jdd707 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Yes a TV version of the J50! I've actually had this beauty for a couple of weeks but thought today would be a good day to post pictures. This is another special 5 Star order from our friends at Bailey Brothers. As is the history of J50s, this is a J45 in natural with a larger pickguard. Notice also the AJ type bridge, unlike the current belly up on the J45TV. Otherwise the specs are the same as the J45TV.... Adi top, advanced bracing, banner, script logo, etc. Also, notice no label. It was not sent from Bozeman but rep said he would send one along. Do I love this guitar? Man I really love this guitar. It's light, it's loud, it's direct, and it just sounds great right off the wall. I can't wait for the set up .... plays great now (love the shape of the neck) so a stroking from a great tec should make an improvement. Enjoy the pix. The first is with my J45 Natural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmer Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 wooow, very nice, be proud!. Have fun playing them! My next buy will definitely be a J1 Robert Johnson...but seeing this...hmm, I need more guitars :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 This thing is a cannon btw. I want it for myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchristo Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 congrats, thats a beautiful guitar......them boys at Bailey brothers are the stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 beautiful back !!!!! love the whole thing =D enjoy it . it doesn't have a label right ? JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lblack Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Nice!!! I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fp Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Nice guitars, I especially like the natural J45, though typical for Gibson they can't even get the model right. It really should be marked J50 ! Why the large pickguard with the non belly bridge ? I just don't understand Gibsons thinking sometimes. Sorry for the negative response but damn Gibson just doesn't seem to have a grip on tradition and originality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 Nice guitars, I especially like the natural J45, though typical for Gibson they can't even get the model right. It really should be marked J50 ! Why the large pickguard with the non belly bridge ? I just don't understand Gibsons thinking sometimes. Sorry for the negative response but damn Gibson just doesn't seem to have a grip on tradition and originality. Yeah you are right, if the J45 natural had the large pickguard, it would be a J50. Just sold that one tonight and got my price. As for the bridge, it was specially ordered with an AJ style so that one is on the dealer, not Gibson. But you are right, Gibson is prone to mix and match specs without regard to tradition or originality. None of us will ever understand all the reasons. It does make for some interesting one of a kinds though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ataylor Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Why the large pickguard with the non belly bridge ? I just don't understand Gibsons thinking sometimes. Sorry for the negative response but damn Gibson just doesn't seem to have a grip on tradition and originality. As for the bridge, it was specially ordered with an AJ style so that one is on the dealer, not Gibson. But you are right, Gibson is prone to mix and match specs without regard to tradition or originality. None of us will ever understand all the reasons. It does make for some interesting one of a kinds though. The straight bridge and banner headstock are actually correct features here (for a 40s J-50, anyway). It's the large pickguard that is actually out of place. But at the same time, Gibson's True Vintage series wasn't ever supposed to be a recreation of any one year of models, but rather an assortment (this is the "mix and match" mentioned above) of vintage specs. Have a look at a few 40s J-50s here: http://www.bannergibsons.com/galleryj50.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 You are correct that these features never matched up on a real vintage Gibson. That isn't their fault though. It's mine, but done on purpose. I think the small guard looks funny on a J50. I associate the J50 with a large guard and i think it looks better that way. They did make some with AJ style bridges (though small guard). I am a HUGE fan of this bridge. I think it makes a difference sonically as well as visually, and to the touch. So, when I had the idea to have Gibson build a J50 TV for us, these were the things in my mind. I knew it was wrong, but I thought the features would make for a cool guitar. There was no attempt to make a perfectly correct to historical spec guitar... more like an "all star team" mix of specs. I think it came out well! so, blame me, not them.... but understand it wasn't an over-sight. it was on purpose! :) Several years ago we had them build a run of 12-fret Southern Jumbos. Those caught some flak too. they weren't "correct" but then again, they weren't supposed to be. Another "all star team". I have one being built now that is a tweaked version of the old one. Again, it's "wrong" but i am sure it will be cool! That is the cool thing with Gibson. They will build what you want. They aren't bound by much. If you want a perfect recreation, they can do it. If you want something new, they can do it. If you want to mix and match to get your dream guitar b/c it doesn't exist in the real world..... well, they can do that too. This isn't Martin. Gibson isn't that stodgy. They never have been. They have always built guitars that don't match the catalog picture. I think that's the cool thing about them! in fact, i like to joke that if you see a vintage Gibson which perfectly matches the specs, it's probably fake! LOL. I just think it's cool to be able to get almost anything from them. Those guys know how to build guitars. Vintage spec, or vintage pipe dream. it doesn't matter. flexibility makes them cool :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 Yeah and the great thing about Gibson is that one can mix and match without it costing an arm and a leg. As long as the different elements are standard to at least something they are already doing or have done, they seem to be quite accomodating. For instance, the cost of this J50TV that is not a standard production model, was about the same as the J45TV, which you all know are built routinely and appear on the website. Try getting that done by some other builder and it will get into your pocket! I agree with Keith about the bridge .... looks good, feels good, and sounds good. Nice to know it was original. As for the pickguard, I like the larger one because of my playing style which takes me left of the left side of the sound hole on some songs ... thus the guard actually does it's job, no pick marks. I had forgotten that the first J50s had the teardrop style but I like the larger one because of it's association with the 60s folkies (think Dylan) and others like Gillian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Lovely guitar mate, hope you get many happy years from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ataylor Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 You are correct that these features never matched up on a real vintage Gibson. That isn't their fault though. It's mine, but done on purpose. I think the small guard looks funny on a J50. I associate the J50 with a large guard and i think it looks better that way. They did make some with AJ style bridges (though small guard). I am a HUGE fan of this bridge. I think it makes a difference sonically as well as visually, and to the touch. So, when I had the idea to have Gibson build a J50 TV for us, these were the things in my mind. I knew it was wrong, but I thought the features would make for a cool guitar. There was no attempt to make a perfectly correct to historical spec guitar... more like an "all star team" mix of specs. I think it came out well! Nice work on this one! I'm with you -- the large guard on natural top immediately says "J-50" to me and this is a cool combination of some great vintage J-50 features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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