Anyone played the Gibson J-160E ?

[ollenorin]

Boy does it look sweet !

 

reason why i think it would fit me is that i dont really play the acoustic that sounds like an acoustic...i want an acoustic that i can play live with and have a bit of rawer and more "electric" sound to it but also be able to noodle some acoustic stuff at home for practice.

 

Would this be a good guitar for me ?

 

[bsman]

These lads thought they were pretty decent!

 

 

If you get this, that's just what you'll get - more electric sound, but with more 'body' than a straight electric. It's a good sound, but IMO not as versatile as some.

[ollenorin]

as some what ?

[Fred Fartboski]

Oh boy! A J-160E thread!

 

I've had one for about 5 years now. A new(2001-2) Bozeman model.

 

However, I bought it because I love the unplugged acoustic sound of it(not to mention the Beatles cashe). A nice full, woody tone with some brassiness and just the right amount of high end sparkle.

 

When I bought it I tried two of them side by side. The first one I played did not impress me at all. My wife and I looked at each other we were like "eh". It was tone dead. For $1700 I wanted something that would make my eyes light up. I was about to get up and leave the the store(Norman's Rare Guitars) when Norman walked up to the salesman and said "We have another one in the back. Let him try that one". He brought it out and this one was alive. My eyes lit up and so did my wife's. And the live one was only one or two serial numbers off from the dud one.

 

So, you may have to play a few before you find one that you can really enjoy unplugged.

 

I believe Terry Allen Hall has one, as well as the Epi version too, IIRC. I hope he'll be chiming in with his opinion.

[adrifter2]

I play a friends J-160E from time to time. We play with Country, Bluegrass, and Folk music jams in my area.

I have to say the J-160E this is one of the BEST Gibson acoustics that they make.

The location of the pickup (not under the bridge saddle) gives the guitar a true dreadnought solid spruce/mahogany tone.

The pickup is there when you need it for amplification. And for straight acoustic "unplugged" it's all there too.

He plays his Gibson heavy chording, flat picking, and fiinger picking, and it always shines.

My friend that owns it, uses Martin light gauge "SP" phosphor bronze strings, and switches to "SP" medium phosphor bronze gauge when needed.

But he keeps using the .054" sixth string all the time instead of a .056' for what he says is a better sound.

I own a Gibson Advanced Jumbo, and Martin HD-35, and find his Gibson J-160E can handle anything we try with my guitars.

I hope Gibson never stops making the J-160E.

[Treborklow]

I believe Gibson recommends electric guitar stings on these, and that contributes to it's different sound... that and the ceramic saddle on the originals.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Oh boy! A J-160E thread! I've had one for about 5 years now. A new(2001-2) Bozeman model. However, I bought it because I love the unplugged acoustic sound of it(not to mention the Beatles cashe). A nice full, woody tone with some brassiness and just the right amount of high end sparkle. When I bought it I tried two of them side by side. The first one I played did not impress me at all. My wife and I looked at each other we were like "eh". It was tone dead. For $1700 I wanted something that would make my eyes light up. I was about to get up and leave the the store(Norman's Rare Guitars) when Norman walked up to the salesman and said "We have another one in the back. Let him try that one". He brought it out and this one was alive. My eyes lit up and so did my wife's. And the live one was only one or two serial numbers off from the dud one. So, you may have to play a few before you find one that you can really enjoy unplugged. I believe Terry Allen Hall has one, as well as the Epi version too, IIRC. I hope he'll be chiming in with his opinion.

 

No, I don't own either, but I've played several of each...IMABO, a lot of times the Epi sounds as good as the current Gibson model, and both sound MUCH better than the originals.

 

I'd like to find a broken EJ-160E and put the P/U in an EJ-200.

[Stackabones]

At least you'll avoid the peizo quack!

 

Looks like a great guitar.

[ollenorin]

damn i need one now

[Fred Fartboski]

No, I don't own either, but I've played several of each...IMABO, a lot of times the Epi sounds as good as the current Gibson model, and both sound MUCH better than the originals. I'd like to find a broken EJ-160E and put the P/U in an EJ-200.

 

Yeah. I remember you commenting on them. I searched after I wrote my post and saw you had played them but didn't own them.