KL Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 So I did a swap yesterday. I swapped a 2004 Les Paul standard for a mint 2007 J-45. The J-45 is a Fuller's Guitar 1968 reissue finished in cherry all over (the top back sides and neck are all cherry) and it has a white old style pickguard with the old Gibson logo on it. I will get some pictures soon, but I have a problem with my camera. So I noticed a couple of things that surprised me. First off the end of the peghead is matte: it has finish on it but is not buffed out like the rest of the finish. At first I though whoa . . . that quality control is bad. I looked at the factory checklist and it showed the peghead had been passed by QC (as had everything else). It also does not have a 'Made in the USA stamp' on the back of the headstock. But I was certain it was totally genuine as the build quality, sound and fitting were as I would expect. I contacted Fuller's with the serial number for verification (it did not show up in the guitar dater programme) and they confirmed it was one of theirs for certain, and that the end of the headstock was deliberately made like that as it was something they did at Gibson back in 68. Also it seems their spec did not inclde a 'Made In The USA' stamp. So I learned something new . . . I've never seen a headstock on a Gibson with the end left matte like that. Looks a bit weird but that's all. It's a fine sounding and striking looking acoustic, very light weight. Compares well for sound with my 2004 J-45. I think it was a fair swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 someone else on here has one of those , first time i ever seen one was his picture here i think theyre lovely lookin guitars congratulations!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 So...may I ask? An '07 and '04 J45; why do you have two nearly identical acoustic Gibsons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 So...may I ask? An '07 and '04 J45; why do you have two nearly identical acoustic Gibsons? You may ask! The reason is that the dude was selling this J-45 and it looks really different in this finish, and I had two Les Paul standards and he was willing to do a straight trade. They all sound a bit different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 someone else on here has one of those , first time i ever seen one was his picture here i think theyre lovely lookin guitars congratulations!! Thanks. Yes they do look great. There are a couple of different variations out there. One just has an all cherry top with white guard but normal hog finish on the back and sides. Some also have the adjustable bridge, but the Fuller's one has a fixed bridge. I tried one finished in ebony with a white guard once (adj bridge) and that was also a very nice looking guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I contacted Fuller's with the serial number for verification (it did not show up in the guitar dater programme) and they confirmed...[/font][/font] That dater is useless. It just uses the format for serial numbers and puts out what it "should be". It doesn't actually check a database anywhere. I wish that site would go away. People think they "verified" a fake when all they found was a fake with a serial number that fit a real Gibson scheme. I am sure your guitar is real. I am not trying to imply otherwise. I just always make sure to point out the GIANT flaw in that site any time I see it mentioned. It really causes more trouble than it helps and leads to many people being scammed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I have a Fuller's J50 and love it. Yep--they didn't stamp made in USA on the 60s models. So they don't on the reissues. And the matte is correct. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 There are a couple of different variations out there. One just has an all cherry top with white guard but normal hog finish on the back and sides. Some also have the adjustable bridge Played one of these at my local dealer quite some time ago, complete with the adjustable bridge. I was surprised to find that it was the best sounding Gibson of those I checked out that day (at least 15 of them) — at least to my ear. That was a wonderful guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 That dater is useless. It just uses the format for serial numbers and puts out what it "should be". It doesn't actually check a database anywhere. I wish that site would go away. People think they "verified" a fake when all they found was a fake with a serial number that fit a real Gibson scheme. I am sure your guitar is real. I am not trying to imply otherwise. I just always make sure to point out the GIANT flaw in that site any time I see it mentioned. It really causes more trouble than it helps and leads to many people being scammed. Fair point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 Played one of these at my local dealer quite some time ago, complete with the adjustable bridge. I was surprised to find that it was the best sounding Gibson of those I checked out that day (at least 15 of them) — at least to my ear. That was a wonderful guitar. Yes they are great reissues. I don't know why the adjustable bridges are so disliked. My 66 J-45 has an adjustable bridge and it sounds great. It's not the loudest J-45 but still great, and a friend has a 65 ADJ that is seriously loud with amazing tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KL Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 I have a Fuller's J50 and love it. Yep--they didn't stamp made in USA on the 60s models. So they don't on the reissues. And the matte is correct. Congrats! Thanks Yorick, the matte thing was new to me. I looked at it at first and though . . . WHOA . . . how did THAT get out of the factory, then after an email to Fuller's asking about it I understood. My 66 has a normal finish on the end of the peghead. The thing is that even with the weird (to me) finish on the peghead and the lack of the 'Made In The USA' stamp there was no questioning it was a real Gibson because the build quality elsewhere and the sound and feel all said GIBSON. They applied the pickguard with all the soundhole decal showing too on this one which is nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.