GT Hurley Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I have recently had the opportunity to play a 1947 Southern Jumbo "Chilean" hardwood. I am asuming it was a "rosewood" guitar. It was a superb instrument. And I would like to hear your experences with this type of instrument. What value would you place on an instrument of this type, bear in mind it is a high grade instrument. Minimal checking and no cracks, great playability. Awesome sound, compared even to 6 or 7 other vinatge (1940's) instruments. Thanks. GT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I have recently had the opportunity to play a 1947 Southern Jumbo "Chilean" hardwood. I am asuming it was a "rosewood" guitar. It was a superb instrument. And I would like to hear your experences with this type of instrument. What value would you place on an instrument of this type, bear in mind it is a high grade instrument. Minimal checking and no cracks, great playability. Awesome sound, compared even to 6 or 7 other vinatge (1940's) instruments. Thanks. GT Without pictures, it's virtually impossible to say. We need a lot more detail than this to offer even a remote suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Hurley Posted July 12, 2012 Author Share Posted July 12, 2012 Without pictures, it's virtually impossible to say. We need a lot more detail than this to offer even a remote suggestion. Sorry, I don't have any pics. I was interested in anyone with knowledge of Gibsons use of "Chilean" woods in the 40's. Thanks anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Sorry, I don't have any pics. I was interested in anyone with knowledge of Gibsons use of "Chilean" woods in the 40's. Thanks anyway. "Chilean hardwoods" is a pretty nebulous term, but it most likely refers to Swietenia macrophylla, which is one of the three true mahoganies, and the only one that could be indigenous to the very northern part of Chile. To the best of my knowledge, the only rosewood SJ's were the Brazilian ones that were part of the glorious, almost mythical batch 910 from 1942. Those guitars rightly bring a small fortune on the rare occasions they come to market. A good 1947 SJ is still a valuable instrument. They come on the market with some regularity, and we see advertised prices of about $7K-9K US for really good ones. Don't know what they actually sell for, however, as that's a pretty rich market for most of us these days. As an aside, I turned down a fairly rough 1948 SJ a couple of years ago at $1600, but it needed about $2K in work just to make it a usable player, and the work would have compromised any vintage value that remained. This is the problem you face in buying rough vintage guitars: collectors want them completely original (and as perfect as possible), but players have to make them usable, which can de-value them significantly in some cases. That's the point at which you look at quality modern re-issues like the Legends and TV's, at least when it comes to J-45's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I am not sure I am buying this one. Not sure if this means anything but the International Trade Commission recorded no import of mahogany from Chile into the US at all in the 1930s or 1940s. It does not really start showing up here until the mid-1960s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Hurley Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 The wood on this particular guitar looks and sounds more like rosewood. I am not sure exactly what it is, really. It is something to play though, sounds like a cannon. Simply a wonderful instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 IF indeed it is a '47??? It is what it is, no matter what someone 'names' the wood. If it speaks to you and the price is not 'over the top' than buy it....! I have not heard the term 'Chilean hardwood' in any vintage Gibson context though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 The wood on this particular guitar looks and sounds more like rosewood. I am not sure exactly what it is, really. It is something to play though, sounds like a cannon. Simply a wonderful instrument. Any chance of getting any pictures? Is it for sale, or is it a guitar owned by someone that let you play it? You really need to give us more detail to get any rational input, as the "Chilean hardwood" moniker is not anything any of us here are specifically familiar with, particularly when it comes to vintage SJ's. Retrorod owns an SJ of similar vintage, so I suspect he is keen on getting more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT Hurley Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 Sorry, I don't pop in every day. It is for sale and it is with a luthier/collector and the price is higher than I think I am willing to pay. 15Kish. I know there is no known problems and it is ready to go with no repairs or improvements needed. Still higher than I would feel comfortable with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Sorry, I don't pop in every day. It is for sale and it is with a luthier/collector and the price is higher than I think I am willing to pay. 15Kish. I know there is no known problems and it is ready to go with no repairs or improvements needed. Still higher than I would feel comfortable with. Yeah, that price would be more than a bit rich for my blood, for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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