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Southern jumbo - TV or not TV


Acousticologist

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I'm looking at getting a Gibson Southern Jumbo.

 

Does anyone know what the difference is between the standard and the TV model??

 

I think the woods are the same, but the headstock is different...

 

Is that what justifies the higher price tag?? Or is there something else??

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Strange how the specs for either aren't on the Gibson site!

 

I'd guess that TVs will have adirondack spruce top, hide glue, different/lighter bracing (?) and sprinkled with fairy dust. That's basically the difference between the J-45 and J-45TV.

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Both models have sitka spruce tops with mahogany b/s. Standards have electronics and regular nitro finish. TV's have no electronics and "aged" laquer finish, lighter bracing with "only a Gibson is good enough" headstock label, bone nut and saddle. IMHO, the TV's are worth the extra money whether it's a J-45, SJ, J-200 or J-185. The difference in tone of this line of guitars as compared to the standards is enough by itself!

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Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me also, nice one Larry !

 

Both models have sitka spruce tops with mahogany b/s. Standards have electronics and regular nitro finish. TV's have no electronics and "aged" laquer finish, lighter bracing with "only a Gibson is good enough" headstock label, bone nut and saddle. IMHO, the TV's are worth the extra money whether it's a J-45, SJ, J-200 or J-185. The difference in tone of this line of guitars as compared to the standards is enough by itself!

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I believe that the standard has the usual X-bracing pattern (as per J45 standard and Woody Guthrie SJ), while the TV has 1930s advanced bracing (as per J45TV and Aaron Lewis SJ). All the SJs listed have a Sitka top; 45TV is the only one with adirondack, as I remember.

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  • 1 month later...

I've been playing a Bourgeois Slope D for a few years, and while I like the feel of the instrument, the sound is definitely more Martin than Gibson.

 

I recent/y played a battle-scarred '50s Southern Jumbo and I can't get that sound out of my head... Do the current "True Vintage" SJ's even come close to the sound of "real" vintage? The Wildwood "New Vintage" SJ's certainly look like the old ones; has anyone actually heard or played one?

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I've been playing a Bourgeois Slope D for a few years, and while I like the feel of the instrument, the sound is definitely more Martin than Gibson.

 

I recent/y played a battle-scarred '50s Southern Jumbo and I can't get that sound out of my head... Do the current "True Vintage" SJ's even come close to the sound of "real" vintage? The Wildwood "New Vintage" SJ's certainly look like the old ones; has anyone actually heard or played one?

 

 

I played a 50s SJ in London a 2 weeks ago. Eeeehh it sounded a bit disappointing, but I'm convinced one could get much more out of it if it was brought home, taken care of and nursed up with the right strings and touch.

Pretty sure you'll find similarities between old and new models – you can hear they are in family. Still the vintage factor itself just isn't present in a new guitar so you gotta beware.

- And by 'new' I mean 15- 20 - 25 years. . .

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