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My Jumbo Clone, What's yours?


willysunday

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Posted

Howdy Folks,

 

About 4 years ago I was searching for a vintage Jumbo and realized to keep a happy household I needed to find an alternative. So I started looking at the different Jumbo knock-offs. I was going to Elderly's and called a friend from Lansing to meet me there and told what I was searching for. He showed up and said "C'mon out to my car, I got something you should see." (Don't do this unless you KNOW the guy [smile] ) He pulled out a case and showed me a Jubal Jumbo built by Aaron Cowles of Vicksburg, Mi. I was knocked over by the sound and the burst. Next day I called Aaron, within a week I visited his shop, about 4 months later picked up my Jubal.

 

All for under $2k

 

I doubt if Aaron and his Jubal line are unknown to many on this forum, but I'd like to plug his guitars for a couple of reasons. First of all- great guitar! Sounded 50 years old when I hit the first chord. Unbelievable bass and the clarity of the mids & highs are outstanding. Aaron builds them from specs he took from his own 30's Jumbo. He worked at Gibson over 20 years and moved around quite a bit to learn the "secrets". Garnet Rogers & Greg Brown have 'em. Brown has 2.

 

Secondly- what a great guy Aaron is. Very humble and easy-going. He is very flexibe with the build. I gave him an Adi top and some BRW for the fretboard, bridge, HS cover. He said " well, I'm going to owe you some money for using your stuff"

We worked it out another way. His shop is something out of the book about Wayne Henderson building Clapton's guitar. Guys hangin' around- almost a barber-shop ambience. Great stories of the "good-ol' days at Gibson". One of the guys told me "whenever they scrapped something at Gibson and threw it in the dumpster, Aaron was there to catch it" [smile] Aaron does have some of the old Gibson stock he incorporates into the guitars. Also, Aaron ain't no spring-chicken. Don't know how much longer he'll be building. If you're interested, hurry up! His arch tops and mandolins are sensational, too!

 

285426471.jpg

285426093.jpg

285426475.jpg

285426478.jpg

 

I know there are many "clones" out there. Share some pics and a few words.

 

willy

Posted

Howdy Folks,

 

About 4 years ago I was searching for a vintage Jumbo and realized to keep a happy household I needed to find an alternative. So I started looking at the different Jumbo knock-offs. I was going to Elderly's and called a friend from Lansing to meet me there and told what I was searching for. He showed up and said "C'mon out to my car, I got something you should see." (Don't do this unless you KNOW the guy [smile] ) He pulled out a case and showed me a Jubal Jumbo built by Aaron Cowles of Vicksburg, Mi. I was knocked over by the sound and the burst. Next day I called Aaron, within a week I visited his shop, about 4 months later picked up my Jubal.

 

All for under $2k

 

I doubt if Aaron and his Jubal line are unknown to many on this forum, but I'd like to plug his guitars for a couple of reasons. First of all- great guitar! Sounded 50 years old when I hit the first chord. Unbelievable bass and the clarity of the mids & highs are outstanding. Aaron builds them from specs he took from his own 30's Jumbo. He worked at Gibson over 20 years and moved around quite a bit to learn the "secrets". Garnet Rogers & Greg Brown have 'em. Brown has 2.

 

Secondly- what a great guy Aaron is. Very humble and easy-going. He is very flexibe with the build. I gave him an Adi top and some BRW for the fretboard, bridge, HS cover. He said " well, I'm going to owe you some money for using your stuff"

We worked it out another way. His shop is something out of the book about Wayne Henderson building Clapton's guitar. Guys hangin' around- almost a barber-shop ambience. Great stories of the "good-ol' days at Gibson". One of the guys told me "whenever they scrapped something at Gibson and threw it in the dumpster, Aaron was there to catch it" [smile] Aaron does have some of the old Gibson stock he incorporates into the guitars. Also, Aaron ain't no spring-chicken. Don't know how much longer he'll be building. If you're interested, hurry up! His arch tops and mandolins are sensational, too!

 

285426471.jpg

285426093.jpg

285426475.jpg

285426478.jpg

 

I know there are many "clones" out there. Share some pics and a few words.

 

willy

 

thats a nice guitar alright :-)

hope its worth the wife making you sleep in a tent in the living room:-D

Posted

Congrats - those guitars have a fine reputation and are considered bargains when compared to Walkers, Kopps and others.

 

I only know one guy who owns one. I haven't played it but he says it does have an old school Gibson sound (he should know as he has been playing Gibsons for a couple of decades).

Posted
hope its worth the wife making you sleep in a tent in the living room:-D

 

Actually that's my granddaughter's tent. I have the dog-bed under the table [smile]

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