Built by Master Craftsmen: Gibson SJ-200 Reissue
Written: Jun 21 '06
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Pros: Gibson quality, value, sound, lasting value, hard shell case, lifetime warranty
Cons: No downside to this one, folks
The Bottom Line: A Gibson premium hand built wooden guitar is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. You deserve one. What are you waiting for?
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| George_Chabot's Full Review: Gibson Sj-200 Reissue Acoustic Guitar |
Gibson SJ-200 Reissue
This is another iteration of the “Super Jumbo” (SJ) 200 Gibson guitar, the one known among professionals as “the King of the Flat Tops.” This version mimics the original SJ-200 style released in the 1950s, so you have an exact replica of a vintage Gibson that would probably cost many more thousands of dollars, if you were lucky enough to find one for sale.
You may remember I played a Gibson SJ-200 Elite Custom in my quest to find my “perfect” acoustic guitar, to back up my Alvarez-Yairi Deluxe Dreadnought. That SJ-200 was the special edition with the Hawaiian Koa wood body and sides. Other than the difference in wood, I can see no real difference between the two models and their deluxe appointments, which are identical. However, the Koa wood model runs about $800 higher so it must be very hard to come by.
You will remember that premium guitars come in two basic shapes, the squarish bassy “Dreadnought” and the more curvy, guitar-looking “Jumbo” styles. This one follows the Jumbo style and has more curves than Raquel Welch in her heyday.
The Gibson SJ-200 Reissue comes with a fancy figured maple back, sides, and neck. This is strictly a limited edition and is a product of the Gibson “Custom Shop” in Bozeman, Montana. All the beautiful hand workmanship lavished on the other Gibson Acoustics is apparent in this one, also. The woods are carefully matched and fitted and bound with multiple layer celluloid binding to ensure durable edges in case of the occasional hard knock. The neck and headstock are also completely bound, as in the highest quality instruments.
Mother of pearl inlays are in abundance with huge crown shaped position markers, a crown in the headstock, and four inlays in the trademark mustache shaped ebony bridge. The fingerboard is also ebony, deep black and hard as woodpecker lips, for wonderful brilliant sustain. The detailing is remarkable with even the end of the fingerboard at the sound hole bound and finished off like so {. The tuners are handsome, gold plated, and shaped with the distinctive keystone shape of a vintage 1950s SJ-200.
The selected premium Spruce top is carefully braced by hand with scalloped and arched braces that direct the sound to the sound hole giving the guitar that signature “Gibson sound.” Gibson says this bracing design works to project the sound exactly like a fine audio speaker does. The top is finished off with a distinctive tortoise shell pick guard with inlaid vine and flower motifs and a rosette surrounds the sound hole.
The neck and body are joined with a special dovetail joint that perfectly transfers the string vibrations to the body, as if the guitar were made of a single piece of wood, for superior tone and resonance. I will submit to you that it sounds wonderful and will bring your playing to new heights.
The Gibson J-200 is finished with several coats of hand rubbed lacquer, just as they always have been since 1894. Through age, the lacquer melds with the wood and takes on that much sought-after “vintage Gibson” appearance. The sound also improves with age and playing, another advantage of a premium quality, all-wood instrument.
When it becomes your time to get a solid wood, hand built guitar, the Gibson SJ-200 Reissue should be on your playing list.
Remember, all Gibsons have similar feel, due to similar string spacing and scale length, so if you learn to play one, you can play them all. This is very important to making the most of your playing, and is not a claim that can be made by other manufacturers’ instruments.
This guitar runs $2,800 (list ~ $4,500) and comes with a premium hard shell Gibson case, humidifier, pick, and Gold Lifetime Warranty for the original owner.
Right now they are giving a set of Gibson products to those who register their Gibson Acoustics while supplies last. The products include a limited edition Gibson bag, strings, Limited edition strap, guitar polish, and Gibson logo lint free cloth. I would estimate the value at $75 -$100, so it’s a worthwhile freebie and nobody else on your block will have the limited edition bag and strap.
If you are really serious about your guitar playing, why not treat yourself to the best - a solid wood handmade guitar that will carry your playing forward by leaps and bounds?
Thanks for stopping by!
Recommended:
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