quote:

Originally posted by JeffM:
Homer:

If you have ordered the same guitar from Rockbridge that Kit has, why not go ahead and buy Kit's? I played that thing in August, and it was a killer. The quilted mahogany didn't impress me but the regular version did. Every quilted beast I have played seems like a crossbreed, maybe it's the denser wood. But if I were you, I'd go by Kit's guitar and call Randall and Brian up and cancel. They have plenty of work to do. The price is right, too.

Bunch of reasons: Mine is nearly complete, spec'd with "alternate" tonewoods, customed with non-standard neck and will come sporting a cool shadetop. Wood selected and guitar ordered before the local shop received their's. BTW, I think the figured mahogany is a square shoulder D, not a slope (unless there is one there I missed). In any case, I suspect (and hope) this thread will spark someone else to do the right thing and send an email or pick up a phone and get this one for their very own.

Hey, I can jump on this bandwagon!

I own a 1940 J-35 AND the B&H Baton Rouge. (Who said life was fair?) These are both dream guitars but as different as night and day. I will say that of most, if not all the current Gibson interpreters, the B&H comes as close to the real deal as any I've played. These two guys love old Gibsons and I'll bet their J-35 copy would be fantastic, although expensive and a looonnnggg time coming!

But, the original post was about a mahogany/Adi J-35 type guitar, at least I think it was. I love the Collings CJ, owned one and played more. It is NOT a Gibson J-35 except in looks. Sorry, not happening.

I owned a John Walker J-35 guitar (the Wise, I think) and it came very, very close to my J-35. While my Gibson is almost 70 years old and has been played a ton, the Walker sounded maybe 40 years old right out of the box. At that price I am hard pressed to imagine you can find many better. (I hear equally good things about Kevin Kopp, btw.)

Now, if you just want a slope shoulder, mahogany guitar, there are lots of great ones. If you want one that sounds like a great vintage Gibson, check out John Walker.

here's my dream guitar: buy a guitar you like, then lend it to some professional player who will play it night after night for at least 6 months.......get it back from him/her and be astounded by the sound. repeat with next guitar, stirred but not shaken.....repeat as often as you can afford to.....

i know that is pretty tongue in cheek, but i am considering this experiment.

quote:

here's my dream guitar: buy a guitar you like, then lend it to some professional player who will play it night after night

OK, I'll do it, can you make it a Borges Barndance

Okay. It's an election year. Here's a poll. If I consider punting the CJ varnish which is now four months late in favor of, say, a Kopp or a Walker for two grand less am I:
1. Inspired. great guitar, less money.\
2. Brave. little known makers, great guitar, possible resale problems if it comes to that.
3. Off my meds. Collings is a proven builder, and what difference could a couple grand make?
4. Suitable for an institution: you've waited ten months, schmuck. Get real. What's a Kopp?
I await your input. I've come up with all four answers in the last 24 hours. I'm confused, or old, or just a dumbass. Maybe all of the above. thanks tom

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
Okay. It's an election year. Here's a poll. If I consider punting the CJ varnish which is now four months late in favor of, say, a Kopp or a Walker for two grand less am I:
1. Inspired. great guitar, less money.\
2. Brave. little known makers, great guitar, possible resale problems if it comes to that.
3. Off my meds. Collings is a proven builder, and what difference could a couple grand make?
4. Suitable for an institution: you've waited ten months, schmuck. Get real. What's a Kopp?
I await your input. I've come up with all four answers in the last 24 hours. I'm confused, or old, or just a dumbass. Maybe all of the above. thanks tom

5. Thinking too much. Stick with your plan, have faith in your carefully considered, informed decision, be happy when the CJ arrives, and then see what happens.

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
Maybe all of the above

I think you stay with your plan. I want to see what you trade it for.

"And remember this one word, son...plastics." -The Graduate

quote:

Originally posted by northernbreed:

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
Okay. It's an election year. Here's a poll. If I consider punting the CJ varnish which is now four months late in favor of, say, a Kopp or a Walker for two grand less am I:
1. Inspired. great guitar, less money.\
2. Brave. little known makers, great guitar, possible resale problems if it comes to that.
3. Off my meds. Collings is a proven builder, and what difference could a couple grand make?
4. Suitable for an institution: you've waited ten months, schmuck. Get real. What's a Kopp?
I await your input. I've come up with all four answers in the last 24 hours. I'm confused, or old, or just a dumbass. Maybe all of the above. thanks tom

5. Thinking too much. Stick with your plan, have faith in your carefully considered, informed decision, be happy when the CJ arrives, and then see what happens.

Agreed with NorthernBreed except...a couple of grand IS a couple of grand. Now the CJ is still a fine guitar, but it ain't a Gibson, just looks like one. If you want a Gibson, get a Kopp. Or why not just get one of the one's Greg Boyd has now, pay the freight for approval, risk a few bucks, make your decision based on eyes wide open, rather than always wondering?

if you want a gibson buy a gibson, a vintage one. there are a lot of SJ's and j-45's from the 40's and 50's.............play 'em. as many as you can and buy the one that speaks to you.

i wish i could be more like guys like paul geremia who play one or two guitars and really enjoy them. i wanna be more like that.

quote:

If I consider punting the CJ varnish . . .

Before you can punt, you've got to have possession. How can you punt when the other side's got the ball? After you've gotten possession, go with your game plan and see how it goes. If you can't get the ball down the field, punt . . .

"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time . . ."

i think the CJ under construction is getting some special attention, and will be one remarkable git.

i'd wait and try it out. you've waited this long.

Hmmmm. Maybe the answer is: wait 'til the varnish is done, have it sent here and have the Kopp sent here and let 'em have it out, and may the best guitar win. Gotta cut back on the caffeine. tom