pete23980 Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, don't post here very often, but today was a big day for me... I wandered into my local guitar store (just browsing, you understand) and I just happened to glance at a guitar hanging up in the acoustic section, a guitar I'd always admired from afar, but never actually seen in the flesh (as it were). So I then took it down and decided to try it out... Boy oh boy: It might just have been the most beautiful guitar I'd ever played and I may have left the store with it in my possession! Don't regret it though!
DanvillRob Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, don't post here very often, but today was a big day for me... I wandered into my local guitar store (just browsing, you understand) and I just happened to glance at a guitar hanging up in the acoustic section, a guitar I'd always admired from afar, but never actually seen in the flesh (as it were). So I then took it down and decided to try it out... Boy oh boy: It might just have been the most beautiful guitar I'd ever played and I may have left the store with it in my possession! Don't regret it though! Congratz.... it's a little pic...but you gotta LOVE the SJ's, eh?
sjl200 Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Way to go!. SJ's...thats how they roll...they put a spell on you
zombywoof Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Congrats Hoss. The guitar I have now owned the longest is an old J-200. Funny though, I have never actually fallen for a guitar at first sight - it is more like I am intrigued by it.
BigKahune Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 . I know the feeling well. I'm glad you experienced it. Congrats on yer new beauty. . B) .
pete23980 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Posted November 12, 2011 . I know the feeling well. I'm glad you experienced it. Congrats on yer new beauty. . B) . Thank you all! Yes that was a small picture - have resized accordingly - quality of pic a bit dodgy anyway!
E-minor7 Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Yeah after putting the magnifying glass aside, this is clearly a love scene. The couple there and then as it happened. For heavens sake don't misunderstand, but the shot is beautiful.
GotTheSilver Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Congrats! I don't have much first hand knowledge of these guitars, but always thought they were beautiful! I love the pickguard.
EuroAussie Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Congratulations, know the feeling also. Still discovering the mysteries of the Gibson Jumbo myself, great adventure !
Jinder Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Huge congrats! The SJ200 is called The King Of The Flat-Tops for good reason! I used one as my main stage guitar for seven years, they're unbeatable for just about everything...don't let anyone tell you that SJs don't fingerpick well either, it's a myth! I only parted with mine because of a recurring shoulder tendon problem which made an SJ uncomfortable to play for long periods of time. I still have the Epiphone equivalent in my stable (the latest incarnation with solid top and bone everything as stock, surprisingly great guitar and I was GIVEN mine-it doesn't get much cheaper!), but I traded my SJ200 for an AJ. The AJ is brilliant but completely different to the SJ-nothing can replicate that big, wide-open tone with that subtle midrange that sounds like the human voice. GREAT choice :-)
pete23980 Posted November 13, 2011 Author Posted November 13, 2011 Huge congrats! The SJ200 is called The King Of The Flat-Tops for good reason! I used one as my main stage guitar for seven years, they're unbeatable for just about everything...don't let anyone tell you that SJs don't fingerpick well either, it's a myth! I only parted with mine because of a recurring shoulder tendon problem which made an SJ uncomfortable to play for long periods of time. I still have the Epiphone equivalent in my stable (the latest incarnation with solid top and bone everything as stock, surprisingly great guitar and I was GIVEN mine-it doesn't get much cheaper!), but I traded my SJ200 for an AJ. The AJ is brilliant but completely different to the SJ-nothing can replicate that big, wide-open tone with that subtle midrange that sounds like the human voice. GREAT choice :-) Thanks for the comments guys - I did play an Epiphone equivalent once and was pleasantly surprised how decent it actually was. Like I said, I've been coveting a J200 for many years, but being a UK resident, Gibson dealers are not ten a penny and I've found eBay to be quite scarce of late. Thank goodness for this one then - it seriously blew me away, I knew I had to have it. Will think about my bank balance later...
Jinder Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Thanks for the comments guys - I did play an Epiphone equivalent once and was pleasantly surprised how decent it actually was. Like I said, I've been coveting a J200 for many years, but being a UK resident, Gibson dealers are not ten a penny and I've found eBay to be quite scarce of late. Thank goodness for this one then - it seriously blew me away, I knew I had to have it. Will think about my bank balance later... You can't let your dream guitar go by! Good move to pick it up. Bank balances can be addressed later, but someone else walking out with the guitar that fate intended for you can't be... Whereabouts are you in the UK? I'm in the UK too, based in West Dorset. If you're ever down this way, be sure to stop by Absolute Music Solutions in Poole-they've always got great stocks of Gibsons in (usually AJ, J45, J50, SJ200, Dove, Hummingbird, J185, J165 and a few custom shoppers or oddities in such as a Maui Wowie, a '60s reissue Southern Jumbo with slope shoulders, batwing guard and adj. Bridge (did such a thing ever originally exist) and a few more. Tons of Gibson electrics, too). They're usually fairly helpful, but it's a big shop that is a touch understaffed so there's usually a wait for customer service. Price-wise they're not massively keenly priced at the top end, but things in the J45/AJ price bracket are usually dead-on. The Guitar Store in Southampton is good too (I bought my Blues King from them, they gave me a very good deal on a Hummingbird in PX), they usually have some lovely examples in there (I went in last month and they has a Robert Johnson L1, a J185, an AJ, J45 Custom, J50, SJ200, Hummingbird and a few others, all exceptionally well kept, and a couple of vintage boxes too), but again the top end guitars are a bit overpriced and the run-of-the-mill stuff is keenly priced...bizarre.
pete23980 Posted November 15, 2011 Author Posted November 15, 2011 So here are a few shots of my new beauty at home: So very happy!
Buc McMaster Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Nice selection, sir! And a big "hurrah" for the 2-ribbon bridge, always a plus on these big guitars in my book.
struma6 Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That is five star maple porn!!! What a gorgeous axe!!! It;s one of my "one of these days" guitars for sure!! My 165 has that awesome maple look as well, I love it. Right now it's my favorite (this shall change, they all come into rotation!!) Congrats, man, she's a beauty!!! Marla Maple at rest....
Mr G Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 She's a beauty for sure and i know what you mean about them being few and far between in the U.K., i had to take a chance on mine and have it made up for me and shipped across (5 months) but it all worked out nicely and it still makes me smile like i've only just recieved it!
pete23980 Posted November 17, 2011 Author Posted November 17, 2011 She's a beauty for sure and i know what you mean about them being few and far between in the U.K., i had to take a chance on mine and have it made up for me and shipped across (5 months) but it all worked out nicely and it still makes me smile like i've only just recieved it! Yes, being a UK resident, any Gibson I see seems to be some kind of holy relic! Especially the 'King of the Flat Tops'! Still well and truly in the 'honeymoon period'!
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