brentrocks
Well-known member
I picked this up from a fella in Kalamazoo today. Its a 1962 Gibson J 50. As we talked on the phone before meeting, he explained to me that this had belonged to his best friend, who's mother worked at Gibson. This guitar had been sitting in their garage for the past 20+ years, and the guy just discovered it a short time ago.
He was going to throw it away, when the guy i bought it from decided to take it and see if it was playable. The fella i bought it from, took it to a local luthier, had a minor headstock crack repaired and had it setup. Then i guess he decided he didnt want it anymore and posted it on craigslist.
There was no case with the guitar. I quickly checked the serial # and was able to easily date it to 1962. Ususally acoustics this old are in need of a neck set, but this one had a good pitch and there is plenty of saddle left.
The entire guitar is checked out. The natural top has a wonderful golden amber aging to it. The frets are original and in great shape. The non original pickguard is a big dissapointment, but its there now...not much you can do? The tuner buttons somehow survived...they are solid. I believe the rest of the guitar to be original....i black lighted it and the whole guitar shows green except for the repaired area.
The tone is bright and crisp, but with good low end as well. The neck is pretty small...its right in between 1 9/16 & 1 5/8 nut.
The bridge appears to be secured to the body well....no cracks in the top, back or rim. There is a tounge brace, so the top of the front is not diving in the body.
Overall, for a 50 year old guitar, its pretty damm nice!!!
He was going to throw it away, when the guy i bought it from decided to take it and see if it was playable. The fella i bought it from, took it to a local luthier, had a minor headstock crack repaired and had it setup. Then i guess he decided he didnt want it anymore and posted it on craigslist.
There was no case with the guitar. I quickly checked the serial # and was able to easily date it to 1962. Ususally acoustics this old are in need of a neck set, but this one had a good pitch and there is plenty of saddle left.
The entire guitar is checked out. The natural top has a wonderful golden amber aging to it. The frets are original and in great shape. The non original pickguard is a big dissapointment, but its there now...not much you can do? The tuner buttons somehow survived...they are solid. I believe the rest of the guitar to be original....i black lighted it and the whole guitar shows green except for the repaired area.
The tone is bright and crisp, but with good low end as well. The neck is pretty small...its right in between 1 9/16 & 1 5/8 nut.
The bridge appears to be secured to the body well....no cracks in the top, back or rim. There is a tounge brace, so the top of the front is not diving in the body.
Overall, for a 50 year old guitar, its pretty damm nice!!!
