peegee Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 I have stumbled upon a 1953 Gibson J-50. Not looking for another guitar. Have a long wonderful relationship with my Martin D-35. But, this J-50 is magic. It just seems happy when I play it. One of our primo guitar fixer craftsman guy has it for sale along with many others he has in his shop. The price is $3000. Trying to decide whether to sell my first born child and buy it. Any thoughts on this year and this price? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 If it is truly magic when you play it, you can always make another child, but you may never find another guitar that is magic. Just my opinion, children are much overrated, as they age they usually don't get better like a Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 For heavens sake don't sell your D-35 ! A '53 J-50 is the perfect counterpoint to that Martin and if it speaks to you as it does, there's no Q. You are bound to own both. I do have those models here (a fantastic '53 J-45) and it's a thrill. You'll soon find the guitars shining even more while setting each other in perspective. Not to mention the challenge for your playing abilities - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 I never quite got the wisdom of asking folks on a forum whether you should buy this or that guitar. As far as I know none of us have even laid eyes on the guitar. But the formula is simple - if the guitar brings a smile to your face and you have the cash to lay out go for it. Even with the market for guitars being in the crapper these days - the price seems to be pretty good for a pre-55 J-50 assuming it has no issues. If the smile fades you should be able to get your money back if you sell it. But I can also speak from experience that some of the worst mistakes I have made were selling or trading away guitars for one I would have sworn at the time I liked better. Over the years, I actually ended up buying two of them back. Anyway I wish you luck and let us know what you end up doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted August 7, 2011 Share Posted August 7, 2011 IMO the late '40s and early '50s Gibsons have similar build and tonal qualities, with lighter bracing than you see on the post-'55s. Not that the post '55s are slouches per se, they just have a different but still nice sound. But the earlier ones have more oomph, more depth, more bass *generally* speaking. My first Gibson ever was a '53 J-50 -- very nice guitar, but it was a Celebration of 'the-once-thinned-and-too-many-cracks-top'. I now have a '53 SJ, also very very nice. If not too terribly molested, i.e., mostly original with only nominal repairs, 3K is a good price for a '53 round shouldered dread by Gibson. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 If not too terribly molested, i.e., mostly original with only nominal repairs, 3K is a good price for a '53 round shouldered dread by Gibson. Fred Condition is everything with these guitars. $3K seems about right for one in very good condition if it doesn't need a neck re-set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Did you get it Peegee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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