Best Gibson for fingerstyle

shane cummins · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:50 pm Post subject: Best Gibson for fingerstyle

Hello

Can anyone tell me the best Gibson accustic for fingerstyle as regards shape, tonewoods, etc. Also, taking into account the obvious compromise between guitars for strumming and fingerstyle, is there a model capable of both.

Thank you in advance for any help
Shane.[/list]

orsino · Big Goldfish Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 74 Location: FL

Hi Shane,
This would not be the obvious choice, but I play fingerstyle exclusively and I use my J-100Xtra. Of course tradition says to use the smaller bodied guitars for more overall balance. But, I just love the volume you can get from a Jumbo with less effort. Go to a shop and give it a try. The J-45 is a good fingerpicker too.

rcr · Big Guppy Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 48

Hi Shane: I'm not a fingerpicker, and Tom is, so his advice is much more valuable than mine, but for what it's worth, I have one of the 00 sized Gibson Blues Kings and it is an extremely bright guitar. It also plays very easily and the sound seems to be very sensitive to changes in string size and type. I would imagine that the sound of the jumbo would be superior (Tom knows that I am looking for a jumbo for myself). I'm not sure about the comfort of playing the jumbo, but the 00 body size is much more comfortable than a dread, particularly if you do not always assume the ideal body position when practicing. I almost never do; being wadded up on the couch is perhaps my most frequent position.

Bob

RichR · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 7:10 am Post subject:

I recently bought a J-45 Rosewood specifically because I like the way it sounds for fingerstyle, and it is very comfortable to play while sitting.

I have it set up with light p/b strings, removed the undersaddle pickup which I never use, and made a bone saddle for it.

Lots of sound comes out of this guitar. I also am more comfortable with its narrower neck compared to the usually more accepted wider (1 3/4") necked fingerstyle guitars.

Rich

D15lover · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 1:20 pm Post subject:

orsino · Big Goldfish Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 74 Location: FL

D15L,
Well, I'm not ignoring the OM-15 but I've sold the EC to make room for a Taylor LKSM6. I'm on a Jumbo binge!

Shane,
I figured someone would set me straight. I don't want to mislead you. Playing fingerstyle on a Jumbo is not everyone's cup of tea. If you want a good traditional fingerstyle Gibson, I'd go with the rosewood L-140. But, play as many different body styles as you can before you decide. You might find out you're a non-traditional kinda guy like me.

shane cummins · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 12:36 pm Post subject:

Appreciate for all the advice, this has given me a definate starting point

Regards,
Shane.

Scotsman · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:31 am Post subject:

I'll join Tom in going against the grain and recommendng that you try a maple jumbo for fingerstyle. I was amazed at how well my J-150 responds to a light fingerstyle touch, and as Tom says, it gives you volume with very little effort. Watch the action though; mine's a tad on the high side for fingerstyle, but great for bold flatpickin' and strumming.

Of course your mileage may vary, but at least give one a try if you can. You may just be surprised.

Cheers,
Cams

GIGGLER · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 8:47 am Post subject:

I can tell you about my guitar: Nick Lucas. Maple sides, back and neck. Spruce top.

The sound is quite unique. A real old timey sound.

1 3/4 in. neck. Plays softly very well....response easy, clear, instant. Strumming? Well, it's sure comfortable to play because of it's L00 body style. The sound, again...something you have a taste for, or you don't. For a strummer, I kind of prefer one of my other guitars.

spruce monkey · Tadpole Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 22

My opinion is that of the Gibson family of acoustics, the J45's made before 1964 are just wonderful for fingerstyle. Great volume , tone & seperation of notes( not mushy sounding ),thanks to the mahogany back & sides. The vintage reissues are a good thing too.The older Gibsons, as you might know, vary greatly in tone from instrument to instrument.Just because a guitar is 50years old doesn't always mean it's a tone monster.A have a'54 J45 & it's one of my all time favorite fingerpicking guitars.It can hold it's own with a'30 OM28.

Carl Darnell · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 6:42 pm Post subject:

The L140 is the guitar I was looking for when I found my L20. The L140 has a nice rich tone and a very nice base sound. It is a very good finger style guitar for any type of music from blues to country. Most of the other L series are to bright or to basey for all around types of music. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

admin · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 11:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Carl,
Glad to see you got onboard ok!

Carl Darnell · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 6:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks, It's nice to be on a good site like this.

herb · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2003 2:55 pm Post subject:

Carl, now that you're an old hand, go back into your profile and pick yourself an avatar that looks just like you, kinda like Admin's does! Wink

Carl Darnell · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 4:29 pm Post subject:

Ahhh, well, Ummm, I looked through most of them and found nothing I really wanted to use.