JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 this guitar is lovely in everyway : JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I love Robi Johns' playing style, but I would never have guessed with my eyes closed that this was a J-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I love Robi Johns' playing style, but I would never have guessed with my eyes closed that this was a J-45. Well even though the pickup is essentially a Gibson-branded trance amulet, and they sound pretty natural, it's still plugged in, Nick, and I think that it does make a difference. From all the Jackson Browne videos, I can really tell that the Trance is special and eliminates quack, captures more of the acoustic sound, etc. Still it sounds plugged in because the amp does something. I also like RJ's playing, and found his Sweetwater video flogging the J45 Standard encouraging when deciding what sort of Gibson to buy. There he really does get a classic hog slope growl and nice soft classical tones too. That one sounds like a J45. Here, I still do get some of the J45 growl through the pickup, but the amp just can't deliver it so that it really sounds bang on. It's not coming out of the sound hole is it? Good price for a Trance-loaded Gibson, though... Sunset/sunburst is nice, but not quite my bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Anyone know if this PureVoice is commercailly available yet? Do you suppose I might be able to consider having one installed in the custom shop SJ that is somewhere in process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Well even though the pickup is essentially a Gibson-branded trance amulet, and they sound pretty natural, it's still plugged in, Nick, and I think that it does make a difference. You are undoubtedly correct. I've played this clip through good headphones, and through good speakers, and I still struggle to find much J-45 "character". I agree that it's a lovely sound. It just doesn't sound very much like a J-45 to my ears. I think part of the problem is that I spent a lot of time direct-mic'ing guitars, and am not really used to the acoustic-electric approach and its compromises. I understand acoustics, and I understand electrics. It's the vast middle ground of the modern acoustic-electric--and the pursuit for more natural sound--that stymies me. I suspect this is about as close as you get to a true "acoustic" character, and it's really a pleasant sound. It's just that it could be almost any really good guitar to my ears. Hog? Rosewood? I really can't tell. The wood character seems to melt into the electronic aspect of the sound. Not in a bad way, mind you. Maybe with a different playing style I wouldn't get the same impression. This is a bit mellow in a jazzy/new age sort of way. The mic being used is carrying a reasonable amound of the guitar, if the sound when he is talking rather than playing is the same mix as it is while playing. I only have one acoustic electric, and it has an L.R. Baggs Active Element, which is nothing like the much more natural sound of this set-up. Chalk and cheese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The G Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I would need to hear it "unplugged" to give a sound opinion (pun intended) Sure is a good looking J-45 though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Doesn't sound like a J-45 because there wasn't any cowboy chords on that clip. Playing style is very good, and very much renascence man fingerstyle. I'll bet that this pickup would be very good at sensing the J-45 growl. C'mon RJ give us a few strums in the open position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Doesn't sound like a J-45 because there wasn't any cowboy chords on that clip. Playing style is very good, and very much renascence man fingerstyle. I'll bet that this pickup would be very good at sensing the J-45 growl. C'mon RJ give us a few strums in the open position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 The new Trance Audio system in this guitar is designated "M" - for mono, and appears to be a bit more moderately priced than the stereo amulet system. That's why it doesn't have the 5-pin end jack, and can pass the signal thru the more standard 1/4" jack. Saweeet ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Doesn't sound like a J-45 because there wasn't any cowboy chords on that clip. Playing style is very good, and very much renascence man fingerstyle. I'll bet that this pickup would be very good at sensing the J-45 growl. C'mon RJ give us a few strums in the open position. I agree with Dan. The good Rabi Johns is a very good player but why on earth does he play these classical / Jazzy samples on a J-45 and other Gibsons, makes no sense, I couldnt hear the J-45 character in there also until he strummed the one chard at the end .. He should start with some cowboy chords as Dan suggested, and make it representative of how 99% of the world plays the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I agree with Dan. The good Rabi Johns is a very good player but why on earth does he play these classical / Jazzy samples on a J-45 and other Gibsons, makes no sense, I couldnt hear the J-45 character in there also until he strummed the one chard at the end .. He should start with some cowboy chords as Dan suggested, and make it representative of how 99% of the world plays the guitar. To be fair to the good Rabbi (oyvé), he's classically trained, isn't he? I think somebody quoted Ren somewhere about RJ being one of the best classical players he's heard. And on most Sweetwater vids he does give you at least a quick strum of at least one cowboy chord, when he describes the guitars as 'gutsy - pause - and punchy'. On the J200 all you get from him is strumming, I seem to remember. I like the fact that he can get sounds out of the guitars that are compatible with classical playing, because I also originally come from classical, and like warmth. That's also why I like Gibson leccies over Fenders. I never bought a decent steel-string for years, because everything seemed to sound too bassy (expensive Martins) or trebly (Taks, Taylors, cheap Martins and Martin clones). Couldn't tell much difference between beaters and high-end stuff save for some big boomy bluegrassers' dreads. Gibsons are different because typically they give you warmer trebles and mids, plus the thumpy bass, and they growl. They fit a tonal niche that I could have loved years ago if the internet had been so readily available or more Gibson acoustics had been lying around. Rab sold me on the hog slopes because he got a 45 to growl and do classical in one sample. Man that's impressive range for a single guitar style. And for most models there are loads of cowboy samples out there, but little refined fingerpicking. For the growly cowboy stuff I have that Thomann sample, and for the classical I have the Rabster. Put them together and I have a fuller profile. Of course the problem does come when RJ intros a new model, as here, and then just does the classical stuff. I freely admit that most Gibson punters are not looking to play classical on their guitars, and that he really could have given it a bit more welly here. I don't think that the same criticism always applies to his samples, though. Even the man Jarvis in Singapore can't get the same range out of a Gibby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 To be fair to the good Rabbi (oyvé), he's classically trained, isn't he? I think somebody quoted Ren somewhere about RJ being one of the best classical players he's heard. And on most Sweetwater vids he does give you at least a quick strum of at least one cowboy chord, when he describes the guitars as 'gutsy - pause - and punchy'. On the J200 all you get from him is strumming, I seem to remember. I like the fact that he can get sounds out of the guitars that are compatible with classical playing, because I also originally come from classical, and like warmth. That's also why I like Gibson leccies over Fenders. I never bought a decent steel-string for years, because everything seemed to sound too bassy (expensive Martins) or trebly (Taks, Taylors, cheap Martins and Martin clones). Couldn't tell much difference between beaters and high-end stuff save for some big boomy bluegrassers' dreads. Gibsons are different because typically they give you warmer trebles and mids, plus the thumpy bass, and they growl. They fit a tonal niche that I could have loved years ago if the internet had been so readily available or more Gibson acoustics had been lying around. Rab sold me on the hog slopes because he got a 45 to growl and do classical in one sample. Man that's impressive range for a single guitar style. And for most models there are loads of cowboy samples out there, but little refined fingerpicking. For the growly cowboy stuff I have that Thomann sample, and for the classical I have the Rabster. Put them together and I have a fuller profile. Of course the problem does come when RJ intros a new model, as here, and then just does the classical stuff. I freely admit that most Gibson punters are not looking to play classical on their guitars, and that he really could have given it a bit more welly here. I don't think that the same criticism always applies to his samples, though. Even the man Jarvis in Singapore can't get the same range out of a Gibby. I think RObi has stated he studied with Andres Segovia when they guy went to Montana. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasAK Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Gibsons are different because typically they give you warmer trebles and mids, plus the thumpy bass, and they growl. They fit a tonal niche...because he got a 45 to growl and do classical in one sample. I love those warmtrebles & mids and the low end thump & growl!! chasAK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 A lovely guitar, no doubt, but mister John plays it a tooth too gentle. I agree with the posts above that claim not much genuine 45 comes across. Especially not vintage J-45, which to my knowledge is much rougher, drier and fringed. If there is a sitting on the farm-fence flavor about the J-45 in general (and this one also), it just doesn't show here. That doesn't necessarily mean this model is a sissy – it just sounds a bit like it. All this said, the actual amplified acoustic sound is promising. This is the clean deal, remember. Put a little this and that to it, and I bet the system works terrific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjl200 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Great ......another guitar I'm GAS'en for....... thanks fellas, Maybe just an install of the new Trance M into my SJ200 or J45 $380 sounds better then 3K .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Great ......another guitar I'm GAS'en for....... thanks fellas, Maybe just an install of the new Trance M into my SJ200 or J45 $380 sounds better then 3K .... Not to throw more into the fire, but : http://tranceaudio.com/amuletm.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 well now look what you have all done, I really think I need one!!! Seriously,, What we are hearing, sure sounds great, but how much of that was studio processing. I would also have to "hear" it in "person" ,, and I'm sure, they carry a heavy price tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 well now look what you have all done, I really think I need one!!! Seriously,, What we are hearing, sure sounds great, but how much of that was studio processing. I would also have to "hear" it in "person" ,, and I'm sure, they carry a heavy price tag. Yours for under 3K. Given the quality of the trance system and general Gibson prices, not as expensive as I expected. Not sure what processing is in the chain, but when Jackson Browne demoed his sig, he just plugged into a Fender Pro Junior or some such and the trance sounded extraordinarily close to natural acoustic tone. As said above, it is still electric and the PA is not a soundhole. Not heard more natural though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogeye Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I think RObi has stated he studied with Andres Segovia when they guy went to Montana. JC Robi studied under Parkening not Segovia. Segovia came to Bozeman for a one night concert in the middle 70's. He never came back. Parkening held his Masters Class in Bozeman for many years. Parkening did study under Segovia. Muriel Anderson,Robi and many others came to Bozeman to study with Parkening during this period. Robi played a variety of styles and his band "In Flight" was chosen to play at the Montreux Jazz festival 25 years ago. His best playing was done on a Ramirez Brazilian classical. He played a Gibsson ES-175 for his jazz music. It's true that he doesn't much like Country or Western music and never flatpicks. Please enjoy his music as this is probably the last time you will hear him play. Just so you know....Robi came to work for Gibson 20 years ago when Gibson first started in Bozeman. Gibson was a distributor for Ramirez and Robi was hired as a telemarketer(product specialist) to sell Ramirez because of his knowledge of their guitars.Robi was working at Music Villa with the owner Fred Decker at this point in time. Gibson dropped the Ramirez line in 1991. Robi stayed on and sold Gibson acoustics. Robi is one of the very last of the original group of men and women that brought Gibson back from the brink. I don't much like going to the plant any more as the entire culture has changed from the days when Ren,Robi, John Walker, Kevin Kopp, Rich Mayo,John Lowell and many others worked there. I am a huge fan of Robi's playing and have a tape of his band "In Flight" that I play often. Robi is a big fan of Jackson Brown and that friendship led to the guitar that Jackson plays today. Ren and Robi are still great friends. Well...Enough of that. I just post here to keep the record straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Robi studied under Parkening not Segovia. Segovia came to Bozeman for a one night concert in the middle 70's. He never came back. Parkening held his Masters Class in Bozeman for many years. Parkening did study under Segovia. Muriel Anderson,Robi and many others came to Bozeman to study with Parkening during this period. Robi played a variety of styles and his band "In Flight" was chosen to play at the Montreux Jazz festival 25 years ago. His best playing was done on a Ramirez Brazilian classical. He played a Gibsson ES-175 for his jazz music. It's true that he doesn't much like Country or Western music and never flatpicks. Please enjoy his music as this is probably the last time you will hear him play. Just so you know....Robi came to work for Gibson 20 years ago when Gibson first started in Bozeman. Gibson was a distributor for Ramirez and Robi was hired as a telemarketer(product specialist) to sell Ramirez because of his knowledge of their guitars.Robi was working at Music Villa with the owner Fred Decker at this point in time. Gibson dropped the Ramirez line in 1991. Robi stayed on and sold Gibson acoustics. Robi is one of the very last of the original group of men and women that brought Gibson back from the brink. I don't much like going to the plant any more as the entire culture has changed from the days when Ren,Robi, John Walker, Kevin Kopp, Rich Mayo,John Lowell and many others worked there. I am a huge fan of Robi's playing and have a tape of his band "In Flight" that I play often. Robi is a big fan of Jackson Brown and that friendship led to the guitar that Jackson plays today. Ren and Robi are still great friends. Well...Enough of that. I just post here to keep the record straight. HG , thanks I saw a video where he talked about that but I didn't remember it all that great. thanks for setting things straight. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I have played a couple of these. I have to say that this is a TERRIBLE representation of this pickup. In the video it is nothing special, and even bad. In the real world, it REALLY does sound like the actual guitar. This video does it a terrible injustice. Sweetwater should have never released this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I have played a couple of these. I have to say that this is a TERRIBLE representation of this pickup. In the video it is nothing special, and even bad. In the real world, it REALLY does sound like the actual guitar. This video does it a terrible injustice. Sweetwater should have never released this. Keith, thanks for reiterating what our ears had already told us. It confirms that we haven't all lost our senses, and that the emperor, in this case, really had no clothes. Based on your comments, I would certainly give this combination another look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 I have played a couple of these. I have to say that this is a TERRIBLE representation of this pickup. In the video it is nothing special, and even bad. In the real world, it REALLY does sound like the actual guitar. This video does it a terrible injustice. Sweetwater should have never released this. Wow ... so if I liked the video ... I would probably love it in real life =) thanks Keith JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 I have played a couple of these. I have to say that this is a TERRIBLE representation of this pickup. In the video it is nothing special, and even bad. In the real world, it REALLY does sound like the actual guitar. This video does it a terrible injustice. Sweetwater should have never released this. Admit I cannot hear it should be that bad. What I get is a very clean sound from a soft right hand. It avoids what I dread the most. The synthetic sub-flavor, which makes some systems almost unbearable. In my mind the neutrality of this test could be a good starting point for a 'realer' voice. Still believe in it. But modoc - is it possible for you to post a tube-sample of something you'ld recommend ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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