NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Brow

Active member
Hey guys.

Sorry for the upcoming long post!

You may remember a few weeks ago I posted some pics of a guitar that I was contemplating getting myself for my 30th birthday last week, but it turns out the guitar was (obviously to most of you) a fake so I left it well alone.

I've since been trying to narrow down what sort of guitar I actually want. I'm lucky enough to have a decent collection of instruments; nothing overly expensive compared to some but between them they do have most of the bases covered tonally for the types of music I like and play. The only things I could think of that I was missing so to speak were either something with P90s, Mini Humbuckers or something like a 335 etc. As much as I like the tone when other people play 335s etc I just can't seem to make them work for me as they just seem too big for me and my shortness :banghead:

I decided to focus on things with P90s or Mini Humbuckers so I started looking at the Gibson Studio Tribute models, Gibson SG Classic with P90s, Gibson LP Specials etc when I came across a 1991 Gibson SG Junior with a single P90 which I liked the look of. By the time I got to the shop, an hours drive away, it'd already been sold. So I carried on looking through his very well stocked shop, some things things about the cost of my car :eyecrazy:, I saw this standing at the back:



I plugged it in and after about 30seconds knew it was what I wanted :D The bridge P90 has a real nice snarl to it, which I think will fit very well with my 70s Punk band, and the neck pickup was smoother sounding than I was expecting, but still nice. I'm yet to try it with my own gear as I've been out all weekend and haven't yet had chance to use it in anger.

From what I can find out it's either a JJ Guitars Jewel or Retro. The bridge P90 has also been swapped out for a Bulldog Pickups item, but otherwise it's bone stock I think. The guy in the shop was also nice enough to throw in a Hiscox Lite Flite case as the grubby old case that came in with this guitar had been sold with something else by mistake.

Here's some more pics if anyones interested (stock pics from the shops site):






 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Good move... This will get you playing even more - and enjoying every moment!
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Hard to go wrong with P-90s in a big slab of mahogany. Enjoy!
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Very cool guitar you got there Craig, a well worthy addition... and happy birthday!
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Good move... This will get you playing even more - and enjoying every moment!

Cheers!

Hard to go wrong with P-90s in a big slab of mahogany. Enjoy!

Guess not, for some types of music atleast! Thanks!

Very cool guitar you got there Craig, a well worthy addition... and happy birthday!

Thanks Don. I want to get it to band practice on Wednesday now so I can hear what it can do :D
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Good choice. Good guitar dealer. Just one fly in the proverbial ointment. That cream pickup cover!!!
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Nice grab & Happy Birthday!!!

+ 1 on teh p/up cover,tho...

:p
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Cheers guys.

I like the cream 1 tbh! If I were to change any then i'd probably change the neck 1 to cream. I'd only do that if I could just change a cover etc, I wouldn't go to the expense of a new pickup just to change the colour! :D
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

I never heard of that brand but, it has a very cool retro look to it and you can't go wrong with P-90s. Enjoy.
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Cream covers = Gold knobs

:headbang:

Yep, would be a better match than cream with black knobs.

I never heard of that brand but, it has a very cool retro look to it and you can't go wrong with P-90s. Enjoy.

Thanks!

They're a small UK based brand that alot of people here haven't heard of either! :D

http://www.jjguitars.com/jj_jewel_guitar.html

Looks as if cream pickup covers are the default. IMO, cream + gold smacks of PRS McCarty. Black = Gibson Juniors and Specials.

The new model Jewel is a bit fancier than mine, and Id've thought more expensive too.

On the older models like mine then black was the default colour.

Good point on the Gold+Cream = McCarty, Black = Juniors/Specials. I hadn't thought of it that way.
 
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Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Tasty P-90 platform there Brow! Everyone needs a P-90 guitar.
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Very cool Craig...I have a sneaky look at those JJ guitars when they occasionally appear on eBay! Cool score and happy birthday!!
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

That's really the best type of bridge for those guitars......basically a McCarty bridge. They transfer energy perfectly, stay in tune forever, and are comfortable under your palm.

I've never heard of the company, but it looks like a winner.
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Cool, didn't know JJ was still in business - I remember when Guitarist had tonnes of ads for them in the early '00s.
 
Re: NTBGD - That'll be 'New Thirtieth Birthday Guitar Day' (sad I know)

Thanks guys, really enjoying the guitar so far.

I'm just back from my 1st rehearsal with the guitar and it really suits my 70s Punk band :D

The only thing I kept doing was turning the volume down due to the volume knob placement, but I guess I'll get used to that.

Cool, didn't know JJ was still in business - I remember when Guitarist had tonnes of ads for them in the early '00s.

They're still going now, but the newer 1s tend to be a bit more 'bling-ier' looking than mine, asif they're going more for the PRS type of look instead of the Junior/Special type of look.
 
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