New Guit Day

richardp69 · Feb 13, 2021

Here's another illegal alien I received yesterday. It's the Gibson J 185. I've owned several in the past but let them go for various reasons, likely none of them very good. I think Gibson knocked it out of the park on this particular model, it's always been one of my favorites. This one has the nicest back I've had on any I've owned. My pics likely don't do it justice but it is stunning.

I'm not sure if it's just that Maple is a fine looking wood but I have a gorgeous Martin Maple, of course numerous Guild Maples and this Gibson plus a SJ 200 Std., a J 45 and a AJ also all in Maple. Each of them are lookers. It just seems the Manufacturers whose guitars I buy do a superb job with Maple.

Here's a few pics.

dreadnut · Feb 13, 2021

Yeah, that is some sweet flamed maple!

GGJaguar · Feb 13, 2021

Nice one, congrats!!

Stuball48 · Feb 13, 2021

Reminds me of looking into a forrest of Maples shaped like pines. Really like that back in. Congratulations, Richard.

walrus · Feb 13, 2021

Wow! The back is wild! Congratulations!

walrus

twocorgis · Feb 13, 2021

I was about to pull the trigger on this one, and Richard outran me! Good luck with the new addition, buddy.

bobouz · Feb 16, 2021

Enjoy Richard - when you find a good J-185, it’s really obvious. I made the mistake of passing on one I liked a lot back in 2001. As if to teach me a lesson, my keeper didn’t come along until 2012. Here it is with a best friend:

The Guilds of Grot · Feb 16, 2021

bobouz said:

Weird, but to me those bridges look like they're up-side-down!

Cougar · Feb 16, 2021

Yep, that's a good one!

bobouz · Feb 17, 2021

The Guilds of Grot said:
Weird, but to me those bridges look like they're up-side-down!

I currently & previously have owned so many Gibsons with the belly-up bridge, that it now looks more normal to my eye than a belly-down bridge (although Guild's classic two-point shape remains my overall favorite!).

But additionally, here's the interesting thing: Intuitively, my mind was always telling me that Gibson's belly-up bridge could not possibly be as structurally stable as the classic belly-down design employed by the majority of makers - especially with the pin holes being drilled so close to the southern edge. However in practice, I've never had a Gibson belly-up bridge separate and lift. That said, to be on the safe side, I always check each string for proper seating against the bridgeplate when doing a string change, and imho, that's a critical part of the equation.

davismanLV · Feb 17, 2021

That maple is so beautiful! Nice guitar, congrats!! Bridge looks upside down to me as well, but after the first strum I'm sure I'd forget all about that. And it's so much better than the moustache type bridge! And I love the plain pickguard as well. Nice!!

Rich Cohen · Feb 17, 2021

I had a burst one some time ago. I couldn't get used to the dryness of its sound.

richardp69 · Feb 17, 2021

Rich Cohen said:
I had a burst one some time ago. I couldn't get used to the dryness of its sound.

I've had a couple that were not stellar as well Rich. But, this one I can proudly say is a keeper.

bobouz · Feb 17, 2021

davismanLV said:
Bridge looks upside down to me as well, but after the first strum I'm sure I'd forget all about that. And it's so much better than the moustache type bridge! And I love the plain pickguard as well. Nice!!

I like my bling in small doses, essentially at a level where it doesn’t overshadow the beauty of the wood. When it comes to Gibson’s jumbo & mustache bridge, this is the one that clicked for me. Most of the bling was stripped away, except for the rare addition of a abalone rosette. This model was the J-100xt, made in this configuration from 1999-2002, and purchased new (back in the good old days when you could actually still play one in a store!):

davismanLV · Feb 17, 2021

bobouz said:
I like my bling in small doses, essentially at a level where it doesn’t overshadow the beauty of the wood. When it comes to Gibson’s jumbo & mustache bridge, this is the one that clicked for me. Most of the bling was stripped away, except for the rare addition of a abalone rosette. This model was the J-100xt, made in this configuration from 1999-2002, and purchased new (back in the good old days when you could actually still play one in a store!):

View attachment 14953

Wow!! I gotta admit that's just beautiful. That rosette is phenomenal!! Beautiful guitar!!

richardp69 · Feb 17, 2021

bobouz said:
I like my bling in small doses, essentially at a level where it doesn’t overshadow the beauty of the wood. When it comes to Gibson’s jumbo & mustache bridge, this is the one that clicked for me. Most of the bling was stripped away, except for the rare addition of a abalone rosette. This model was the J-100xt, made in this configuration from 1999-2002, and purchased new (back in the good old days when you could actually still play one in a store!):

I love the bridge (I know many don't) I also have a J 100 Xtra. Looks like yours is the Mahogany version, right??? I have the Maple and it's a fine Gibson.

bobouz · Feb 17, 2021

richardp69 said:
I love the bridge (I know many don't) I also have a J 100 Xtra. Looks like yours is the Mahogany version, right??? I have the Maple and it's a fine Gibson.

Actually Richard, it’s maple with a dark walnut stain & slight sunburst on the sides. This version was usually seen in all natural - in fact, I’ve never come across another one quite like it. Pre 1999 was mahogany, and they were nice, too. I had a ‘96 & loved the tone, but couldn’t get used to the chunky neck. And then this one came along!

bobouz · Feb 17, 2021

davismanLV said:
Wow!! I gotta admit that's just beautiful. That rosette is phenomenal!! Beautiful guitar!!

Thanks Tom. I’ve gone through a number of other 17” Gibson jumbos, some fancier, and in fact owned three at the same time. In the end, this continues to be the one that floats to the top. As with Richard’s new J-185, a good one usually makes itself known within the earliest moments, and can lead to uniquely creative pathways. Thank goodness guitars are not cookie cutter!

HeyMikey · Feb 17, 2021

richardp69 said:
I love the bridge (I know many don't) I also have a J 100 Xtra. Looks like yours is the Mahogany version, right??? I have the Maple and it's a fine Gibson.

Yeah, I’m one of those who don’t. I mean no offense to anyone, the l guitar itself is gorgeous but the silly mustache to me seems comically out of place and distracting. But as long as it plays and sounds great then that’s what matters most.

bobouz · Feb 18, 2021

HeyMikey said:
Yeah, I’m one of those who don’t. I mean no offense to anyone, the l guitar itself is gorgeous but the silly mustache to me seems comically out of place and distracting. But as long as it plays and sounds great then that’s what matters most.

Mikey, got your new dartboard right here - fire away!

New Guit Day

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