drathbun Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 My new J200 Standard Natural arrived this morning. Since it was hanging on the wall at Long and McQuade in Regina, it came covered in smudges and with dead strings (what else is new?). I have it here at work with me but once I get it home, change out the strings and polish it up with some Virtuoso, I'll take some good quality shots and post them. I bought some Elixir PB Nanoweb Mediums to put on it and am planning on tuning it a half step to a full step low. For now, here is a flash iPhone photo of the flamey side! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 . Congrats to the new papa! Can't wait to see better pics. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Thanks BK! I can't wait to give it a workout. I have one question right off the bat for those of you with Fishman Ellipse Aura pickups installed. I've never worked with the Aura Ellipse before, but I read the manual in advance of getting the guitar. As I understand it, "image" files are uploaded to the pickup system via a computer USB cable. The problem is, the mini USB port on the Aura Ellipse has a cover over it. Does that mean that the four images already installed in the pickup are it for the duration? No further modifications or future updates? All the other Ellipse pickups I've seen in Gibsons have the port sealed over as well. What's up with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Looks nice, Doug! Waiting for your better pics, and video!! Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Nice J200.... Congrats .... Long and Mcquade has a tendency to let everyone with Sticky Fingers to play those... There very Seldom Cleaned up and Restrung for the New Owners.. Hmm.. Gives me a idea...They might have that in there next set of meetings.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Nice J200.... Congrats .... Long and Mcquade has a tendency to let everyone with Sticky Fingers to play those... There very Seldom Cleaned up and Restrung for the New Owners.. Hmm.. Gives me a idea...They might have that in there next set of meetings.... Yeah slimt, but I consider that a positive! I love that I can go into the L&M and pull a Doves In Flight off the wall and play it for a half hour without getting the hairy eyeball from the staff. I have the guitar for 30 days, during which, if I have ANY issues at all... even if I just don't like the guitar, I can bring it back and they'll find me another or give me a refund. That's how to treat a customer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 . Hey Drath - Here's a little read on the image files - http://www.maurysmusic.com/fishman_ellipse_aura_review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 I can say about Long and Mcquade, Is they have made a point of making sure you are Happy with what you buy.. I agree.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
struma6 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Maybe the L&M guitars get a bit of DNA deposited on them while they hang in the store but to ship them with dead strings and all smudged up??? That shows very little concern to me. Throw strings on, clean/polish it up and THEN ship it. And...NICE git!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Bravo, hope you get many happy years from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Thanks BK! I can't wait to give it a workout. I have one question right off the bat for those of you with Fishman Ellipse Aura pickups installed. I've never worked with the Aura Ellipse before, but I read the manual in advance of getting the guitar. As I understand it, "image" files are uploaded to the pickup system via a computer USB cable. The problem is, the mini USB port on the Aura Ellipse has a cover over it. Does that mean that the four images already installed in the pickup are it for the duration? No further modifications or future updates? All the other Ellipse pickups I've seen in Gibsons have the port sealed over as well. What's up with that? Congratulations on the new guitar, Drathbun. I don't have the Fishman Ellipse Aura pickups , but I use Fishman u/s pickups and a Fishman Spectrum Aura DI. (Uses the 'images'). It is supposed to give you the sound of your guitar miked up through a quality studio. On a recent 'Guitarist' magazine review of a Brad Paisley j45 (with your Ellipse system) they noted that the usb cover was sealed and were told that you do not need to alter it - you get 4 images from different mikes. You pick which of the 4 you like the best and that's it. One tip I can give you with the aura: if you are using headphones to listen/record you need UP to 100% blend of image. If you are playing through an acoustic amp or PA this will make the sound too grungy and overcooked, so a blend % of 25 - 30 image will sound the best.... The Aura gives it the 'air' and the pickup gives it the definition and gets rid of u/s quack.... Good Luck, BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 Congratulations. Can't go wroing with a J-200! Would love to hear some sound samples when possible, you must be so excited ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 GOLD ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 Thanks everyone. I got home from work late (working on a show) and had to change the strings and clean the guitar from stem to stern. It was a filthy mess... cruddy strings and finger goop all over it. Also the gold Grover tuner buttons had almost permanent fingerprints in them. I thought they might not come out and have to ask for them to be replaced, but I worked at them with a little metal polish (very carefully) and got them shining again. A little fretboard conditioner and a new battery and it is like it came from the factory. Here are some photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Very nice indeed. Congrats again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adok Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yes, AFAIK, J-200 Aura Elipse is built to stay stuck with the original four Gibson *images*. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yes, I see the same info on the website of my usual retailer for the Aura Ellipse in their J-200 models..... "Gibson SJ200 Standard Super Jumbo Acoustic Guitar - new edition, handmade acoustic guitar with solid Sitka spruce top, thomann solid eastern curly maple back & sides, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, crown inlays, 20 frets, gold tuners, Aura Ellipse active electronics with sound hole mounted volume control - no change or download of different Aura images, includes case. Colour: Vintage Sunburst (V.O.S. Finish)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 It shouldnt be a problem as I use the Aura spectrum DI and downloand images for the SJ and SWD and from the three I downloaded i found one that I was really happy with for each model. Im sure one or two of the 4 that are available will hit the mark, the details can be EQ'd. Yes, I see the same info on the website of my usual retailer for the Aura Ellipse in their J-200 models..... "Gibson SJ200 Standard Super Jumbo Acoustic Guitar - new edition, handmade acoustic guitar with solid Sitka spruce top, thomann solid eastern curly maple back & sides, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, crown inlays, 20 frets, gold tuners, Aura Ellipse active electronics with sound hole mounted volume control - no change or download of different Aura images, includes case. Colour: Vintage Sunburst (V.O.S. Finish)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yes, the cover over the mini USB port is just that, a cover. Colosi pins and saddle being shipped today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 . Nice pics of your new maple baby. She's beautiful. Congrats. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 How does it sound? Does it do the same for you as the one you wanted to buy before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 Thanks BK! Stein: it sounds better! With the medium strings and tuned 1/2 step low, it is a cannon. The Aura is going to take some tweaking, because at first plays, I don't hear a single setting I like, but we'll see. The next question is strap button placement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 OK I have a couple of answers regarding Gibson warranty and the Fishman Aura. According to Long and McQuade (Canadian Distributor of Gibson guitars), Gibson does not warranty their products if you live outside of the US. If you buy from a dealer the states and bring the guitar to another country or if you buy from a Gibson dealer anywhere in the world, they will not warranty their product. Long and McQuade's parent company, Yorkville Sound in Toronto deals with all warranty issues if you buy from L&M in Canada. I don't know if that means they will handle sending the product to Bozeman for repair or replacement or whether L&M will do all the repair work themselves. All I know is, there was no warranty card with my guitar and no way for me to send my serial number to Bozeman to register it. It sounds fishy to me. I know my Rickenbacker bass, Fender Strat and Taylor 12 string acoustic are all fully warrantied for the life of the instrument with their respective companies. They are all made in the US guitars. Speaking of fishy, I received a very complete and friendly letter from Fishman about the Aura Ellipse pickup and the USB port. The port is closed off because there is no need to change the images for the SJ200 as the images for this exact guitar are already built in. I thought there might be other microphone combinations available in the future but apparently the images are custom made for this guitar. This is what Frank Padellaro of Fishman had to say: "In the case of an OEM Aura, installed at the factory, we have already created images from that exact guitar model and the manufacturer (along with Fishman) has selected the best resultant matches to include on the factory device. The factory Fishman product is then locked with those images. Why? Because there are no better images to be gained. Hooking the product up to the computer to download images can only create worse results, not better. So, the factory installation of your Aura product is already optimized for your guitar, and can't (and shouldn't) be connected to your computer for alternate images." It is nice to see direct customer support from companies like this. It makes you want to do business with them again! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 I just posted my first recording with the SJ-200 in the acoustic performances thread. Link to Post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 . Lovely sound from you maple beauty. Very nice. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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