100 v 150

[Wayne]

Hi all,

 

I'm trying to figure out the difference tween a J-100 and J-150. Help?

 

 

Wayne

[TWilson]

I looked at both of these before getting my SJ-200. Others will give you a more detailed or accurate answer, but in a nut shell, both are Super Jumbos, same size as the SJ-200. The SJ-100 has the least bling, the SJ-150 more bling and the SJ-200 the most bling. This is expressed in their costs. I'm not sure about the bracing but the 200 has a bound fretboard and headstock. Check them out at Fullers Vintage instruments.

[Wayne]

Thanks. Is there a site that explains all the Gibson terms and abbreviations? Cuz I have more stupid noobie questions that could get tiring quickly, like what does "XT" mean and why are some jumbos SJ and some not??

 

be patient with the Noobie please#-o

[TWilson]

Thanks. Is there a site that explains all the Gibson terms and abbreviations? Cuz I have more stupid noobie questions that could get tiring quickly' date=' like what does "XT" mean and why are some jumbos SJ and some not??

 

be patient with the Noobie please#-o [/quote']

Wayne-I was told that the XT was made out of mahogony instead of maple. They also make backs out of Bubinga. I don't think they make the XT anymore. I'm a bit hazy on that as well as other things, like where I parked my truck. The SJ's (super jumbos) are the largest of the Gibson herd. The Jumbos, like the J-45, J-50, J-85, hamve slightly smaller bodies than the SJ's. Get yourself an SJ-200 and forget about it!

Check this site out. On the left you'll see Super Jumbos, Jumbos, Round Shoulders. The AJ(Advanced Jumbo) is in there too and is an excellent guitar. A BOOMER if you will. Anyway, give 'em a look.

http://www.fullersguitar.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,1190/category_id,99/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,27/vmcchk,1/

[albertjohn]

Get yourself an SJ-200 and forget about it!

 

Yet more sound advice from TW. I love the bling descriptions BTW.

[Rosewoody]

Some 100s are maple, others Bubinga. Some 100s have the large "crown" board inlays, others have dots. The inlays I've seen on 100s are "pearloid," the inlays on the 150 and 200 are real pearl. The bridges differ, sometimes in shape; moustache versus more conventional is some 100s. As I remember, Bubinga bodied 100s have hog necks, the others laminated maple. Gold hardware versus nickel. Simpler binding on the 100 versus multi-ply on the others. As TWilson rightly says, it's a question of bling.

 

This is the Montana models; the older 100 is, I believe, a Rosewood body with a stepped headstock, simple and extremely expensive due to uncommoness.

 

I think "SJ" has been used to indicate "super" jumbo, as opposed to just jumbo. The SJ is the biggest Gibson and has a more pinched waist. Not sure what the "X" and "XT" designates. They are all real nice guitars.

[zombywoof]

Not sure about the 150 but the differences between the J-100 and J-200 are greater than just bling. The J-100 has singe X bracing. The J-200 has a unique double X bracing - not the dreaded Norlin varierty but a second X brace in under the end of the fingerboard above the soundhole.

 

I would love to see Gibson return to the wide angle triangular cut straight bracing on a J-200 with maple back and sides like in the 1950s.

[Rosewoody]

Another nice thing about the fifties J-200 is the backstripe is (at least sometimes) alternate green and black zipper; really striking.

[NevadaPic]

The J-150 is a good compromise between price and bling. I was fortunate enough to get a well broken in J-150 and its sound and playability never ceases to amaze me. Thanks again Rosewoody!

 

Pic

[TWilson]

Thanks Zomby and Rosewoody, I knew if I waded in on this question a couple lifeguards would dive in and save me! lol My '07 SJ-200 MC is supposedly patterned after the 50's SJ and I love the stripe on the back. It's black and sort of a tan color, maple I believe. Looks very nice against the 'burst. Love those Gibson Sunbursts!!!

[eltonwce]

I have a J-100 XT. 2003 . XT stands for extra. Mine is Maple with maple neck gold tuners. Crown inlays not mother of pearl. Compensated saddle . Mustache bridge. The year before mine had abalone rosette. Mine has regular rosette black , white. Newer J-100 is Bubinga with Mahogany neck. Earlier J-100's were Mahogany . J-100 almost half the cost of J-200. Great guitar.

[jefleppard]

here's a 100. bling must be extra.

http://elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-11779.htm

sorry, i know this has been posted before but honestly, this seems so ridiculous it makes me laugh every time.

[Wayne]

I've been confused (or maybe I still am) because of reference to the J-200, the J-100, etc. But if I'm not mistaken these are actually all "SJ-" models. It doesnt help that the J-45 etc isnt a Jumbo at all...but I think I'm getting clearer...

[zombywoof]

I've been confused (or maybe I still am) because of reference to the J-200' date=' the J-100, etc. But if I'm not mistaken these are actually all "SJ-" models. It doesnt help that the J-45 etc isnt a Jumbo at all...but I think I'm getting clearer...[/quote']

 

In the beginning Gibson used the SJ for Super Jumbo. In 1955, they shorted Sj-200 to J-200 - new name, same guitar. The SJ-100 was only around for a few years in the late 1930s and early 1940s was not in production when the name change took place.

 

The J-45 is also a Jumbo (J=Jumbo while the 45 referred to the original price). Ya got your square shouldered jumbos (like the Hummingbird) and round should jumbos (like the J-45).

 

Again, the 200 and 100 while sharing a similar body style are very different beasts. The J-200 has a bracing system that is found in only that model.

[TWilson]

The label in mine says "SJ-200" and is advertised as such.

[Wayne]

I have seen the True Vintage line advertised as "SJ".

[zombywoof]

I don't think the SJ designation means that much in terms of past guitars as the current crop of SJ-200s are not dead-on accurate reissues of a 1938 to 1954 guitar (the last year the SJ designation was used).

 

There were a ton of changes in that guitar through its life.

 

Between 1938 and 1954 the bracing went from a mixture of scalloped and non-scalloped Double X bracing to Single X bracing (like the J-100) and then to Double X straight bracing. The earliest models had three tone bars and I believe went to two when Gibson started using the Single X bracing. Ebony and then rosewood boards were used. Sides and backs were originally rosewood and then went to maple. At one point in the early 1950s, the bodies were redesigned and made a bit deeper.

 

If nothing else, the True Vintage SJ-200 (which is a copy of an early 1950s guitar) does not have accurate bracing.

An spot on early 1950s SJ-200 reissue would come only with maple back and sides, two tone bars and the triangular cut wide angle Double X straight bracing which is identical to what you would find on a mid-to late 1950s J-200.

 

Kinda confusing - so who's on first.

[Wayne]

Is everyone in agreement that the 150 is structurally the same beast as the 200, differing only in cosmetics?

[TWilson]

Is everyone in agreement that the 150 is structurally the same beast as the 200' date=' differing only in cosmetics? [/quote']

Wayne-Check out thisone. I think it's a beautiful guitar and I almost bought this but had my heart st on an SJ-200. Wait for the pictures to load.http://www.fullersguitar.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,1190/category_id,99/manufacturer_id,0/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,27/vmcchk,1/

[Buffalosix]

I have a '99 J-100 XTRA. The J-100 line has gone through several changes since Montana started making them, specifically the back and side woods (mahogany, spruce, bubinga). Mine is spruce top, the most non-flamed maple you will ever see in your life on the back and sides, abalone inlay around the soundhole, and MOP dots as fretboard inlay. The sound is pure Super Jumbo. And it is the only guitar I've ever traded in and rescued when remorse hit me hard a month later. It sounded so good that the guitar shop owner had kept it back in his office and had been playing it, so it never went up for sale.

[Wayne]

Is everyone in agreement that the 150 is structurally the same beast as the 200' date=' differing only in cosmetics? [/quote']

 

OK, I gleaned that the 150 has "maple" and the 200 has "flamed maple". is this a cosmetic difference only? I dont what the freak flamed maple sounds like as compared to "maple".

[jeff5341]

I'm not sure about the bracing but my 04 J-100 Xtra sounds just like a friends J200MC. Mine has the pearloid 200 type inlays, very flamey maple back and sides (nicer than what's on his J200), laminated maple neck just like the J200, J200 pickguard, and FWI pins and saddle. For strumming and vocal accompaniment it is as good as it gets, and has enough bling for anybody short of Liberace.