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There is no Gibson Guitar Museum is there?


merseybeat1963

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Au contraire. My whole house is given over to the celebration of fine Gibson instruments. I am very willing to take in any Gibson instruments for curation. PM me if you have any to send. At present, we are particularly lacking a 1943 rosewood banner SJ, a 1942 banner J45, a 1963 Hummingbird and a 1936 AJ. I keep hoping that Tom will oblige by sending some of his spares. Sadly I can't convince JT to divert any of the banners that come his way. I live in hope though. We could also use a full selection of TV models. In the meantime, I believe that Tom does guided tours of his collection every third Sunday in Februrary in leap years. Not sure what he charges for entry, though. [biggrin]

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I went to a museum in Kalamazoo several years ago... I forget the name...but it had a room dedicated to Gibson.

It did not have as many guitars as I'd hoped.

 

That's because I have all of those guitars. Or Tom does. Or they are on a continuous loop between Willi Henkes and John Thomas. Or perhaps just because they are so good. Nobody left any around for the museum to show apart from a handful of double-braced Norlins. It troubles me that the museum in Nazareth is so well stocked...

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That's because I have all of those guitars. Or Tom does. Or they are on a continuous loop between Willi Henkes and John Thomas. Or perhaps just because they are so good. Nobody left any around for the museum to show apart from a handful of double-braced Norlins. It troubles me that the museum in Nazareth is so well stocked...

 

Good points!!

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For all the volume of guitars they move Gibson should have maintained a museum..which would doubly serve for study/reference of reproducing models.Oh well.

When Ren wanted to learn how to build Gibson acoustics for Gibson, he had to borrow examples from private collectors for study -- corporate couldn't provide him with anything useful.

 

-- Bob R

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That's because I have all of those guitars. Or Tom does. Or they are on a continuous loop between Willi Henkes and John Thomas. Or perhaps just because they are so good. Nobody left any around for the museum to show apart from a handful of double-braced Norlins. It troubles me that the museum in Nazareth is so well stocked...

 

:)

 

Ah, but I loan my guitars out freely. In fact, right now I have a couple on loan to the good folks in ... Montana. Which does raise the question of why Martin has been willing to purchase significant examples of its art while Gibson has not.

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:)

 

Ah, but I loan my guitars out freely. In fact, right now I have a couple on loan to the good folks in ... Montana. Which does raise the question of why Martin has been willing to purchase significant examples of its art while Gibson has not.

 

John ,

 

I think it's family pride ... if gibson was owned by a Henry Gibson it would be different .

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC

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If there was a guy who loved the Gibson history & instruments foremost.. .but still knew how to maintain the business, like Henry J has..

It really would not take too many millions to assemble a nice little collection of 40 instruments..

The first million would more than cover the Les Paul line...another 3-4 million should cover everything else...

Of course a couple of Ren Fergusons guitar art..must be included...

Oh yes, and his very first Gibson guitar out of Bozeman,marking the brands revival in acoustic guitar making, after 30 years of ka ka... (This last instrument can easily be located,in my bedroom) : )

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My friend and I were going to bring 20 vintage Gibson acoustics to the first "Gibson Homecoming" a few years back. We were excited to be going out west, my friend has a home there now, load up his truck and hang out. We got shot down, didn't sing up in time, too many people on the tour,,,just crazy. I'm sure Ren would have loved it! Probably would have wanted to keep a couple for inspection.

 

I am doing an doing an Art/Guitar show here locally featuring my collection and included some other pieces that I know of in the area. I'm in NW Illinois. When I get the early spring date I will post it here. No idea where folks on here live.

 

To include:

 

4 Nick Lucas guitars-Two small bodies, H and A braced. Two 12 fret big bodies, mahogany

1941 J 55

1944 Banner Head SJ, beautiful.

1945 Maple Banner Head

194? Blonde top Banner Head SJ, interesting and lovely

1932 L1, first 14 fret standard guitar I have documented.

1930 L1, X braced small body one off, probably off the floor

1930 L1 X braced small body seen one other kinda like it

1948 Gibson/National 1155 with Gibson set neck, near mint

1951 J-185 sunburst, probably from the first batch earliest one from that batch

1951 J-185 Natural, one of 11 and one of those is highly moddified

7 Gibson Tenor Ukes, three from the late 20s, 1 early 30s, 1 early 40s, 1 late 40s Uke III

12 Sopranos, including X braced spruce top Uke III in sunburst. Never seen another.

1 1962 Baritone, mint

1931 Argentine L2

1932 L 10,in black,dot ebony neck, solid tone bars. One of the first of that model. earlist batch IDed in Spanns book.

1933 L 12, glowing sunburst top, original gold tuners.

 

Seems I have forgotten one. I may have other stuff by show time, and maybe less. Maybe some other local Gibsons and a few Martins.

 

Stay tuned. I hope to get a high quality Video

 

I'll invite John Thomas since I am going to be showcasing your book John!!!!

 

Terry

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My friend and I were going to bring 20 vintage Gibson acoustics to the first "Gibson Homecoming" a few years back. We were excited to be going out west, my friend has a home there now, load up his truck and hang out. We got shot down, didn't sing up in time, too many people on the tour,,,just crazy. I'm sure Ren would have loved it! Probably would have wanted to keep a couple for inspection.

 

I am doing an doing an Art/Guitar show here locally featuring my collection and included some other pieces that I know of in the area. I'm in NW Illinois. When I get the early spring date I will post it here. No idea where folks on here live.

 

To include:

 

4 Nick Lucas guitars-Two small bodies, H and A braced. Two 12 fret big bodies, mahogany

1941 J 55

1944 Banner Head SJ, beautiful.

1945 Maple Banner Head

194? Blonde top Banner Head SJ, interesting and lovely

1932 L1, first 14 fret standard guitar I have documented.

1930 L1, X braced small body one off, probably off the floor

1930 L1 X braced small body seen one other kinda like it

1948 Gibson/National 1155 with Gibson set neck, near mint

1951 J-185 sunburst, probably from the first batch earliest one from that batch

1951 J-185 Natural, one of 11 and one of those is highly moddified

7 Gibson Tenor Ukes, three from the late 20s, 1 early 30s, 1 early 40s, 1 late 40s Uke III

12 Sopranos, including X braced spruce top Uke III in sunburst. Never seen another.

1 1962 Baritone, mint

1931 Argentine L2

1932 L 10,in black,dot ebony neck, solid tone bars. One of the first of that model. earlist batch IDed in Spanns book.

1933 L 12, glowing sunburst top, original gold tuners.

 

Seems I have forgotten one. I may have other stuff by show time, and maybe less. Maybe some other local Gibsons and a few Martins.

 

Stay tuned. I hope to get a high quality Video

 

I'll invite John Thomas since I am going to be showcasing your book John!!!!

 

Terry

 

Hi Terry,

 

I wish I could come!

 

We do that now and again, but we do it more often with banjos than guitars. They are a bit less expensive (10s of thousands rather than100s), but we have never had trouble. I guess we have never done Gibson guitars by themselves -- our guitar shows were Martin dreads and a mix of golden era stuff. Since we live in a sea of excellent cooperative traditional musicians, the demos can be breathtaking. I have three powerpoint talks.

 

Too bad you are so far away.

 

Best,

 

-Tom

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[i]Too bad you are so far away.[/i]

 

I agree. I'd liked to shake your hand and get my hands on a few of your guitars, just pick some. I want to play that L2,the Legend.

 

I hope to have few Martins at the show. I know a few pre-war guitars around the area. I'll have a 30s D-18, maybe a Herringbone 28. couple of small bodies. I just thought of another one.

 

A nice display of vintage Dobros, I play and a friend has a few. I've just got my player, but she is the best. I should call it Tut, he called them back in the day and I got one, infact traded a 1941 D-18 for the Dobro almost 30 years ago, but not with Tut.

 

I'm going to do a high quality Vid of the show. I will get it up

 

Maybe someday.

 

Terry

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I am doing an doing an Art/Guitar show here locally featuring my collection and included some other pieces that I know of in the area. I'm in NW Illinois. When I get the early spring date I will post it here. No idea where folks on here live.

 

...

 

I'll invite John Thomas since I am going to be showcasing your book John!!!!

 

Terry

 

Terry,

 

Let me know the date! Maybe I can make it. I'll be doing a number of book talks around the country (NY, MI, TN, CA) and elsewhere (Italy) and will try to fit in your gig.

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Would be great to see the video Terry.

 

Great to hear that, thanks! I'm going to be putting a lot of effort into this show. Not just guitars hanging on the wall, period correct displays that show the guitar from the jazz age to current, supported by design elements again reflecting the times. jazz age, depression, Hawaiian, blues, country, rock, you get the pictures. WW II will be John's banner girls. The guitar will present a history lesson with a tie in to Art. Not the first time guitars have been tied in with Art.

Let me know the date! Maybe I can make it.

 

John, I will when we have one solid. I'll get an email to you soon. I can see you doing a presentation,book signing. I hope to be able to produce this show in conjunction with the local guitar shop and civic art group. I live in a small town 2.5 hour train ride out of Chicago, 45 min from Rock Island, Peoria Illinois. I know many local players, pro and am. At this point I am getting concerned we won't have enough space.

 

Yes John I want you there and will work to make that work.

 

I hope I still have the Banner SJ sunburst. If it goes on the market it will go on very strong.

 

My Blonde SJ will be there, it came from town and this guitar shop. It came represent the Banner Blondes. That is what I will call it!

 

Terry

 

John, it would be interesting to see others around the country do something similar to support a book tour. You, me, Tom know more guys like me that have a pile of vintage Gibson guitars. Throw a show together, it would not have to have my elements. Your presentation would be the element. Do it like I am. Guitar stores want people in their shop. My show will be used as a Friday night fundraiser for the Art group at the music shop, Saturday free and open to the public.

 

People love to look at Vintage Guitars, and the nice folks can even play them! The local press need some interesting stories, so I see them involved. I have a business angle mixed in this show, but it ain't a "guitar, buy and sell" My instruments will not have price tags. My buddy will be selling his shop.

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Of course, there is a yearly gathering of vintage Gibson acoustic instruments that includes a high percentage of the most valuable acoustic instruments ever made. The problem is it is exclusive to people who own the instruments, and it does not include Gibson guitars -- which are considered not good enough to make the cut. I think a prewar AJ might be welcome, but it would be chancy. Here is the link.

Let's pick,

 

-Tom

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Of course, there is a yearly gathering of vintage Gibson acoustic instruments that includes a high percentage of the most valuable acoustic instruments ever made. The problem is it is exclusive to people who own the instruments, and it does not include Gibson guitars -- which are considered not good enough to make the cut. I think a prewar AJ might be welcome, but it would be chancy. Here is the link.

Let's pick,

 

-Tom

 

 

Tom, that whole concept sounds like a guitarist's worst nightmare......

 

"Not good enough to make the cut" is an appropriate term, when you think about it in a bluegrass banjo vs. guitar context.

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Tom, that whole concept sounds like a guitarist's worst nightmare......

 

"Not good enough to make the cut" is an appropriate term, when you think about it in a bluegrass banjo vs. guitar context.

 

It is not what you would call a "musical" event. One of the few non-electric events where earplugs are appropriate.[scared]

 

Along with the famous instruments, there are lots of famous players too. Lots of testosterone.

 

Let's pick,

 

-Tom

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Tom, that whole concept sounds like a guitarist's worst nightmare......

 

"Not good enough to make the cut" is an appropriate term, when you think about it in a bluegrass banjo vs. guitar context.

 

 

What a shame.... musicianship and instruments should be inclusive, not exclusive.

 

I play quite a bit with players who don't think they're good enough to join in..... I always try to encourage them to contribute what they can.

 

I LOVE to play, (some say 'obsession), and I love even more to play with others. I think most of us are the same.

 

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What a shame.... musicianship and instruments should be inclusive, not exclusive.

 

I play quite a bit with players who don't think they're good enough to join in..... I always try to encourage them to contribute what they can.

 

I LOVE to play, (some say 'obsession), and I love even more to play with others. I think most of us are the same.

 

 

Your missing the point -- this has nothing to do with that. This is about instruments, not music. The rest of the year is about music.

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