GT Hurley Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Anyone out there that can help? I am smitten by the Western Classic Prewar 200. How does it compare to the SJ300. Being both rosewood? The one I am looking at has MRW back and sides. How does this effect it's value and collectable status compared to the SJ300? And in your experience how does the wood sound in comparison to indian RW? Any info from the masses would be appreciated. GT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torca Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 The number classification(SJ200/300) means less than the tonewods used in this case.If both guitars are sitka topped(as opposed to sitka/adirondack) and one is Madi and the other is Indian,I would speculate that the Madi is more desirable,IMO.Tone may be irrelevant,as Gibson had to defend themselves against accusations of improper Madagascar rosewood procurement.This may have slowed(or halted) production of the Madi wood guitars until Gibson defended themselves successfully,so already built guitars out in the market to be sold may be limited by such.I am curious to know if the New Vintage models cited as "Mystic Rosewood"(Wildwood Guitars) have any relation to Madagascar,but I personally prefer Madi over Indian.I wouldn't think the different woods would translate to a cash difference per se as a private seller in the near future,though as a buyer retail,I would expect a mark-up on the Madi models compared to like model of Indian rosewood. Blah,blah,blah,playing before using......that may not be an option so do a little digging as such.I expect success more than failure buying a Gibson acoustic unplayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 ... Gibson had to defend themselves against accusations of improper Madagascar rosewood procurement. This is incorrect. It was Madagascar ebony that was seized, not Madagascar rosewood. (Some early press reports got this wrong.) And no charges have been filed, so there has been no defense yet. This may have slowed(or halted) production of the Madi wood guitars until Gibson defended themselves ... . Gibson stopped using Madagascar rosewood last year. That's not going to change regardless of what happens or doesn't happen in the legal arena. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 I love mine. This guitar is amazing. I don't know if mine has EIR or Mad on the back but it sounds like a piano. I've never played a 300 and don't need to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogeye Posted June 11, 2011 Share Posted June 11, 2011 Anyone out there that can help? I am smitten by the Western Classic Prewar 200. How does it compare to the SJ300. Being both rosewood? The one I am looking at has MRW back and sides. How does this effect it's value and collectable status compared to the SJ300? And in your experience how does the wood sound in comparison to indian RW? Any info from the masses would be appreciated. GT I know a guy that lives here in Bozeman that has a Ray Whitley Brazilian. It's a very nice guitar and he has let me play it several times. I saw it in Music Villa several years ago when he stopped in to have it set up. I saw him bring it in while I was buying some strings. It's the exact reproduction of the very first SJ-200. I would love to own one. If you want I could call and see if he would let you play it. He might even sell it at this point. The guitar looked new to me but it was made in '94. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Hurley Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share Posted June 11, 2011 Well I got to play the MRW Western Classic today and do a head to head comparison with my SJ300. I thought the guitar was impressive, very nice burst and the back and sides beautiful. When it came to a tonal comparison I was mystified. My 300 has month old strings on it and it still had much greater depth, I am very fortunate to have found an exceptional sounding jumbo. More even across the range and brighter highs and deeper richer lows. I played them both, then had two separate fellows play them at the same time, and then one at a time so I could listen. To be honest with you, I came today to purchase a guitar. I took both of my Gibson guitars home and the WC stayed there. I could not justify the money spent on just the fact that MRW was on the other SJ. I may very well regret the decision 10 or more years down the road. But for now. I will play on. If you are interested Music Villa in Bozeman has one there for the Gibson Celebration coming up next weekend. Go play it. Tell Paul, Greg sent you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Gibson stopped using Madagascar rosewood last year. Well, that was bad information. Sorry! Here's an update I got from Ren on the subject. They did stop using Madagascar rosewood for awhile last year (so I guess I was technically correct), but management subsequently decided to allow the existing stock to be used. The Western Classic that was at Music Villa -- it sold today -- is the last Gibson with Madagascar ribs and back. (It has a late February 2011 serial number, but didn't actually go through final inspection until late May.) Madagascar fretboards are also gone, but there are a few Madagascar bridges left. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dotneck Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 The Western Classic that was at Music Villa -- it sold today -- is the last Gibson with Madagascar ribs and back. (It has a late February 2011 serial number, but didn't actually go through final inspection until late May. Who got it? Anybody we know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Who got it? Anybody we know? Yes. PM with details sent. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycoen Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I love mine. This guitar is amazing. I don't know if mine has EIR or Mad on the back but it sounds like a piano. I've never played a 300 and don't need to... That guitar is a work of art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I would say... the Western Classic is fairly comparible to the SJ200/300. How ever... I think the Necks are a little different... ... Rosewood J200s are Loud/ Boomy with lots of Ring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maow Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I love mine. This guitar is amazing. I don't know if mine has EIR or Mad on the back but it sounds like a piano. I've never played a 300 and don't need to... Wow... What a nice guitar. It is not just a guitar, but it is an art as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 One is available on Ebay right now. About 10 hours left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maow Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 One is available on Ebay right now. About 10 hours left. Yes, I found this on ebay. Unfortunately, I'm not in the state. :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycoen Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I am curious to know if the New Vintage models cited as "Mystic Rosewood"(Wildwood Guitars) have any relation to Madagascar,but I personally prefer Madi over Indian. My Gibson dealer confirms that the name "Mystic Rosewood" identifies tonewood that Ren Ferguson bought "when he went to India, it comes from some very large rosewood burls they had in the woodyard there - this stuff is very dense and has a cleaner, more articulate bass response, very sweet mids and a sparkling high end response." From this, I gather that "Mystic Rosewood" comes from Indian rosewood burls. In particular, it is not stump wood, which, by definition, supports most of the mass of the tree and may be more susceptible to cracking over time. There are a few photos on the internet and, to my eyes, it is visually stunning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Here's a "mystic" rosewood J45 that the seller fobbed off as brazilian... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200636491928&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_16226wt_1185 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victory Pete Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 My Gibson dealer confirms that the name "Mystic Rosewood" identifies tonewood that Ren Ferguson bought "when he went to India, it comes from some very large rosewood burls they had in the woodyard there - this stuff is very dense and has a cleaner, more articulate bass response, very sweet mids and a sparkling high end response." From this, I gather that "Mystic Rosewood" comes from Indian rosewood burls. In particular, it is not stump wood, which, by definition, supports most of the mass of the tree and may be more susceptible to cracking over time. There are a few photos on the internet and, to my eyes, it is visually stunning. I am glad I found this thread. I just bought this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/gibson-limited-edition-western-classic-mystic-acoustic-guitar?rNtt=western I had wondered what Mystic Rosewood was. I asked Gibson and Bob Burns said it was highly figured Eastern Indian Rosewood. He made no mention that it was from burls. I like the idea of the extra density and the way you describe its tone is right on. I wasn't too excited about the wild grain but now that I know it makes for great tone I treasure it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phelonious Ponk Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 I'd guess that the tone varies as much from sample to sample as it does from MR to IR. But I sure like the looks of the WC. the simpler pick guard and fretboard inlays appeal to me more though I think the yellow in the burst clashes a bit with the rosewood. YMMV. On the SJ100, they gave it a darker, browner burst to blend better with the mahogany. Good call. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victory Pete Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 I'd guess that the tone varies as much from sample to sample as it does from MR to IR. But I sure like the looks of the WC. the simpler pick guard and fretboard inlays appeal to me more though I think the yellow in the burst clashes a bit with the rosewood. YMMV. On the SJ100, they gave it a darker, browner burst to blend better with the mahogany. Good call. P I agree about the sunburst neck clashing with the rosewood back. But I love vintage tri-burst on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Nice to see my old guitar again. I wish I still had it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycoen Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 TAKE TWO: Mystic Rosewood I would like to nail down the source of the information about "mystic rosewood" and its tonal qualities that I offered earlier. It came from Ren Ferguson, who describes how he came across a cache of seasoned East Indian rosewood burls at a supplier's site in an email quoted by my guitar dealer: On a special wood expedition, I discovered a once-in-a-lifetime cache of virgin, premium burled rosewood hidden in stumps that had been passed over for decades. Each set of this extraordinary wood bears its own unique figure, and once used up, this wood will never be available again. Hence, Ren Ferguson is the source of the information about virgin burl wood, which he says that he found mixed in with rosewood stumps at a supplier's site. I am glad I found this thread. I just bought this: http://www.musicians...ar?rNtt=western I had wondered what Mystic Rosewood was. I asked Gibson and Bob Burns said it was highly figured Eastern Indian Rosewood. He made no mention that it was from burls. I like the idea of the extra density and the way you describe its tone is right on. I wasn't too excited about the wild grain but now that I know it makes for great tone I treasure it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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