Gibson Acoustic Guitars

[William2]

I was wondering if anyone on this site has played or owns a Gibson acoustic guitar. I never really considered Gibson due to the quality and comments like " they are great guitars if you can find a good one" that I've seen on AGF LOL!!! And the binding issues of Martin have made me dismiss them also. But I have to say the new Gibson Century series has made me take notice. I love the satin finish, the case, and a short scale at a great price. Anyone have thoughts on Gibson and are these AGF comments true?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmD2IXGaPPs

[Queequeg]

I think that their transition from Kalamazoo to Nashville in the mid '70s was not a particularly easy move for them. Several of the old timers stayed in Michigan and started up the Heritage Guitar Company in the original Gibson factory facilities building electric archtops utilizing much of the old Gibson shop equipment.
Gibson struggled financially after the move.
Then in the mid '80s Henry Juszkiewicz sat in the CEO chair. He was an extremely unpopular CEO and faced widespread criticism for trying to pivot Gibson into a "music lifestyle" consumer electronics company, alienating core guitar purists and facing backlash from both fans and dealers. Prices went up and quality went the other way.
Only one Gibson guitar (1960 LG0) ever had a home here at my place and I was never able to get a good sound from it. No sustain, low volume. Nothing. We parted ways before too long.
Lots of country musicians favor Gibson acoustics, and justified or not, I do make that association with their guitars. Maybe it's the Nashville connection; I don't know. Although as I understand it, all of the acoustic guitars are built in Bozeman, Montana now.

I can't speak to the quality today, since it has been too long since I've played one.

[B0WIE]

 If I were to buy a factory guitar that wasn't a Larrivee, it would be a Gibson and it isn't even close. They have a sweetness to the sound that calls back to so many old recordings. IMO, the "good one" conversations online are largely one of those things that people like to parrot (and AGF is 90% parroting if I may be so rude). I remember, in the early days of the internet, you'd rarely see that. But, it just grew over time, despite Gibsons actually becoming better in recent years. Yes, they absolutely did have times of QC issues, just as Fender did. They also used some really goofy bridge and bracing designs in the distant past. But, the "good one" concept as a whole is largely overblown in terms of modern US-production guitars. If I waked into a GC and played a J45, as I've done many times, its' probably going to be a great instrument.

 There's just something that Gibson does really well with their instruments that sounds "like music". Again, I think it's the familiarity because we've heard those sounds on so many recordings, be it a J45, a LesPaul, etc. I own 1 acoustic that I inherited, and one LP that I was gifted so I'm not really a Gibson fanboy, but I do respect they make really good sounding instruments.

[teh]

When I think of Gibson Guitars, the Les Paul electric models are the first thing that comes to mind. On the acoustic side, jumbos, 00s and Gordon Lightfoot's iconic B-45 sunburst 12 string are the ones I think about. I've seen ads for the Century series but have not played one yet but I'd like to give one a try. The problem is I don't have anything I want to sell or trade and my guitar room is getting filled up.

On the Martin front, I played a 000-17 w/mahogany top, back and sides two months ago that was really good and I saw one listed yesterday for $2,150 online at Alamo Music Center. As nice as this guitar was, it wasn't better than my Larrivee all mahogany 00-24 that I got in 2024. The rosewood radial rosette and purfling coupled with the vine headstock inlay on the 24 series has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Under the hood, Larrivee also uses Moonwood Spruce for the bracing on the 24 series. 

On the subject of binding and in the interest of full disclosure, the binding was starting to lift in three places at the waist of my 2015 Martin Custom Shop 000 12 fret. I called the authorized Martin Repair Shop that I use, provided them with documentation proving that I am the original owner and the repair was fully covered under the lifetime warranty without question. I like this guitar so much that I would have paid for the repair out of pocket.

The only problem I've ever had with any of my Larrivees in the past 22 years was a defective tuning gear about two years ago on my 2004 Parlor that I replaced immediately.

[William2]

I like some of the demos I've heard of the J-45. And as a kid I listened to Johnny Smith and Gibson made the Johnny Smith archtop. But like TEH, my guitar closet is just about full LOL. My dealer plays Gibson, but he never answered my question as to why he doesn't carry them. I did tell him this Eastman would be my last because of my closet size. I'd never sell the Larrivee's, but the Eastman is still being reviewed LOL. It is powerful guitar with a nice snap to the notes, but I prefer the clarity of the Larrivee's. I'm thinking the Adi top isn't a priority. Time will tell. Someone on AGF recently said the comments about Gibson weren't true. Every demo of the Gibson Century series has impressed me. I see there is a 967 LGO on Reverb for $950. And they say it is ladder braced.

[nctom]

I am having problems keeping track of what you are asking/comparing. Perhaps you could clarify if you are or are not interested in a new Gibson, a probably overpriced LGO, or your Larrivees.

[William2]

I am having problems keeping track of what you are asking/comparing. Perhaps you could clarify if you are or are not interested in a new Gibson, a probably overpriced LGO, or your Larrivees.

I was just asking if anyone here plays Gibson and what they thought of them due to some negative comments about them on AGF. I am somewhat interested in the new Century series as it is a short scale 12 fret (which I don't own) and very affordably priced. As a lefty, I've never had an opportunity to play a Gibson. I only mentioned the LGO as it was mentioned in this post and I wasn't aware that Gibson made a ladder braced instrument. Which brings up another question. Did Gibson make non-scalloped braced instruments also? I like Larrivee or I wouldn't have 4 of them.

[BlueBowman]

The good ones do have an undeniable sweetness to the tone. I LOVE the vintage J45's (1940s mostly). Even they vary -- some louder with incredible sustain, while others are more intimate and sweet -- I've enjoyed every one of those I've played.

I just can't say the same for modern J45's, at least the ones in the standard line. I've played many that were not as good as my $400 Eastman. I mean that literally, no hyperbole. I just don't get what people are hearing. Actually, it's not so much a tonal thing, it's that some of them straight up sound dead to me: low volume, feeble response. Blues head that I am, I thought for sure I'd have taken one home by now. But, no, not so much. In fact, I stopped even picking them up when visiting stores. Maybe it's time to start checking them out again.

Then there's the occasional one that seems to have the things I love about a J45 -- a "good one," if you will. So, yeah, in terms of a lack of consistency in sound, I'd agree with the naysayers. The build quality seems to be pretty good though.

I have yet to cross paths with a Century model, but the online response from players seems to be quite positive. Lover of all things 12-frets, I'll definitely keep an eye out for them.

[B0WIE]

That's the appeal of a lot of Gibsons, both acoustic and electric. That "dead" sound is about what it's NOT doing. There's not the deep rumble, bright edge, or long sustain, and that's important to a lot of players. It's also really useful in recording which is why the J45 is one of the most recorded acoustics of all time. You won't see many people playing them for solo fingerstyle, but in the context of a mix, less can be more. The brief harmonic sparkle that fits right in a certain midrange pocket, it tends to mix a lot better than a guitar that needs a lot of bass cut out and has scooped mids. Not to mention how murky long sustaining guitars can sound as the lack of note separation can cause them to get lost among vocals and other instruments.

 I used to dismiss Gibsons as being inferior because they weren't as resonant, then I realized that's the brilliance. There's a lot of cheap guitars that aren't resonant too, but they don't usually have the sweet, harmonious sound of a Gibson. I don't think there's a right or wrong way when it comes to music, I'm just giving some reasons why Gibsons have been so popular.

 There's an interview with Julian Lage where he describes his new Collings electric and says it's, "it's just dead and beautiful sounding". I thought that was the strangest way to sell a guitar but then it made sense to me. His music is all about expression so he likes guitars that are more dry and brief, but in that brief moment every note sounds beautiful. The guitar isn't getting in his way by adding a lot of it's own personality.