Gibson Acoustic-Electric Guitars

The Gibson Songwriter Studio EC is a lot of guitar. The woods used are sitka spruce for the top and Indian rosewood for the back and sides. The 25 and a half inch scale neck is solid mahogany. The Songwriter studio EC has, of course, onboard electronics and a cutaway. It is equipped with a Fishman plus-T pickup system. The features are pretty much standard fare, but what really sets this guitar apart is the attention to detail with it's aesthetics. The top is adorned with an ebony mustache bridge, a brilliant abalone filled rosette, and a stylized pick guard that is boldly Gibson by design. The neck's classic paralellogram inlays lead up to a beautiful natural mahogany headstock, emblazoned with the Gibson crown. UTILIZATION The Songwriter EC's cutaway gives ample maneuverability to the higher registers. The neck feels ok, it can be a bit grippy at times and can hinder quick passages. I thoroughly enjoyed the large body shape, it projected extremely well and provided additional bass that I typically do not experience in other spruce topped guitars. The tuning stability was very strong, I never had to touch the tuning pegs unless I was intending to change to DADGAD, etc. SOUNDS I played the gibson both unplugged and amplified, alternating between finger style playing and using a plectrum. The particular guitar I played was very resonant. There was a definite feeling of satisfaction from just strumming simple chord progressions. Despite the neck being a little cumbersome, I found it very easy to adjust to and get through more complicated passages. The loud and boomy low end of this guitar lends itself very well to unaccompanied performance, easily filling a room with a warm, full bodied sound. I enjoyed the sound of the onboard Fishman system, It was not the best I've experienced, but certainly passable. OVERALL OPINION If you want a large dreadnought with plenty of warm low end and resonance, the Gibson Songwriter series is definitely for you. The sound quality and attention to detail, especially considering the hand scalloped bracing incorporated into it's design, justifies the $2500 new price alone. These are common on the used market, though prices vary greatly.

The Gibson J-45 rosewood is a recent model reissue of the famous "slope shouldered" dreadnought made popular from the 1940s through to now. Its design was unique and offered a bit more comfort for musicians who didn't care for the typical dreadnought design. The J-45 has always been a popular rival for Martins and it's no surprise why, as its clear and punchy tone is perfect for country, bluegrass and rock stylings where a loud and distinct acoustic tone is key. This guitar features a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, an ebony bridge. Some models are equipped with an onboard pickup as well. They're currently built in Gibson's Montana plant in the US of A. UTILIZATION The design of this guitar is fairly ergonomic considering the size and the fact that it's not a smaller cutaway model acoustic. It might be a bit daunting for someone who is used to electric or smaller acoustic guitars, but overall it's fairly easy to play. The slope shouldered design offers comfort and a nice playing surface, the neck has a nice profile which is a good balance between thick and thin, and the overall feel is very polished, yet rugged at the same time. The upper fret access isn't bad, but considering it's a non-cutaway acoustic I can't be too harsh on it in that department. Getting a good sound out of this guitar is pretty simple. It has its own voice that has made it a very popular acoustic guitar for many years. It's not quite as boomy as a comparable Martin; it seems to have a bit more articulation and a bit more punch for chord and lead work. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's rawer sounding, but it definitely has a little less of the pretty factor than some of the Martins do. SOUNDS The guitar sounds really quite good upon first strum. Granted, Gibson can be a bit inconsistent, and some of the J-45s I've tried weren't particularly to my taste. However when I've found one that I liked, I was pleased as punch. As stated, they seem to have a clearer and thicker tone that is very unique and all its own. It works particularly well for things like country or bluegrass styles where articulation is a must-have trait in a guitar. The onboard pickup sounds decent too. It's not ridiculously fancy but it reproduces the guitar's natural tone quite well and is a good match for the instrument. OVERALL OPINION The Gibson J-45 rosewood is a great guitar for anyone looking for a reissue of the classic instrument that defined a certain acoustic sound. It feels great, has a classic look and has that cannon-esque sound that only a slope shoulder can deliver. They sell for about $2,300 on average which is a pretty good price considering the quality of tone that you're getting. If you're a serious acoustic player and want one of the iconic tones of this past century for acoustic guitars, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with a J-45!

My dad actually is the one who bought this one, but I ended up reviewing it as I've played it countless times. This is a high-quality acoustic electric, and is notable for having many controls with which to adjust the sound. These include volume, brilliance, treble, contour, bass frequency, notch, and a phase switch in case you run into phasing issues (I personally have never needed to use that switch, but all the other ones, I certainly make use of). It has a spruce top and a maple body and neck, with an ebony fretboard. The bridge is also ebony. UTILIZATION The cutaway allows easy access to the top frets. With all of these features and the cutaway, the EC 30 feels more like an electric guitar than an acoustic, and this makes it an interesting guitar. It isn't too heavy and it feels good to play sitting or standing. Getting a good sound almost always requires an adjustment. It's almost in your best interest to get the right acoustic guitar amplifier, this amp only sounds good amplified. I'm not a big fan of the direct sound (the pickups just aren't really cut out for that). The action was too high when I bought it, so I had it lowered and now it plays great. SOUNDS This is an acoustic electric that sounds like it has a little bit of both in it. There are some sounds that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Eric Clapton's Unplugged record. For the most part, this is built for live performance. In fact, that's when it sounds the best. I would never mic this guitar live or in the studio, or even play it acoustically if I was looking for a good tone. But I doubt anyone would buy this guitar if you are looking for a good acoustic. This is acoustic-electric all the way, and if that's what you want, it sounds fantastic. That's the reason for the high mark. OVERALL OPINION I think this is a really great A/E guitar, and I'd really be thrilled if I had one of my own. Unfortunately, I don't, but I think I might get one eventually. It's certainly expensive, so make sure that you'll use it a lot and that it's exactly what you are looking for.

The Gibson J160E John Lennon Model acoustic/electric guitar was made in the USA and has a pick up built in that is controlled with the volume and tone knobs on the front of the guitar. It also has a 1/4 inch output to send this guitar to an amp. UTILIZATION The neck of the Gibson J160E John Lennon Model is one of the easiest that I've ever played. It is easy to play all around the neck, and really just has an extremely fluid feel to it. The guitar is somewhat light, even though it has a pretty big body and shape to it. It is very easy to get a nice sound from this guitar, whether you're playing it plugged in or not. SOUNDS The Gibson J160E John Lennon Model is great for all types of music that you would want to use an acoustic guitar, but I use it mostly for rock, pop, and folk music. It has an extremely full bodied sound to it, and is great for recording as well as for live shows. The pick up sounds pretty good on this guitar, but nothing beats the sound of this when played acoustic and miced up. The Gibson J160E John Lennon Model has a truly beautiful sound that is both rich and vibrant. OVERALL OPINION I've been using the Gibson J160E John Lennon Model acoustic/electric guitar for about a year, and have used it a handful of times for recording. I'm always happy with the sound I get while recording with this, and it is always truly a pleasure to pick up and play. The price of this is very expensive, but it is really for professionals and those who are looking for a long term guitar to invest into. I highly recommend this guitar for all acoustic guitar players, whether you are a John Lennon fan or not.

I play guitar, bass, keys and do some home studio recording as a hobby. I've been playing for about 20 years and enjoy mostly country and classic rock. I bought this acoustic online at Musicians Friend for about $950. I wanted a higher quality acoustic and couldn't believe the prices on these Gibson's. Maybe I've been out of the market for a while, but I just think this represents a good deal. What's not to like? Here's a little about the guitar from the MF site: The Gibson DSM Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is crafted in Canada and features a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and a solid mahogany bolt-on neck. The dreadnought body style and mahogany body structure fuse to create a rich, powerful sound with lots of punch and projection. The DSM has an ebony fingerboard and bridge, a tortoiseshell pickguard, and die-cast chrome tuners. Includes a Gibson hardshell case. The bindings are a little plain, but I guess for the price I can't complain. It's not like they're going to throw in mother-of-pearl in this price range too. Very solid and high quality. I'm very impressed with the tone and rigidity and the action is sweet too. This guitar really plays nicely. This is not a cheap guitar, it's just a thousand dollar Gibson. It's high quality and plays smoothly and I'm really impressed with what they've been able to accomplish in this price range. I'd buy another if I could, but I think this will last me a while. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this Guitar from Haworths at Kiama Downes NSW Aust. Retalis for $4200. I liked the appearance and the fact that I was buying what I thought was a top brand. It was ordered and I felt obligated to buy it when it came. I found the neck to be not conducive to extended playing in my case half an hour. This caused severe pain in my left wrist and thumb. The clear finish was patchy. I think the guitar was solid and probably well put together. I had this guitar for six months and was not playing it due to the discomfort I experienced. When I asked the original seller to trade it back he was very reluctant and eventually agreed to do so only as a trade on another Gibson (subject to me playing it) for a substantial cost above the original price of the Guitar. So as not to burden him with another Gibson he could not sell. I went to Jacksons Rare Guitars at Annandale NSW. Their offer was less than half the retail price even though they are supposed to be supporters of the Gibson Brand. Gibson have a very questionable resale value. I ultimately traded the guitar for a Martin. People should be aware of the Guitar sellers in Australia. They are to me equivalent of the OLD STYLE used car sales man. Buyer beware is quite relevent in this business. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Paid $1500 for Guitar Center, I played all of the top end acoustic guitars and really loved the sound of this Gibson. Excellent sound and apperance. Just a great guitar to play. Heavy strings effect the action. I quickly restringed this unit with light gauge strings and what a differance. Still delivers nice bass response and just sings. It is however a somewhat heavy guitar, as are all Gibsons. Top Quality. I cannnot find a single flaw in the design, finish, or anything. Looks great, sounds better. I played all the Martin guitars, Taylor guitars. Taylors have a better neck action, however I could not get the sound I wanted from the martins......and they were very dull sounding, taylors sounded just a bit better. However when I picked up the Gibson, That was it...evrything I wanted plus some. I reallt did not go into the store looking for a Gibson, but the sound sold me quick. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased the guitar on the internet a few years ago, the list on it was $8000 United States dollars. I actually got a steal at $4950. I love the wonderful tone that the SJ-200 gives me. Its a very bright sounding guitar. The cool designs on the pick are are another bonus- along with "Elvis Presley" embroidered rosewood fretboard. It also has gold hardware. The projection is amazing. The immense price tag. Solid spruce top, maple body, rosewood fretboard with pearl elvis inlay, gold hardware. Wow. This is an amazing instrument. I suck at the guitar, and it actually makes my playing sound great! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Gibson SJ-100 is a 'super jumbo' style acoustic guitar with a vintage look and feel. The guitar isn't an acoustic/electric, so there aren't any setting controls or pick ups. The neck of the guitar is made out of mahogany, the fretboard is made up of Indian rosewood, while the rest of the guitar is made up of a combination of premium spruce and bubinga. UTILIZATION The overall feel and accessibility of the Gibson SJ-100 is beyond outstanding. The SJ-100 is one of the easiest to play guitars that I've used that I can think of. The neck is fluid and it is easy to access notes all across the fretboard without a problem at all. The guitar is pretty big in general, as the body type is super jumbo, although this doesn't really add to the weight as it isn't all that heavy. The SJ-100 definitely has a classic look to it, with an overall beautiful looking design and make up. Getting a good sound is a lot easier than it is on most guitars. SOUNDS The overall tone of the Gibson SJ-100 can be described as being extremely full bodied. It has a round quality to it that is emphasized by the large body. The sound of the guitar can easily fill a room, and it sounds awesome on recordings as well. I don't think that it has the type of sound that will favor one genre over another, but I will say that I have found it to sound great for folk and country type of tunes. However, I'm sure that it would fit in well in just about any context, as it is overall simply a great sounding instrument. OVERALL OPINION The Gibson SJ-100 definitely fits right in with Gibson's high end of acoustic guitar, which are some of the best being made today in my opinion. I can't get enough of the SJ-100, as everything ranging from the feel to the sound to the look is beyond great for my liking. The SJ-100 of course isn't the cheapest guitar out there, as it is really designed for professionals, but it also isn't the most expensive by a long shot. If you're looking to purchase a jumbo style acoustic guitar for any sort of purpose, I'd definitely recommend the Gibson SJ-100 without hesitation.