The dman Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I was never in the market for a Gibson and was going to buy either a HD28 or D18 online because being lefty there were none available in my area. I was looking for a big loud guitar sound. Last July I was returning a Taylor and by chance the store had a lefty J45 standard and I was instantly fascinated by the tone and also encouraged by a player friend who said " dude if you don't take that thing home your nuts" so she came home with me. It wasn't the conceived tone I was looking for but it has such a nice woody deep warm tone that it captivated me. The past few months I've been questioning whether I made the right choice, should I sell it? etc and it didn't help coming here and seeing you guys with your fancy models . but as I sit here today in my studio miced up and jamming this instrument is so dynamic and rich that it draws things out of me . The trick for me is to play her like she wants to be played, it may not be loudest but what a sweet tone when played just right. Do I still want a rosewood and loud Hog? Hell yea but not at the expense of this guitar. I guess the reason I'm posting this is I see Gibson acoustics bashed a lot across the internet and Martin and Taylor seem to be the "golden childs" of commercial acoustics, even a few players I know have an attitude about Gibson acoustics but in my experience when you play a good one they have such a distinct tone or what I call personality that nothing else sounds like it, not that I've heard all the guitars out there or those other companies don't make fine guitars but being a player and recording engineer I've witnessed that distinct tone on more than a few occasions and always walked away with how unique the good ones sounded. I could have saved a couple of paragraphs and just said Gibson your making some fine acoustics and despite getting "that look" from a few because I wasn't in their box...I get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I guess the reason I'm posting this is I see Gibson acoustics bashed a lot across the internet and Martin and Taylor seem to be the "golden childs" of commercial acoustics, even a few players I know have an attitude about Gibson acoustics but in my experience when you play a good one they have such a distinct tone or what I call personality that nothing else sounds like it... Gibson does get a lot of bashing in some places, but it seems to me like Gibsons are played as much if not more by professional musicians than other brands. I subscribe to a few music or guitar-related publications. With each issue, I usually take an informal poll and count which brand instruments the musicians are using or are pictured with in the editorial (non-advertising) pictures. Gibson is often most depicted brand, probably for the reason you pointed out: "When you play a good one they have such a distinct tone or what I call personality that nothing else sounds like it..." Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1825 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I know exactly what you mean Dman. I was looking at Taylors and Martins when I played a used advanced jumbo just for the heck of it. I left it at the guitar shop and went home, couldn't get it out of my head. Tossed and turned all night, even had a bit of the cold sweats! Needless to say I ran back when the store opened and bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 . Thanks for sharing your story. And glad to see that you gave the J45 a chance. I enjoy reading about the experience of learning what Gibson has to offer. She will only improve with age. . Congrats. . B) About that rosewood and hog - don't forget to looked at used Gibsons. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Gibson is the favorite "whipping boy" of know-nothing guitar experts and all those who have no instrument knowledge aside from the other whiners and complainers on the internet. Dman, you are right-on about your reason for keeping your J45. This guitar thing is a real personal choice. That J45 is "you." It's not just an instrument with a sweet twang or deep rumble to it. It's part of what/who you are. Our guitars (if we're into more than the music) are an extension of who we are as human beings. It is not even the name on the headstock. It's what the guitar means to each of us as an individual. I definitly lean toward Gibsons. I feel the brand indentifies with who I am. I feel similar about the Martin flagships, like the D28, HD28, D18. And while volumn and tone are important to me, they pale in comparison with the overall feeling I get from the guitar. If I bond and indentify with a particular guitar, then the volumn and tone and mids and highs are just fine. There are guitars that I play, and then there are guitars that play me. The guitars that play me, that bring out my emotions, thoughts, words, smiles are the real Holy Grails for me. Some may be expensive, some may be cheap, but each in its own way is me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Congrats! And Enjoy!! Heck, if I took the advice of folks on forums I probably would not own most of the guitars that are keeping me company these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salfromchatham Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I have owned Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons. Today I own multiple Martins as well as A Gibson J45TV and an Epiphone. I never did get the brand loyal Chevy- Ford thing. Choice is good. Play what pleases your own ears. Play with whatever tools get the job done for you. I will defend Martin in one respect. I have been to the factory numerous times. It is a great company that even in the downturn stood by its employees - a rarity for a major corporation nowadays. Having said that, enjoy your J45; my J45TV is my favorite guitar. I think ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 They just happened to have a Lefy J-45 ? Um... I'd say the destiny was pretty clear. My J-45 quickly replaced my HD-28 as the most played guitar on the rack. Its got a character all its own, and I absolutely love the short-scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Gibson is the favorite "whipping boy" of know-nothing guitar experts and all those who have no instrument knowledge aside from the other whiners and complainers on the internet. Dman, you are right-on about your reason for keeping your J45. This guitar thing is a real personal choice. That J45 is "you." It's not just an instrument with a sweet twang or deep rumble to it. It's part of what/who you are. Our guitars (if we're into more than the music) are an extension of who we are as human beings. It is not even the name on the headstock. It's what the guitar means to each of us as an individual. I definitly lean toward Gibsons. I feel the brand indentifies with who I am. I feel similar about the Martin flagships, like the D28, HD28, D18. And while volumn and tone are important to me, they pale in comparison with the overall feeling I get from the guitar. If I bond and indentify with a particular guitar, then the volumn and tone and mids and highs are just fine. There are guitars that I play, and then there are guitars that play me. The guitars that play me, that bring out my emotions, thoughts, words, smiles are the real Holy Grails for me. Some may be expensive, some may be cheap, but each in its own way is me. Dang, Mo'Pick, you shouldn't hold back like that. Why don't you show a little spine & tell us how you really feel. Congrats and thanks for hitting the nail on the head, and for one of the more sincere, yet emotionally-charged posts I have read for a good while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasAK Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Yep, you just can’t beat that warm woody sound! I waslooking for a rose wood guitar and could not get past the j45. The warm lowsand mids and the sweet highs sold me. I understand the intimidation of “youguys with your fancy models.” The j45TVis much praised on this forum. In fact, I wish I had one, but my j45mc (nowcalled the standard) sounded good from the getgo and is sounding even more incredibleall the time. Would I like a TV model with the adi. top and advanced bracing,yes. Would I trade my mc in for one, no, it sounds too good and we have beengetting well acquainted for some time now. The adi. top and advanced bracing willsound different (notnessarily better). A good j45 standard is hard to beat in anybody’s court. It is a beautiful instrument. Enjoy the warmth of the deep lows and strongmids and the sweet sounding highs. The j45 has something other mahoganies justdon’t seem to have. chasAK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCEinMA Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Here's a little eye candy for those that appreciate the Gibson J-45. My favorite guitar as well. This is a 2010 Custom Shop version. Picture taken today by my son. Love the fall colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Classy for sure ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Guy Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I was never in the market for a Gibson and was going to buy either a HD28 or D18 online because being lefty there were none available in my area. I was looking for a big loud guitar sound. Last July I was returning a Taylor and by chance the store had a lefty J45 standard and I was instantly fascinated by the tone and also encouraged by a player friend who said " dude if you don't take that thing home your nuts" so she came home with me. It wasn't the conceived tone I was looking for but it has such a nice woody deep warm tone that it captivated me. The past few months I've been questioning whether I made the right choice, should I sell it? etc and it didn't help coming here and seeing you guys with your fancy models . but as I sit here today in my studio miced up and jamming this instrument is so dynamic and rich that it draws things out of me . The trick for me is to play her like she wants to be played, it may not be loudest but what a sweet tone when played just right. Do I still want a rosewood and loud Hog? Hell yea but not at the expense of this guitar. I guess the reason I'm posting this is I see Gibson acoustics bashed a lot across the internet and Martin and Taylor seem to be the "golden childs" of commercial acoustics, even a few players I know have an attitude about Gibson acoustics but in my experience when you play a good one they have such a distinct tone or what I call personality that nothing else sounds like it, not that I've heard all the guitars out there or those other companies don't make fine guitars but being a player and recording engineer I've witnessed that distinct tone on more than a few occasions and always walked away with how unique the good ones sounded. I could have saved a couple of paragraphs and just said Gibson your making some fine acoustics and despite getting "that look" from a few because I wasn't in their box...I get it. Welcome fellow lefty! I totally hear you. My first "serious" guitar was a Taylor 810 which was beautiful but lacking "soul".....& then I stumbled across a rare (for the UK) lefty J-45 in a store & knew after that first G chord that I had to take her home & I sold the Taylor. I've since experimented with Martin too, a nice HD28, but never bonded (too bassy) despite my Bluegrass pretentions, sold it.....& added a 2nd Gibson (Southern Jumbo "New Vintage")! btw, have you joined the best lefty forum on the net yet? http://www.leftyfrets.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The dman Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 Thanks for your thoughts guys...I've heard Gibsons described as a dark chocolate sound and I have to say that's the perfect analogy. I love how my J45 sounds so sweet when played lightly but can be a screaming you know what when the kid gloves are off. And then there's that thump Lefty Guy thanks for the link and yes I've been there and will have to join it one of these days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyReb Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Glad you love your j45! I needed a big loud guitar so the Advanced Jumbo was my pick. Maybe one day you can have the sweet 45 and a AJ for butt kickin power. Anyway I tend to use a different method of comparing tone. Martin- sweet red wine Gibson- Tennessee Whiskey Taylor- Zima Now I like a sweet red wine from time to time, but Tennessee whiskey is a lot more fun. Zima....yea ill pass on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markini Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I got a 1948 J45 from my girl friend in 1973, it had been sitting in her father's closet for about 15 years. Wonderful guitar, unfortunately being 20 years old, I sold it to a friend that I owed noney to. Big regrets there. But that guitar sold me on Gibson acoustics. Flash forward to 2009 thru 2011. I went through a Martin D18, D28, D28V? (herring bone) and am EC model. Traded them in essentially on 4 Gibbys. this was over time. 2 Birds, a Pro and a Concert series. Still looking for that magic J45, I'm sure I will find it. Incidentally, the Pro looks like a J45 but a longer scale. My jamming buddys last night wouldn't let me put the pro down, it has that "tone". Disclaimer: The Birds sound even better to me, because I like the mellow tones they produce. I have tried to bond with Martins, but to no avail. I do have a Taylor GS Mini and a 110. The Mini is an incredible value, but I am a Gibson guy at heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 dman , here are a few gibson leftys I had built for me : 2012 1938 Sj 200 : 2012 .1930's Original Jumbo : 2007 SJ 200 True Vintage : =D enjoy . if you are in the market for another J 45 you might want to check out this rosewood custom http://www.rainbowguitars.com/guitar/gibson/j-45-custom-rosewood-vintage-sunburst-lefty/rs4slrsgh1/gb JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 here's another 2011 Hummingbird True Vintage Special : JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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