Members ThunderDump Posted February 6, 2004 Members Posted February 6, 2004 How is it? Sound wise. I know it is small and was wondering if that affected the sound in a bad way.
Members SurrealMcCoy Posted February 6, 2004 Members Posted February 6, 2004 I was curious about this instrument also.......but haven't heard too many favorable reviews. I am surprised at how well some of the smaller body guitars can project. I played a Gibson "Robert Johnson" at NAMM that I really liked. That Larrivee parlor that Dave from Guitar Adoptions has is simply "amazing"!
Members LittleBrother Posted February 6, 2004 Members Posted February 6, 2004 They can be great but I am personally very disappointed in them. Look cool but when I pick one up it just aint got the mojo to my ears. I used to own several L-00 that varied in greatness but they all ate the blues king for lunch. Those are around 1200 so that might be why you dont get much bang. If you find a good one let me know. I absolutely love those type of guitars but I would save a few extra bucks and get something else. Maybe even a regular L-00 before I'd get a Blues King. Try to find a real vintage L-00 . I've seen a 1940s model for as little as 1400 and it was a killer axe. I am having some build that cost about twice that but I am tired of trying to buy the ultimate blues guitar so I am having them built to my own specs. Just my opinion. You may find one you love. You be the ultimate judge.
Members riffdaddy Posted February 7, 2004 Members Posted February 7, 2004 The Blues King is, unfortunately, not the real deal. I was never able to pinpoint what exactly made these things so objectionable, but the one we had in the shop was just downright awful. In all fairness, Gibson still makes plenty of good guitars. This just isn't one of them. In this body size, I think Tacoma actually does a better job than just about anybody else (for new instruments, anyways).
Members Carle Posted February 7, 2004 Members Posted February 7, 2004 I played one and did not like it very much. The L-00 is a better sounding guitar. The Workingman 45 is even better but is not a small guitar. Actually, I am beginning to think most Gibson's are built to heavy. Even though my L20 small body Gibson has the tone I like it is heavier than many jumbo's and almost all small body guitars. It has a top that is .135" thick at the sound hole and that is THICK. I am chomping at the bit to try LittleBrother and Mikes new Crossroad guitar.
Members ThunderDump Posted February 7, 2004 Author Members Posted February 7, 2004 who makes similar sized models at about the same price?
Members LittleBrother Posted February 7, 2004 Members Posted February 7, 2004 Here's an idea. I liked these when I played them better than the Gibsons. Which is a harsh statement but true. Epiphone Elite L-00 under 1000 Larrivee 00-05 - This is one hell of a guitar under 1000.00 with a big discount but its a much much better guitar IMO. http://www.guitaradoptions.com/prodcat/customer/product.php?productid=17677&cat=&page=1 More ideas to investigate.... There are SOOO many. Another idea Martin 00-15 under 1000.00. Great blues sound. MARTIN 00-15 Martin 000-1 1998 - 600.00 @ Elderly Martin 000-15 way under 1000.00 VERY COOL 000-15 Martin SLOTHEAD (I like these) 000-16GT under 1000 and alot of possibility SPRUCE TOP
Members guitarcapo Posted February 8, 2004 Members Posted February 8, 2004 The trouble is that the guitar is an accurate reproduction of a budget Gibson model. To make the re-issue they copied the indifferent, heavy brace pattern of the original. I agree that they sound pretty dead and are braced so heavy that they'd need 60 years before they sound good. Another example of good design being forsaken for vintage accuracy.
Members telenate Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 I'd consider this Gibson WM-00 instead. It's more affordable and I bet it sounds better as it's a relatively new design.
Members Howard Emerson Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 Originally posted by guitarcapo The trouble is that the guitar is an accurate reproduction of a budget Gibson model. To make the re-issue they copied the indifferent, heavy brace pattern of the original. I agree that they sound pretty dead and are braced so heavy that they'd need 60 years before they sound good. Another example of good design being forsaken for vintage accuracy. Hi Capo,I think you've got it backwards there. If they had copied an original, then the new ones wouldn't weigh so much. The bracing on the new ones definitely looks to have a much heavier cut to it, as does the thickness cut of the top. I own a 1935 L-00 and I've literally played dozens of them. Not all of them were winners, but none of them weighed as much as the new ones, without question. The original model was a budget piece for sure, and time hasn't been kind to all of them. Thankfully it's been kind to many of them:-) Take care,Howard Emerson
Members 56Tweed Posted February 9, 2004 Members Posted February 9, 2004 Love sig RiffDaddy... so how did the Chiefs fare in the playoffs? Mike
Members riffdaddy Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by 56Tweed Love sig RiffDaddy... so how did the Chiefs fare in the playoffs? Mike :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Die you will! Hey, we got our old head coach back from Tennessee to work as defensive coordinator. We'll do alright next year. Besides, our 8th round draft pick of a QB and rag-tag team of receivers went tit-for-tat with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. They only beat us by one TD. Our guys played hard, but our defense quit playing instinctively after the first Denver game. Next year will be better.
Members guitarcapo Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 I'm basing my comment on a review I read concerning the Blues King's bracing. My guess as to why newer guitars are heavier might be that the wood hasn't dried out as much over the years. Or possibly the mahogany they use now is different. Anyway, Gibson defended the heavy bracing as an attempt at historical accuracy.
Members Tele like it is Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 I have a '38 L-OO and it's definately lighter than the BK. Much better sounding and not impossible to find for under 2K.
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 For several decades, Gibson has overbuilt their guitars. That's why they were heavy. Period. Their woods were left very thick and their bracing was stout enough to hang an engine block from. Even their finish was as heavy as amber. John Greven once told me that Gibson went heavy after their early heydays to stave off warranty issues involving wood cracks and caved-in tops, etc. Trouble is, they went way too far in the opposite direction, where even their small-body guitars weighed more by themselves than what equivalently sized Martins weighed WITH their cases. All that said, I tried the new Gibson Robert Johnson model recently and was initially impressed . . . until I played a Santa Cruz 00 right after. The new Gibson was definitely lighter-built than they used to be but it was also much quieter than the equivalent SCGC. The Gibson top was tight and moved very little, producing a pleasant, but quiet, tone. My The Greven NL (Nick Lucas) that John built for me a while back was based on a 1931 Nick Lucas Special, which itself had been lightly constructed, as was Gibson's custom at the time. John repro'ed the best it had to offer but used his own specific, lighter Martin X bracing. The result is a feather-weight Adirondack/Brazilian powerhouse that roared right out of the chute. Just goes to show that using elements from the best of vintage guitars can actually yield a great new guitar. Take care, Mike
Members 56Tweed Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 Originally posted by Mike Crixell My The Greven NL (Nick Lucas) that John built for me a while back was based on a 1931 Nick Lucas Special, which itself had been lightly constructed, as was Gibson's custom at the time. John repro'ed the best it had to offer but used his own specific, lighter Martin X bracing. The result is a feather-weight Adirondack/Brazilian powerhouse that roared right out of the chute. Just goes to show that using elements from the best of vintage guitars can actually yield a great new guitar. Take care, Mike I played a few Blues Kings and they were pretty heavy for such a small bodied guitar. I really wanted to like it since that was the type of guitar I'm looking for. I had the pleasure of playing Mike's Greven. It was amazingly light, and really came alive when played. I've never touched a guitar that lively and unfortunately is now what I use for comparisons. Mike
Members Mike Crixell Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 Thanks for the kind words, Mike. The NL is truly something, and I marvel every time I play it. I love to hear my daughter play it, too, since I get to hear it from the front. Man, what a lovely voice it has! As for the future, keep your ear to the ground. You're likely to run into a 00 that will make you sit up and take notice, and soon. Take care, Mike
Members LittleBrother Posted February 10, 2004 Members Posted February 10, 2004 Speaking of that wonderful NL. Here is me playing it ! Its a wonderful blues box and it sounds best out front. The character really comes out. It sounds even better playing ragtime stuff. Gibson, are you watching ? This is what you could build. PLAY WMV MOVIE CLIP
Members Guitar Adoptions Posted August 5, 2004 Members Posted August 5, 2004 Originally posted by LittleBrother Here's an idea. I liked these when I played them better than the Gibsons. Which is a harsh statement but true. Epiphone Elite L-00 under 1000 Larrivee 00-05 - This is one hell of a guitar under 1000.00 with a big discount but its a much much better guitar IMO. http://www.guitaradoptions.com/prodcat/customer/product.php?productid=17677&cat=&page=1More ideas to investigate.... There are SOOO many. Another idea Martin 00-15 under 1000.00. Great blues sound. MARTIN 00-15 Martin 000-1 1998 - 600.00 @ Elderly Martin 000-15 way under 1000.00 VERY COOL 000-15 Martin SLOTHEAD (I like these) 000-16GT under 1000 and alot of possibility SPRUCE TOP Or this one...http://www.guitaradoptions.com/prodcat/customer/product.php?productid=17831&cat=257&page=1
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