other possibilities in 2006).

 

GC is notorious for their case shenanigans, but the case you got with it -- the standard blue lined arched top/flat back hard case -- is essentially the same as the original.

 

-- Bob R

[larryp58]

Another thing to look for is the serial number. Most TV models did not have the Serial number stamped on the back of the headstock with "Made In The USA" underneath. The serial number is stamped on the neckblock inside the sound-hole. But as previously posted, anything goes with Gibson. I do agree that the TV line of guitars did not have electronics.

[siggy14]

OK so per Gibson it is a modern classic, here is the email I received from them, I remember the guy telling me at guitar center that it was a special model. With that being said how much where the modern Classics MSRP and what was the average street price they sold for?

 

 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for the email. The serial number is consistent with a SJ-200 Modern Classic model in Antique Natural finish, made on the 342nd day of 2006 in Bozeman, MT. Thanks again!

 

 

 

Gibson Customer Service

1-800-4GIBSON

www.gibson.com

[J-200 Koa]

The price you paid is in the normal range for

a Modern Classic from an authorized dealer.

$2300. would have been a great deal, $2700. would

have been on the upper end in 2006. It all depends

on which dealer sold the guitar. Guitarstrummer

probably has a better gauge on this.

[guitarstrummer]

The price you paid is an OK price for that model, IMO. You have what's known as new/old stock. But even though it was made in 2006, a dealer probably isn't going to sell it to you for the price it sold for in 2006. They will usually use the current price list.

 

Something I would be concerned about and I'm guessing you've already checked on this is the condition of the guitar. If it was made in 2006, that means it had to be sitting in a store or warehouse somewhere since that time. Many places don't take very good care of their stock and they sometimes tend to be dried out or have other damage. GC has been known for this. However on the positive side, GC wasn't an authorized Gibson dealer in 2006 so your guitar probably came from another dealer who had trouble moving it. So, perhaps that dealer took better care of it than GC would have.

[siggy14]

Thanks, guitat is in great shape, sounds and plays great. The guy at our GC in the accoustic sections is really good, he can be a bit of a prick but he is a middle aged man that knows accoustics. The GC is also big with a nice big accoustic room that is kept with proper humidity so I am not too worried about it being dry and I dont see any signs of it being dried out. Anything particular I should look at?

 

What was the final price these things where selling for before they were discontinued? They had a price tag on it that said $3299.

 

The price you paid is an OK price for that model, IMO. You have what's known as new/old stock. But even though it was made in 2006, a dealer probably isn't going to sell it to you for the price it sold for in 2006. They will usually use the current price list.

 

Something I would be concerned about and I'm guessing you've already checked on this is the condition of the guitar. If it was made in 2006, that means it had to be sitting in a store or warehouse somewhere since that time. Many places don't take very good care of their stock and they sometimes tend to be dried out or have other damage. GC has been known for this. However on the positive side, GC wasn't an authorized Gibson dealer in 2006 so your guitar probably came from another dealer who had trouble moving it. So, perhaps that dealer took better care of it than GC would have.

[J-200 Koa]

$3299. is the 2011 catalog price.

[guitarstrummer]

Gibson acoustics should have a slight buldge in the lower bout. If it doesn't, it usually means it's on the dry side. You can check it by laying a ruler on it's side, just below the bridge. When doing so, the ruler should not touch the side edges of the guitar. If it does, it usually means it's too dry.

 

They may have had another price increase. Most on-line dealers are now advertising the SJ200 Standard at $4925 MSRP and $3799 MAP. You should usually be able to purchase it from a Gibson dealer for around 40% (or more) off the MSRP, so you can do the math. If I were buying it, I would also ask for a discount since it was made in 2006. So, you got it for a fair price, IMO.

 

Here's a link to one on-line listing.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-SJ200-Standard-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=580329

[siggy14]

So basically you are saying put the ruler below the bridge on its side, if it teeters it has the buldge, but if it is flat then it is dry? Also if it is dry will humidifieing it bring it back to normal, or is the damage permenant?

 

Gibson acoustics should have a slight buldge in the lower bout. If it doesn't, it usually means it's on the dry side. You can check it by laying a ruler on it's side, just below the bridge. When doing so, the ruler should not touch the side edges of the guitar. If it does, it usually means it's too dry.

 

They may have had another price increase. Most on-line dealers are now advertising the SJ200 Standard at $4925 MSRP and $3799 MAP. You should usually be able to purchase it from a Gibson dealer for around 40% (or more) off the MSRP, so you can do the math. If I were buying it, I would also ask for a discount since it was made in 2006. So, you got it for a fair price, IMO.

 

Here's a link to one on-line listing.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gibson-SJ200-Standard-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=580329

[guitarstrummer]

That's correct. Humidifying it should bring it back to normal if it is dry. Depending on how dry it is, it could take a while, though.

[siggy14]

Thanks for all the help, one more quick question, do you know what gauge strings gibson ships their accoustics with? I am mostly an Les Paul Player so I only have 10's sitting around. I am thinking gibson uses 12's on their accoustics and would like to keep it to factory spec's when changing strings.

 

Thanks,

 

Todd

 

That's correct. Humidifying it should bring it back to normal if it is dry. Depending on how dry it is, it could take a while, though.

[guitarstrummer]

Gibson ships them out from the factory with lights, however your SJ200 will handle mediums with no problem and will probably sound better with mediums. The only reasons they ship everything with lights is to keep consistent and also because it's usually easier to play with lights than with mediums. So, when the guitars arrive at the dealers, potential customers will have an easier time playing them if they have lights. If they were to ship them with mediums and a customer is used to playing with lights, they might pick up the guitar to play it at a dealer's location and find it harder to play and may not be inclined to purchase it because it's "too hard to play".

[siggy14]

When you say light, do you mean 10 Gauge or 12 Gauge? I was just going to order some elixir's and their lights are 12 Gauge, where for electric light is 10 Gauge.

 

Gibson ships them out from the factory with lights, however your SJ200 will handle mediums with no problem and will probably sound better with mediums. The only reasons they ship everything with lights is to keep consistent and also because it's usually easier to play with lights than with mediums. So, when the guitars arrive at the dealers, potential customers will have an easier time playing them if they have lights. If they were to ship them with mediums and a customer is used to playing with lights, they might pick up the guitar to play it at a dealer's location and find it harder to play and may not be inclined to purchase it because it's "too hard to play".