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J-35 review Music Villa


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Had the pleasure of trying one out in Norwich this very evening. It was a very nice player, had recognizable Gibson slope family tone, but perhaps less bass thump than I've come to expect - the sales chap also reckoned that their J45 Standard had more bass, but I didn't have time to play both. Unlike me, the Woody is still in Hungary, so no real comparison with my own instrument possible, but to my dubious ears/memory the 35 was notably less bassy. I wondered if it's just a matter of opening up, or of the character of this particular instrument. But in any case, in view of the earth-shattering PM-Del pact on this front, my memory/ears are very dubious - I've always found Phoney Tolex to be rather light of thumb on his recordings because I rarely hear any serious thump in the bass from any of the Gibson slopes he plays. Volume granted, but not thump. I like his playing, mind. Just find myself wanting to borrow the guitars from him and give the bass strings a quick whack to find out if they can give more in terms of percussion. J35 felt great for the money, but didn't quite have me crying over my own earlier purchase. Stellar move by Gibson, though.

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where the feck have you been

 

My apologies gents, but I've been moving house/country and then commuting back to Hungary for work every now and then. It was/is time for a change. All very hectic. I'm busy looking for work back in the UK as well, so all in all no time for more than the most cursory of glances at guitar-related things. It is nice to pop in here because of the great company, and it will be my first port of call when I have a spare second, but it will still be a while before I can post (or even read) regularly. Just noted the new J35, for the first (and probably the last) time in years had a few minutes to dive into a guitar shop and try something out, and given the threads and a few comments wanted to add my impressions of the newcomer. I note that others have found less bass than on the J45 - but it might just be a matter of new instruments needing to open up. Anyway, more data for those interested in a purchase, especially if they have to buy unseen-online. If I were looking for my first Gibson now, it would be really hard not to go for the J35 given the price difference. Gibson allegiance aside (but who am I kidding), it surely represents better value even than the Martin 15 series (spruce top and dovetail neck joint for starters, but also the pickup). It felt, played and sounded great. But what I perceive as the extra bass thump of the Woody does sort of make me glad I took the more expensive plunge before this option was out there. You can feed my dinner to the respective forum pugs, Flatters. I'll be back, but I'm not sure when.

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What I can't quite figure out is how Gibson arrives at a lower price if the specs are the same as a J45. Sure, they can just ask less and settle for a lower margin for some reason unknown to any of us, but then they risk affecting the perceived value of the the J45. If the specs ARE the same then basically the J35 is a J50 with a J35 style pickguard (J45 Naturals notwithstanding). And, if the specs are the same, then all the rules regarding J45/50's would still apply to how they sound now and how they will begin to sound upon opening up. My 2006 J50, which was unplayed until about three years ago, is really beginning to change character, especially in the bass response, in just the last five or six months. My 1997 J45, probably unplayed (unless the pickguard was changed out) until I got it about four months ago is just showing the beginnings of waking up. I do alternate these guitars on a ToneRite and I believe the ToneRite makes a difference in accelerating the opening up process, especially when it comes to bass response. Or at least that is the most notable tone range metamorphosis that I can perceive. I personally have come to believe that the lower frequency maturation might just be the last thing to manifest on the way to whatever a newer J45/50 is going to become down the playing road. It sure is interesting and pleasantly surprising to hear the process unfold.

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Pricing is clearly based on the name though, J-45 has larger pulling power than J-35 or J-50, therefore it can command a brand premium.... I simply don't believe even very small changes to the bracing pattern makes any cost difference, they're all recipe guitars anyway, so unit cost is but one factor and probably a small one... J-45's, J-200's, hummingbirds & doves will always have a little slice on top because the model can command a premium.

 

What I find quite interesting is the correlation to price we see even on here, now, these are just typical findings....

 

So far the J-35 has been received positively, but with mentions of not as good as a J-45 etc... The J-45 is more expensive, the build difference is still an open discussion.

 

The J-50 has been well received and positively reviewed, yet again it's cheaper than a J-45, same build different guard, somehow the J-45 reviews better

 

The natural top J-45, well, bit of a bone of contention for some and the few reviews I've seen said sunburst models were better (haha)

 

There's just as many conflicting views and support of J45 std's over TV's yet TV's generally are considered better

 

and so on.....

 

Then of course they're all considered rubbish if you talk to a Martin guy over at the AGF

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There's just as many conflicting views and support of J45 std's over TV's yet TV's generally are considered better

 

and so on.....

 

Then of course they're all considered rubbish if you talk to a Martin guy over at the AGF

 

 

You pays your money, and you makes your choice.

 

Anyone who thinks there is a direct, immutable correlation between price and quality (either sonic or esthetic) is kidding himself. I happen to like my Gibson flat tops in sunburst, and my Martins in natural, but that's just me.

 

You might legitimately argue a sunburst guitar should cost more, as it is a bit more time-consuming and unforgiving to do the finish. And no, I don't think Gibson Bozeman differentiates in top wood quality in determining whether a guitar will be natural or sunburst. When was the last time you saw what might be considered a bad piece of spruce on the top of a Gibson?

 

The J-35 looks like a good value, but it doesn't particularly appeal to me. If I were dying for a brand-new Gibson, and had less than $2k to spend, I would be very interested, indeed.

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You pays your money, and you makes your choice.

 

In a nutshell... YES!

 

The J-35 looks like a good value, but it doesn't particularly appeal to me. If I were dying for a brand-new Gibson, and had less than $2k to spend, I would be very interested, indeed.

 

Interest was piqued when I seen the price point, but equipped with a J-45and a J-50 already, I'd be a nutter to add more slopes in mahogany to the fold when I'm trying to cut guitar numbers down.

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Here's a compare-contraxt with the real deal, courtesy of Tony/MV, namely a '41 that came through their shop :

 

and the new kid on the block.

 

Similar sound characteristics. I'd say the new guy hasnt woke up yet but will get there. Bone nut & saddle plus some hard play would work wonders. Not sure the sitka top makes that much difference. Didnt want to like this (long story, like always) but I do.

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Here's a compare-contraxt with the real deal, courtesy of Tony/MV, namely a '41 that came through their shop :

 

and the new kid on the block.

 

Similar sound characteristics. I'd say the new guy hasnt woke up yet but will get there. Bone nut & saddle plus some hard play would work wonders. Not sure the sitka top makes that much difference. Didnt want to like this (long story, like always) but I do.

 

The 41' version seems to be much more balanced based on this recording. No sporting thumb sydrome for Tony in this case.

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It is an investment after all eh?
Well, you can try to sell that, but the notion of a 1600 facotry made gutiar as an investment isnt going to get many buyers. Not to mention its a 2-edged sword: "honey, I need the whole Dior spring collection, its an inves...").
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  • 2 months later...

My ob servations:

 

1. Pickguard is too small.

2. White binding is a deterrent to purchase

3. Too bad is has a pickup

 

I would prefer a proper pickguard, tortoise or rosewood binding, no electronics

 

Otherwise nice guitar.

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My ob servations:

 

1. Pickguard is too small.

2. White binding is a deterrent to purchase

3. Too bad is has a pickup

 

I would prefer a proper pickguard, tortoise or rosewood binding, no electronics

 

Otherwise nice guitar.

 

wha!? bohemian- i think you are trying to talk yourself out of this guitar!!! [cool]

1. remove replace

2. not white but more of a vintage ovroid color- kindof yellowishcream... gonna look sweet when the top darkens up!

3. remove and/or remove/replace w desired..

4. play and enjoy and super guitar!

 

madhat.

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You're too logical !! : )

 

I have owned a 1946 J-46... bought in 1965 for $100... stolen in 1967 ; it was a fantastic guitar.

I looked for a replacement for 40 years and then stumbled on a 2000 WM-45, easily its equivalent.

I stupidly sold this WM-45 to fund a Custom Martin (one of 14 Martins since 1961) and it has turned out to be a

two year disaster.. briefly, it failed, was repaired by Martin Co, repairs failed, replacement finally authorized,

replacement built with wrong top, replacement for the replacement made, I just got a notice from UPS it will be delivered today; two years since I received the original which I had played less than two hours.

 

Needless to say I miss my WM-45 and considering a replacement. The J-35 just might be the "it".

 

Now to try to find one in the instrument deprived area known as Southern Oregon where GC is the only Gibson dealer. No further comment on GC.

 

I may have to go to Eugene or Portland to have a look. I won't buy sight unseen.

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GC is OK if they go in the back and pull out an untouched guitar. I had that happen to me on Saturday with a custom J-45. I also played some other nice Gibsons and Martins and it saddened me to look over the guitars and see the dings, scratches and scrapes on them.

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Two items:

 

1. Note in the Firestipe pickguard thread, how a similarly shaped "vintage" pickguard comes very close to the edge binding, the new J-35 pickguard in comparison is wimpy.. ie not "manly" : ). I do have some firestripe pickguard material, I believe I may have gotten it from Stew Mac a few years back.

 

2. The local GC has historicaly had an inventory problem. Currently they have some kind of songwriter thing and a beat J-45.. but their usual inventory would be one of those swirly pointy pickguard guitars and three J-45 models, nothing else. Or a few months back when I was looking, one swirly pointy new age pickguard thing and 2 AJ's, both hammered.. and nothing else. 15 years ago when this particular GC was the home base showroom for Musician's Friend, they would have a dozen Gibsons with a variety of models, no so anymore. BTW that is also typical of their Martin inventory. A bunch of cheappies and duplicates of something like the oh so popular D-35, no d-18, no OM-21 or 28, never a GE of any kind.

 

I'll check Gibson's dealer directory and check out other sources in Oregon. If nothing available, I may just have to take a trip to Calif.

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Two itemsd

 

1. Note in the Firestipe pickguard thread, how a similarly shaped "vintage" pickguard comes very close to the edge binding, the new J-35 pickguard in comparison is wimpy.. ie not "manly" : ). I do have some firestripe picjguard material, I belive I may have gotten it from Stew Mac a few years back.

 

2. The local GC has histpricaly had an inventory problem. Currently they have some kind of songwriter thing and a beat J-45.. but their usual inventory would be one of those swirly pointy pickguard guitars and three J-45 models, nothing else. Or a few months back when I was looking, one swirly pointy new age pickguard thing and 2 AJ's, both hammered.. and nothing else. 15 years ago when this particular GC was the home base showroom for Musician's Friend, they would have a dozen Gibsons with a variety of models, no so anymore. BTW that is also typical of their Martin inventory. A bunch of cheappies and duplicates of something like the oh so popular D-35, no d-18, no OM-21 or 28, never a GE of any kind.

 

I'll check Gibson's dealer directory and check out other sources in Oregon. If nothing available, I may just have to take a trip to Calif.

 

Sounds pretty grim, surely there's some excellent stores in San Francisco?

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I just called Apple Music in Portland Oregon and spoke to a genbtleman by the name of Chuck who is their Gibson specialist and the manager since 2000

He knows his stuff. They have quite a few traditional Gibsons in stock and he made a recommendation for a couple of them he particularly liked, among them the J-45 True Voice and the J-35. We have made a tentative date for meeting in about 2 weeks. Should be enlightening and fun.

 

I will also check with Gryphon in Palo Alto and see if they still carry Gibson, I am a long time customer.

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