Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.

Subject: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 10:06 PM

OK, lemme see....how many days ago was it that I proudly rambled on about finally paying off the whole (substantial) balance on my VISA card? Not many.

It may seem sometimes that I've got a whole basement full of guitars but I don't....lotsa instruments but only four guitars. The problem for the last year has been that my main working guitar (a big antique dreadnought) has been giving me a sore hand. It was made in the style of a forties Martin complete with wide thick neck, and my three month stint of Mondays at Hugh's Room, resulted in a very painful pinky.

I looked at Taylors (nice, but I like OLD axes),

Old (slim neck) Martins (only Justa Picker earns enough to buy those!)

Old Guilds (Hate their solid burgundy finishes)

Old Gibsons (nice but often lacking in volume and 'punch'..and I DO want to be able to use my axe for bluegrass at times)

Then, oops! I was at the 12th Fret (here in Toronto) bullshitting with some other veteran pickers when I casually picked up an instrument that I'd normally never even TRY. A blonde Gibson J-50 (the dreadnought shape, not the more familiar 'slope shoulder' one) from 1975. Not quite 'antique' age, not the greatest design (it was their answer to the Martin D-18) and usually considered (by guitar nurds) to be from a VERY weak period in Gibson's history.

Holy cow! I stopped in mid-bullshit...this guitar had a VOICE! Strong, powerful, THIN NECK, presence. 850 bucks (Yankee) I quickly looked for the "flaw" that this vintage had become infamous for....unstable top, usually starting to compress.....and....nope, perfect top, straight neck....

...bought it!

Now I gotta sell the other one or Heather'll evict me. Brought it home today, and played it for five straight hours......mmmmmmm, heaven!

Next step....clean up that VISA again!

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 10:14 PM

use your Mastercard to clean your Visa Rick... enjoy the new guitar you earned it...

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 10:22 PM

Well this one should hold you til your next love affair.....I figure maybe 9 months tops, a year at best.

Congrats anyway!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 10:30 PM

9 months?? That is optimistic!! GAS never stops.....if it doesn't stop for spaw, will it stop for Rick and Justa? NOT EVEN!!

Have fun with it Rick. Thank heavens I don't have FAS...Fiddle Aquisition Syndrome. 3 is plenty, considering I only ever play just the one anymore.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 10:45 PM

Yeah, Rick. I remember the last time you took me to the Twelfth Fret. Cost me even more than that Gibson cost you! Both of us should know better.

(Shhhh.... What else have they got in there right now?)

Sandy

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 11:22 PM

Somehow when I saw the thread title, I said to myself, yep, that must be good ol' I'm-not-buying-any-more-guitars Fielding.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 12:15 AM

Dale...I'm weak....but happy.

Hey, Fagggedabudddit! The other one DID hurt my finger!

Sandy's referring to a lovely Larrivee that he forced me to allow him to buy. Really WAS a gem though, very resonant, and much cheaper than could be gotten now.

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 01:18 AM

Congrats!!!

It is better to be in debt for a guitar that really burps your turtle, than it is to be debt free and have nothing inspiring to play.

You did the right thing (i.m.h.o.)

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Kaleea
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 03:11 AM

Good for you, Rick! I'm still playing my old 1964 Gibson J 45 (just like the ones Elvis wore in the movies) I've had since 1976. I have played many other guitars belonging to guitar students & friends over the years, but I have never felt the urge to "need" another. I have used mine for all genres of music, (well, no hard rock or rap & other offensive noise) and since mine has the rosewood adjustable bridge, it is all the more soft sounding. Since I have used it mainly for accompaniment / rythym guitar over the years in addition to teaching, it has suited me well. I may, however, need to go out & find a skinny neck model as my fingers & hands are beginning to cause constant trouble due to the old arthritis. I have loved my old Gibson so much that I just haven't even been able to voice this possibility. Thank you for sharing with us, as now I think I know what to look for! And yes, Old guitars are the best, the most well made, and you don't have to wait ten years for the wood to mellow the sound. OK, anyone out there have one of those terrific J 50s you can part with?

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: GUEST,Chance u
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 08:24 AM

Well, Rick, it's no the surprise, you've in guitar heat for a while. So have I. But buying Ian's Blueridege has made me "temporarily embarrassed" as WC Fields said in David Copperfield. I've never played a J50 from the 70's you must have found the standout though. I played a '50s J50 that belonged to my neighbor, Skeets Foster, now deceased, a country singer here in DC, when I visited him as a kid, and it was quite nice. I almost bought it for 50 bucks but the top was separating from the bottom and I didn't realize at that age what it was. Anyway I'm glad you found a gibson you like.

What are you going to sell? Congrats, hope to see it soon. Chance

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 11:31 AM

Kaleea, take your J-45 to a good repairperson and see about getting the neck trimmed a bit. A LOT of professional players have had that done.

Chance, other than "my soul", I'm selling my old dreadnought (we think it's a Tama). Already run out of wall-space for my axes.

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 11:56 AM

I think what is needed is a "Guitar Buyers Anonymous" Chapter.

"Hello. My name is Ernie and I'm a choke...guitar buyer."

We could sit around drinking coffee and talking about those times when we had a lost weekend and woke up with blisters on our fingers, a strange guitar next to the bed, the phone ringing as VISA tries to collect a stale payment.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: GUEST,Fortunato rainy tuesday
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 12:03 PM

Ah, so, Tama-san.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 12:15 PM

Some people say I don't work boys,
My life is all leisure and ease,
And it's true that I ramble around, boys,
Drink whisky and do as I please.
Yet I've worked all over this country,
Know most of the jobs that there are,
But I like best to sing you my folksongs,
And play my old Gibson guitar.

Well, I have worked on a farm, boys,
I've helped to forest the hills,
I've been a white collar worker, boys,
In a factory I've worked with a will:
Yes, I've worked all over this country,
And I've even worked in a bar,
But I like best to sing you my folksongs,
And play my old Gibson guitar.

I don't have much education, boys,
So politics aren't for me,
I just want a life for my family boys,
In a world where they're equal and free,
I hope for a great day that's coming,
Without hatred and killing and war,
And perhaps I might even be helping,
As I play my old Gibson guitar.
Alex Campbell.. (The late great)
The guitar in this song was his old pre war Gibson Jumbo, which was stolen, either at a gig or a festival, I can't remember which. I f any body's interested I can try scanning the dots for them.
Failte.....Jock

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Lanfranc
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 01:08 PM

Jock, thanks for the reminder about Alex Campbell - I've often wondered what happened to that old Gibson of his. He still had it when he stayed with me for the last time in '78 or '79. We spent the day drinking Scotch and working out Goffin and King's "Goin' Back" in open G tuning, which was all his poor old arthritic hands could cope with.

I've never found a great J50, either, but it sounds like Rick's done so. Had a J45 for a while, but traded it for my first Martin, and sort of stuck with the Nazareth product as my main guitar since.

If it has pups, Rick ............

Alan

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 01:22 PM

Like Dale, (and I'll bet others) when I caught the title of this thread I just knew that Rick Fielding had a new guitar! LOL. Good for you, Rick! Sounds like a greta choice too.

I just sold (to a freind) a 1968 Gibson Heritage. It had a lovely sound, but I just couldn;t abide its slender neck. My hand is too damn big to play in hte first position of a slender neck ... I hadn't played it much over the last few years and finally decided to sell it.

Gibson does make some fine sounding guitars. I've heard a few that just floored me - and they were always distintive.

I won;t be in a position to buy a new one for a long damn time - but I know the pleasures of finding a new guitar and taking it home. I hope you enjoy it!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 01:28 PM

Will we hear it tonight?

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Big Mick
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 02:58 PM

Well............just remember there is always a bed for you in Michigan..........Heather is a Scot and they have been known to be a wee bit tight with the shilling.....hahahaha.

I can't wait to hear it, my friend. Congrats!!!!

Mick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 04:23 PM

Yup Steve, I'll be playing it in concert at The Acoustic Harvest tonight.

Thanks Giok. I had the pleasure of meeting Alex in the late sixties. Love that song.

Hi Jed, I can't afford it either, but when one this good comes along.....gotta grab it!

If I don't sell the other one quick, I may NEED that bed in Michigan! Although to be fair, Heather loves the sound of it as well.

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Jock Morris
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 04:36 PM

Rick, you're a fool when it comes to money and instruments...what's that? How many concertinas do I have? Um,well,er, 5 at the last count...ah hell, just you enjoy your new axe:-)

Scott

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 10:26 PM

rick, you just enjoy your new guitar and play the hell out of it for me and glenda, congrats, BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Mooh
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 10:37 PM

Jeopardy Rick,

"I'll take Guitar Acquisition Syndrome for $850, Alex."

Send any superfluous guitars to me. I'll even pay the postage. Just so you don't have to reveal your condition to the bride.

You crack me up brother. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 12:26 AM

Well, he did play the hell out of it tonight and it sounded very good. A wonderful evening at the Acoustic Harvest Folk Club.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 12:28 AM

Well it passed it's test with flying colours. I could actually 'hear' myself on stage tonight without playing at machine gun volume.....and my pinky doesn't hurt. Thank you thin Gibson neck.

Great night by the way folks. Strictly old time music, packed house...and an audience that could really SING!! Don't get any better than that!

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 11:50 AM

rick and gibson what a combo. BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 07:09 PM

nobody has any thing else to say about rick and his new gibson, come on now you guys and gals speak up and tell rick what a wonderful purchase he made and that ther's nothing wrong with loading up your visa, mc, discover, amex, or even your texaco gas card just as long as you're happy that's all that matters. go picking. BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 07:20 PM

yeah, but try mailing in two strings and a bridge when the Visa bill comes due!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 07:25 PM

Well Bob, ya' see, some of us have lived through Rick's other love affairs and also heard the tales from him of some of the others, and much as we all congratulate him and send our best, we know that there is another and another and another on down the road and we hate to go gagagoogoo everytime the boy falls in love. Sometimes he can send a true companion off to hang on a lonely wall, never knowing again the exquisite beauty of it's sound, like poor old "Tex".......Some are longer term, some quite short as affairs go, and sometimes it isn't Rick who ends the affair, as was the case of "Pedro the Imploding Twelve String."

No sense wasting too many gleeful cheers here at this point. A simple, "I'm happy for you and Congrats" will pretty well cover the bases.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 08:19 PM

spaw, explain to me about PEDRO. BOB, and glenda wants to know also. BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 08:27 PM

Well, about three years back, this story came up when we were talking both about our callow youth and also great instrument disasters. In Rick's own words:

Each of my 12 strings has its own little memory but the worst was "Pedro" the Mexican built beauty that I bought when I was about twenty. The salesman said it was built to be tuned to pitch and I foolishly believed him. Now the problem was that my girlfriend at the time felt (justifiably so) that we should be saving our money, so when I purchased "Pedro" I snuck him into a closet for the night, planning to tell her about it the next day.(after I had thought up some story to justify my purchase) About 5 am a noise like a bazooka woke everyone up with a start in our communal rooming house. People were searching everywhere for the source of the explosion...but in my heart I knew what it was. I let someone else find the broken pieces of wood and wire, but I had to own up to it. Needless to say I got yelled at, AND lost Pedro one day after buying him!

I loved the story because I could just see waking up and knowing what it was and then trying to go back to sleep and ignore it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 09 Dec 01 - 08:30 PM

thanks spaw that's a good one. BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: GUEST,Guest Steve
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 06:37 PM

Here's my favorite answer to the Gibson Guitar song:

In a pawn shop in Odessa, in the fall of '64
Pawn shop man was leavin', he was lockin' up the door
I ran up just in time, and I hollered through the screen,
"Hey man, you got any good guitars in there?"
He said, "I've got this D-18"

So I gave him a hundred dollars and I took that sucker home
Cleaned it up and strung it, hit a chord and heard that tone
It was rich and full, crisp and clear, all a guitar ought to be
I said, "Thank you Mr. Martin, you made this D-18 for me!"

CHORUS
I said, "Thank you Mr. Martin, I'm all right
'Cause once again this old guitar helped me through the night
I'm mighty grateful to you, you know how to make 'em right"
I said, "Thank you Mr. Martin, I'm all right!"

If I'm feeling down and worthless, and I haven't got a dime
Wonderin' if I've spent my life just wastin' my time
I pick up that old guitar, some paper and a pen
I say, "Thank you Mr. Martin, you saved my life again!"

I've written songs about my lovers, my family and my friends,
My wife and child, the old home place, and the road that never ends
Heroes, hobos, rock and roll, and a honkey-tonk queen,
I wrote 'em all without exception on my Martin D-18

CHORUS

Well it was made way back in '43, when I was just a kid
I believe it's about the best thing Mr. Martin ever did
It plays real good, stays in tune, and it never treats me mean
Thank God for Mr. Martin and that fine old D-18

Now there's your Gallagher, your Gibson, your Goya, Gretsch and Guild
I've played every kind of guitar that those guitar makers build
I've picked on a lot of axes, but the best I've ever seen
Is my funky, beat-up, wonderful old Martin D-18

CHORUS X2

.....and that's the truth!
("Thank You Mr. Martin", from Norman Blake)


--- Line breaks <br> added ---
---Jeff (PA)---

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 03:46 PM

I had the pleasure of spending time with Rick and Jeri last night...and while there I got to play Rick's newly acquired J-50. Not being a real Gibson acoustic fan, I must confess that this particular instrument is KILLER in terms of tone and playability. I think the reason I liked it so much was that if anything it sounded just like a 30 year old Martin D-18 and NOT like a Gibson at all. Unbelievably open and responsive. I'd buy it in a heartbeat if Rick should ever be foolish enough to ever want to part with it. Yah done real good on this one, Rick!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: kendall
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 04:10 PM

Rick,money is good for two things. It gets us the things we want, and the things we need. That's it. You cant eat it, you cant wear it and you cant sleep with it. That ax sounds like a steal to me, and it couldn't be in better hands.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 04:24 PM

That's odd Kendall....because with money, I have done all of those things.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 09:13 PM

"Thank you Orville Gibson for settin' up yer shop.
Glad you built guitars and such instead of brooms and mops
Glad you hired that Lloyd Loar guy, and catered to Les Paul
And yer guys what built my J-five oh...thank you one and all!"

Hmmmmmmm, not in "songwriting form" tonight, but you know what I mean!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Mudlark
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 04:47 AM

I love my Martin, but just hearing about your new guitar makes me itch to go out and buy that red Hummingbird I played a few days ago...my hands aren't what they used to be either, and they never were very good! So glad you BOUGHT it!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 12:22 PM

Now keep in mind, I'm still a Martin kinda guy, but since I play a LOT with my left had thumb fretting both sixth and fifth strings, the thin Gibson neck feels like heaven. Hey Mudlark, BUY the Gibson anyway.

My buddy Harvey Andrews also has a dynamite Gibson Dreadnought (the Blueridge model) from the seventies. He actually CAN put a sticker on the case saying:

"MY OTHER GUITAR IS A LASKIN!"

My feeling has always been that Martins are pretty consistent, but Gibsons are all over the map. When they got lucky though they REALLY made great axes. Sometimes you might have to play ten to find one that really projects....but when you find that special one...Wowee! Archie fisher has a dynamite J-50 as well.

When Mudcatter Tim Cameron (who works at a vintage Music store) encounters a "special" axe, he always says: "....Hmmmm, good tree!"

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: kendall
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 03:37 PM

Like I said, Spaw, money gets you the things you want. It can also get you things you Dont want!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: John Hardly
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 09:57 PM

Today, in a big, anonymous, atmosphere-free, mall-ambienced, guitar superstore-----Mars Music (Castleton Indiana), I just played a J45 that was as J45s used to be-----one of my favorite guitars ever.

This thing was appointed JUST as I like 'em (though not sunburst), with the white plastic tuning keys, and ivoroid binding.....

It had that perfect midrange articulation while the bass thumped with little sustain. It may have lacked a bit in volume (just as the old J45s did) but MORE than made up for it with soul.

And comfortable.......man, I love not reaching for that first position, and that silly millimeter wider neck...how can so little difference make such a big difference in the accuracy of my playing?

Great guitar....I had to look around just to make sure I hadn't travelled in time!

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 10:52 PM

John said:

"how can so little difference make such a big difference in the accuracy of my playing?"

It sure can, can't it John? All the difference in the world.

Rick

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 06:24 PM

my names not john, but you're right. it sure can. BOB

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 06:40 PM

Ummm....Bob...maybe you should read the message from John just above Rick's last post - the second last paragraph. I do agree with the sentiment.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Marion
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 01:56 PM

How's that wonderful Gibson working out for you, Rick?

Marion

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 04:36 PM

He's bought a Martin. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Gone and done it again! A Gibson J-50.
From: 53
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 04:37 PM

It figures.