j-200

Subject: RE: j-200
From: Lanfranc
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 06:56 PM

Alex Norton, who is now better known as an actor ("Braveheart", "Blackadder", "Little Voice" et al), and I ran the Troubadour in Earls Court, London in the early 70s. He had a J200 that had once belonged to Marty Wilde, and that was a superb guitar - mid 50s vintage, probably. Wonder if he still has it?

I've always fancied owning one, but never found one that played or sounded like my memory of that old guitar of Alex's, which was, to my ear, much better than the one another Alex, Alex Campbell used to play.

I have a Washburn copy J200, which was never catalogued, and I've never seen another like it. I bought it (a) because it was a fraction of the price of a Gibson and (b) because it played and sounded better than an "Elvis commemoration" J200 in the same store.

Still looking for a good one, but they are a bit rare in the UK. Wonder what happened to Alex Campbell's guitar?

Or Alex Norton's, for that matter?

Alan

Subject: RE: j-200
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 11:16 AM

I know some professional Musicians who swear by the j200. It's a pretty guitar sounds good to me.

Donno about the Taylors and Guilds. But the Gibson is a very nice guitar. If you have the cash.

Subject: RE: j-200
From: dwditty
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 10:57 AM

I once bought the most beautiful J-200 I ever saw. Curly maple that looked about a foot deep. After a week, I decided that I hated that guitar. It just didn't graft to my soul. I took it back to the shop where I bought it and was met with a sympathetic ear. George said he never wanted to end up with the wrong woman or the wrong guitar. He said he had made the mistake once, but still loved his guitar. He gave me full credit! Now a J-45...that's a guitar that really plays, in my opinion. Wish I had one.

dw

Subject: RE: j-200
From: Midchuck
Date: 01 Oct 01 - 08:35 AM

If your arms are long enough to be comfortable with a full jumbo, I think both Taylor and Guild make better ones than Gibson is making now.

The old Gibsons are a different matter, of course.

Peter.

Subject: j-200
From: 53
Date: 30 Sep 01 - 10:50 PM

i'd love to have one of these but at the present time i guess i'll just have to wait. bob