Long live Gibson! From Orville, through Lloyd Loar and the folks who played them publicly and raved. Whether the logo said "Kalamazoo", or "Kel Kroydon" or (in the 60s) "Epiphone". Two of the most "perfect" axes ever made were the "J-45" (or J-50) and the B-25.(and it's Epiphone equivalent)

The J-45 (or J-50, or Epiphone Texan) may be the ultimate workhorse of acoustic music. They stuck an adequate pick-up on it (J-160-E) and it became the Beatles' rhythm guitar. My 1962 "Texan" was the best guitar I ever owned (yup, it's the one I sold to pay the rent...and I still regret it). I bought it after seeing how Tom Rush made his "talk".

The B-25, was the perfect guitar for blues and small hands. Every time I've had a student trying to negotiate a big dreadnought without much luck, I wish I could point them in the direction of a B-25....but they just don't come on the market very often 'cause folks like moonchild hang onto them. Martin's 0-18 is also a perfect axe for smaller folks (but even 6 foot, 220 pound folksingers, like me, love it) but when it comes to necks...I know I'm being heretical here....I'll take Gibson.

One of the things that make Gibson "special" to me is the number of times they've totally screwed up! Remember the "Mark" series? or how about their venture into classicals? Perhaps their silliest instrument was the "Acoustic" low impedance Les Pauls. Those sounded like wet plastecine.

Among all the "classic" acoustic instruments over the second part of this century, my favourites have to be:

Martin D-18

Gibson J-45

Guild (small mahoganny)

Guild 12 string

Martin 0-18

Gibson B-25

Martin D-45...hey I love pearl too!

Gibson J-200

And I'll bet 20 years from now Taylor and Larrivee will be in that list.

Guitar nerd