Submitted by MitchellB (see all reviews from this person) on 10/5/2008

Where Purchased: Grandpa Smith's Music Store

Year Purchased: 1976?
Price Paid: 250.00 ($US) (bought USED)

Sound

I've always loved the sound and volume of this guitar, but especially the wide neck. I do not like narrow thin necks. Most Gibson acoustics I had played up to then were pretty weak in the volume department, but this one was a real hoss. It had issues when I acquired it, but over the years I have gotten it pretty close to the way I like it.

Sound Rating: 8

Setup

Sadly the guitar was hanging in the music store with the bridge pulled up, the tuner buttons were crumbling, cracks in the sides and back, frets worn out, decals on the top and deep gouges in the back of the V neck where someone had used a screw-down capo without a pad and dug holes into the neck with the screw. It had been played so much the top looked like Willie Nelson’s guitar, but without the holes. My friend and luther Mark Richard repaired it for me after I bought it. It is far from original, but it does not matter to me, as I never intend to sell it. I call her Maybelle and she has been my picking companion for many years now. I only replaced her with a new Martin a few years ago, because she looked so rough and worn out and was irreplaceable to me if anything should happen to her.

Setup Rating: 1

Appearance

This is an ugly duckling, but it was a nice looking box in its day. The top is scratched and worn badly and I’ve never had it refinished. There are still shadows of some foxhunt decals on the top that I removed. The mahogany back and sides have faded an unbecoming orange color. Even the Gibson painted script logo on the headstock is half worn off

Appearance Rating: 2

Reliability

The guitar now is very dependable and reliable, dispite the thin finish, cracks and scratches. Heck, I’ve used over 30 years now and played it outside in the rain, sun and even snow and it has never let me down.

Reliability Rating: 8

Customer Service

I bought is used, so I have no warranty. It has no serial number either, so it is difficult to date it as well.

Customer Service: not rated

Components

Since this guitar was (best guess) made about 1937, the only thing I can complain about were he plastic on the tuner buttons that did not last.

Components Rating: 6

Overall Comments

I have seen a similar guitar, but all original and in good shape sell on eBay for over $10k. So somebody likes them beside me. If it were stolen I would probably replace it with a Gibson Advanced Jumbo in rosewood that Gibson currently makes today. I’ve seen some Martins that were louder and a few that weren’t in shear volume. The tone is very balanced and decays quickly like most old guitar often do. The wide neck is something I very seldom see on new guitars today. I love a wide neck. That alone would be hard for me to replace in a modern guitar. I’ve heard louder guitars, deeper guitars and guitars that played better, but I’ve gotten so used to this one, I’ve never liked anything else better.

Overall Rating: 8