The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164567   Message #3939939
Posted By: GUEST,Eddie1 - sans cookie as ever
27-Jul-18 - 05:19 PM
Thread Name: Unbelievable Guitar Prices
Subject: RE: Unbelievable Guitar Prices
And Gibson J45 has this:
Custom J-45 acoustic model, influenced by the renowned J-45 Standard
Sitka spruce top with rosewood back and sides
One-piece mahogany neck with comfortable Slim Taper profile
Smooth richlite fingerboard decorated with small abalone diamond inlays
Fitted with LR Baggs VTC pickup, upgraded for better sound delivery
Gold Grover Rotomatics tuners ensure complete accuracy
Richlite bridge with Tusq saddle offer clean, consistent acoustic tone
Comes with a Gibson black hardshell case
The J-45 is well-known and adored acoustic model which has remained one of the best-selling Gibson guitars over the years. The 2017 J-45 Custom is built by the expert luthiers at the Gibson Acoustic factory in Montana, keeping that round shoulder dreadnought design accompanied by a selection of modern improvements to make this guitar even more appealing.

BODY
The 2017 J-45 Custom has been skilfully crafted by the professionals based at Gibson's Acoustic factory in Bozeman, Montana. With a radiused, AA-grade Sitka spruce body top with scalloped bracing, projection and acoustic delivery are second to none, sounding perfectly clear and resonant with each note.

A unique feature of the 2017 J-45 Custom is that its body back and sides are constructed entirely from rosewood. The rosewood and Sitka spruce partner eachother beautifully, offering an alluring appearance which is further complemented by a hand bound trim binding on the body top with extraordinary herringbone detail.

NECK
A single-piece mahogany neck is firmly secured to the body using hot hide glue via a compound dovetail joint. The neck is shaped to an incredibly comfortable Slim Taper profile, enhancing the feel of the neck in your hand. The neck is topped with a smooth, richlite fingerboard. Gibson have added small, decorative abalone diamond inlays to guide you from one fret to the next.

PICKUP SYSTEM
Gibson have employed an updated LR Baggs VTC pickup to amplify the 2017 J-45 Custom Rosewood guitar. This built-in pickup system means you can plug in and play anywhere, making any practice session or live performance a doddle. Volume and tone controls can be easily located beneath the soundhole, allowing you to tweak your sound accordingly. The positioning of the LR Baggs VTC pickup is the reason it can accurately capture the soundwaves directly from the guitar soundboard and deliver a resonant acoustic translation.

HARDWARE AND FINISH
The headstock is beautifully decorated with cream binding and kitted out high-calibre with Gold Grover Rotomatics tuning keys. The tuners are set to a reliable 14:01 ratio, which, alongside the Tusq nut and saddle ensure consistently accurate tuning and ideal string spacing.

The body has a richlite bridge, enhancing sustain and resonance. A firestripe pickguard adds a vintage aesthetic to the body, a prime feature that perfectly suits the Vintage Sunburst colour of the guitar. Gibson include a black hardshell case to protect this workhorse against damage, and a Gibson Acoustic Owner's Manual is also supplied.

It seems to have been built in two different places?
Incidentally, the J200 has only this:
The Gibson 2016 J-200 Standard is a reinvented version of the 1937 classic.
While the SJ 200 has:

"King of the Flat Tops" sets the standard for all others
Powerful Super Jumbo that projects a mighty yet nuanced output
Sitka spruce top reinforced by traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing
Maple back and sides generates a punchy midrange timbre
Maple neck with round profile ensures a comfortable and stable feel
20 fret rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl crown inlays
Distinctive SJ-200 bridge optimises intonation in peerless style
Gold Grover Rotomatic tuning machines uphold tuning integrity precisely
Includes Gibson hardshell case, and accessory kit
The Gibson Acoustic 2018 SJ-200 Standard Electro Acoustic Guitar in Vintage Sunburst assumes the mantle of "King of the Flat Tops" with ease, showcasing the awesome power of its Super Jumbo body alongside sublime appointments to cement its regal aesthetic. Once you pick up and play one of these beauties, you'll immediately appreciate and understand why so many guitarists have turned to the SJ-200 as their preferred instrument of choice. From rock to country, no genre remains untouched by this majestic acoustic's influence.

Solid Super Jumbo
The Gibson Acoustic 2018 SJ-200 is bestowed with the classic Super Jumbo body profile, which gives it large dimensions that results in a huge output that offers a wide dynamic range. The delivery may be substantial, but thanks to the elegantly executed constructed and carefully selected tonewoods, the SJ-200 sings with a delightfully nuanced timbre. Whether you're playing as part of an ensemble or going solo, the Super Jumbo shape gives you the versatility to play within or above a mix with ease.

Tasteful tonewoods
The body back and sides are built using maple, which establishes a bright and punchy tonal foundation. Paired with the maple is a Sitka spruce top, which is reinforced using traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing to optimise projection and resonance whilst preventing unwanted buckling and warping over time.

As well as the awesome Vintage Sunburst finish, additional touches have been applied to make this beauty stand head and shoulders above the rest. Multi-ply binding to the top and bottom complements the tonewood finish exquisitely, the multi-ply double-ring rosette encircles the soundhole, and a subtle coating of nitrocellulose lacquer protects the finish. The icing on the cake comes in the form of an ornately decorated traditional cast SJ-200 pickguard.

Sturdy yet supple maple neck
Using a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint for strength, the 2018 SJ-200 Standard has been given a strong and reliable maple neck. Shaped to a round profile to guarantee comfort and stability, the neck ensures a substantial yet manageable feel in the hand. Married to the neck is a luxurious rosewood fingerboard, which is home to 20 frets that are adorned with hand mother-of-pearl crown inlays. Whether you're fretting chords, strumming your heart out, or playing intricate fingerstyle, the neck and fingerboard accommodate all styles equally.

Gig-ready hardware
The Gibson SJ-200 headstock is home to a set of gold Grover Rotomatic tuning machines, which uphold tuning integrity with precision. Between the headstock and neck rests the Tusq nut, which carries out the task of maintaining string tension dutifully. The delightfully designed SJ-200 moustache bridge creates a seamless connection between the strings and body, ensuring optimum intonation throughout each performance.

LR Baggs Anthem
The SJ-200 Standard is equipped with an upgraded, award-winning L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup system. The Anthem pickup delivers warm, balanced tones that transparently translates the natural acoustic timbre of the guitar exquisitely, whilst doing a fantastic job of suppressing any potential unwanted feedback. Thanks to the unique TRU.MIC hardware, which is mounted beneath the bridge plate, the Anthem produces a sparkling output that is infused with absolute clarity.

The Gibson Acoustic 2018 SJ-200 Standard Electro Acoustic Guitar is a work of art. To ensure yours stays in pristine condition for many years to come, each model is supplied with a hardshell case, as well as a Gibson accessory kit.

On Amazon, the LR Baggs Anthem pick-up is priced at £283.44 on its own, without an SJ 200! At least we are agreed that it all sounds very dodgy