Advice needed

[Luke Bizzy]

Nubee to the Gibson forum here. Would like to get some input on this: I want to purchase a Gibson acoustic flat top in the near future. (I love their beautiful sound). My question relates to which model is best for me. I have short, kinda thick fingers and most of the few guitars I've had in the past have been difficult for me to play because of string height from the neck. That's been a large factor in my staying with it to learn to play the instrument well. Adjustment to the bridge never helped, instead creating string buzz.

 

Based on some of you guys' experience, is there a model(s) which have a neck that's relatively easier to chord, etc? Or is it what it is and I just need to deal with it?

 

Thanks for any help here,

Luke

[ballcorner]

By the way you describe your fingers, I would suggest that a guitar with a wider nut width would be easier for you than a narrow one. For me, a nut width of 1 3/4" works best and you may find the same.

 

A Gibson Grand Concert CSM, for example, is an affordable Gibson with that nut width.

[Rambler]

String height is a set-up issue, not model specific. When it comes to models, forum members could offer better advice if we knew something about your playing style/music preferences, and either if you had a specific Gibson model in mind, or at least a general type--jumbo, dread, small body.

[Wayne]

Nubee to the Gibson forum here. Would like to get some input on this: I want to purchase a Gibson acoustic flat top in the near future. (I love their beautiful sound). My question relates to which model is best for me. I have short' date=' kinda thick fingers and most of the few guitars I've had in the past have been difficult for me to play because of string height from the neck. That's been a large factor in my staying with it to learn to play the instrument well. Adjustment to the bridge never helped, instead creating string buzz.

 

Based on some of you guys' experience, is there a model(s) which have a neck that's relatively easier to chord, etc? Or is it what it is and I just need to deal with it?

 

Thanks for any help here,

Luke[/quote']

 

I think most recent Gibsons arent too bad. I have short fingers so neck profile is important to me. A thumb over F is extremely difficult for me but I can do it, sometimes even cleanly. What kind(s) of guitars have you tried so far, and how did they feel? That would help us compare them to Gibsons.

[Luke Bizzy]

 

I think most recent Gibsons arent too bad. I have short fingers so neck profile is important to me. A thumb over F is extremely difficult for me but I can do it' date=' sometimes even cleanly. What kind(s) of guitars have you tried so far, and how did they feel? That would help us compare them to Gibsons. [/quote']

 

I'm just getting back into playing again(years away from it). The last I owned was a Seagull S 6. I never was satisfied with the feel of it after owning it a while. I sold it and now starting to shop again for something else. I picked up a friend's J 45 years ago and fell in love with the sound. I am now at a point where I can afford one, at least one of the lower priced Gibsons. I strum and on occasion can pick a little.

 

 

The other poster ballcorner mentioned the Gibson Grand Concert CSM. It looks very nice w/o actually playing it. And at one sale price of $949 looked very affordable.

 

Any comments from an owner of the CSM?

 

Thanks for taking the time to respond,

Luke

[Todd Wilson]

As others have said you have an adjustment issue.

 

And just because a guitar shop SAYS they do truss rod adjustments and/or other work, and just because they are supposedly certified Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Takamine, or whoever else technicians, does not mean they know what the flip they are doing. I've taken guitars to 3 different shops before before getting a good adjustment.

 

If you know any other players in your area, ask around and find out where they get their guitars adjusted. You never know, you might find someone who does there own and can do a better job than any shop can.

 

The best option is to find a good luthier.

[LesLawrence]

Hi Luke,

 

The strings on my Seagull sat very high on the nut. The music shop deepened the nut slots without any deleterious effects and I could now play an F at the first fret. I have not encountered this problem with any Gibsons I have tried.

 

Cheers,

Les

[jefleppard]

a parlour size with the smaller nut is great for pickers. like the L-00 etc... be prepared to pay $$$$ - the blues king new is about 2K.

[ksdaddy]

I can't remember if I modified the nut or made a new one for my Seagull but it was horrible nastyass high when I got it. It's now slippery butterful but it does definitely have a big round profile to it.

[Jinder]

if you dig your friend's J45, there lies a good starting point. I'd advise you to head to a guitar store with a good Gibson stock, and try the following:

 

Hummingbird (same short scale and Sitka/Mahogany tonewood combo as J45, but square-shouldered and more elaborately styled)

 

SJ100 (Sitka/Hog again, but long scale and jumbo body. BIG sound and lovely tone and feel)

 

SJ200 (as above, but more elaborate décor and Maple back and sides, so thuddier bass, more biting mids and bell-like highs)

 

CJ165 Rosewood (a mini version of the SJ200, but this time with Rosewood back and sides. Very much it's own tonality, and a very highly regarded compact guitar)

 

J45 Rosewood (the Rosewood version of your friend's J45. Great tone with flattened response in the top end. Warmth and width in tone are the keywords here. You will know if you're a Rosewood player if this speaks to you over your friend's Hog J45.

 

Enjoy your hunt! Try a Dove too-basically a long-scale, Maple version of the Hummingbird. Not for everyone, and a very idiosyncratic and distinctive tone, but one of my very favourite instruments I have played.

[fortyearspickn]

Luke, There are lots of good players with short and/or fat fingers. Some play narrow necks. Try a classical guitar and see if that feels better. I'm guessing it won't - and it'll possibly indicate that there is such a thing as too wide. Basically, I think you need to avoid a nut width that is on the narrow end - and then find a guitar you feel will Inspire you to 'deal with it', as you posed as one possible alternative. G'Luck.

[Luke Bizzy]

Many thanks to all of you for your input. It will help when I finally pull the trigger. I plan on travelling to Gruhns in Nashvegas in the near future and look at what they have.

 

I will post here what I wind up scoring.

 

You guys are great. Thanks again.

[Jayla]

if you dig your friend's J45' date=' there lies a good starting point. I'd advise you to head to a guitar store with a good Gibson stock, and try the following:

...

SJ100 (Sitka/Hog again, but long scale and jumbo body. BIG sound and lovely tone and feel)

...

[/quote']

 

One little correction: the current SJ-100s are made with bubinga b & s, not mahogany. Here's a thread on the various J-100 models made over the years.