J45 / slope-shoulder alternatives?

CloudNine · December 2017

Strat_a_tat_tat said:

CloudNine said:

Have been through a myriad of J45 alternatives. Some lower end ones, and a bunch of really nice ones. Three different Collings CJ's, a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner, a Bourgeois Slope D, a custom made Slope D by Brook.

Summary from all of the above, and trying plenty of others, is that the only guitars that truly sound like J45's, are Gibson J45's. So I currently own one of them.

Interesting... looks like you've worked your way through a bunch of impressive options. Which model J45 do you now own? Did you find a lot of variation in different Gibson J45s you played?

The J45's are unfortunately a bit variable... Definitely some good standard ones though if you look around, particularly more recent ones.

I ended up with a J45 Legend, which has a ludicrous price tag, but is fantastic.

Also had one of the 1934 Original Jumbo reissues, which was also fantastic in it's own way, but couldn't justify keeping both.

Strat_a_tat_tat · December 2017

@CloudNine... thanks for the info. Not come across the model before - is it still in production? Is it similar to the current Vintage model... or is it a bit more up market?

CloudNine · December 2017

@Strat_a_tat_tat It's out of production now. Some info in link below.

It was an attempt to, as near as possible, recreate a banner era J45. Based on a guitar that Gibson borrowed from some dude. Like I said, a really silly rrp, over $7k when they first came out I think....

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Acoustic-Instruments/Round-Shoulder/Gibson-Acoustic/1942-J-45-Legend/Specs.aspx

Strat_a_tat_tat · December 2017

@CloudNine... wow... that link says rrp was $9030... compared with $3999 for a 2016 Vintage (the first year they added the thermally treated Adi top). Best modern J45 I've played was a 2016 Vintage - mind you, not all of them have been great... some sounded less impressive than the standard (which are about half the price).

I'll look out for a Legend... if only to add it to my dream list!

brojangles · December 2017

guitargeek62 said:

brojangles said:

Eastman E10SS!

Now that my Taylor’s sold I’ve been looking at these again - possibly even the V version with the french polish finish rather than nitro, though cosmetically I prefer the traditional sunburst on the normal one.

What’s your experience with them then?

I nearly bought one last winter after spending several afternoons mucking around with a second-hand one they had in Ivor Maraints. Still slightly regret not buying it (I was after a full size rosewood dread and ended up getting a deal on an Eastman E8D from somewhere else). It was louder and more responsive than the J45s I've played, had a super comfortable and not too thin neck, and generally seemed really great, as have pretty much all the Eastmans I've tried.

ToneControl · December 2017

AliGorie said:

Sloped 12 fret dread by Larrivée blew away everything of that type in the shop a few years ago including a Huss * Dalton (sp?) that was much more expensive. I'm a OM / Jumbo guy but that Larry would have been mine had I needed a guitar.
We discussed theyre sloped dreads and 12 fretters on here a while back - anyone remember the model that so impressed me ?.

SD60 (I have one in TSB)
and SD50 I think

guitargeek62 · December 2017

ToneControl said:

AliGorie said:

Sloped 12 fret dread by Larrivée blew away everything of that type in the shop a few years ago including a Huss * Dalton (sp?) that was much more expensive. I'm a OM / Jumbo guy but that Larry would have been mine had I needed a guitar.
We discussed theyre sloped dreads and 12 fretters on here a while back - anyone remember the model that so impressed me ?.

SD60 (I have one in TSB)
and SD50 I think

25.5” scale though

AuldReekie · December 2017

ToneControl said:

AliGorie said:

Sloped 12 fret dread by Larrivée blew away everything of that type in the shop a few years ago including a Huss * Dalton (sp?) that was much more expensive. I'm a OM / Jumbo guy but that Larry would have been mine had I needed a guitar.
We discussed theyre sloped dreads and 12 fretters on here a while back - anyone remember the model that so impressed me ?.

SD60 (I have one in TSB)
and SD50 I think

I had a TSB SD50 that I sold about a year ago. Its a fantastic guitar and the only "D" guitar that I have played that could handle open tunings. However, the neck was to wide for me (1"7/8th at the nut) but I kept it over 6 years hoping my hands might grow! Like most Larrys, punched well above its price point.

ToneControl · December 2017

AuldReekie said:

ToneControl said:

AliGorie said:

Sloped 12 fret dread by Larrivée blew away everything of that type in the shop a few years ago including a Huss * Dalton (sp?) that was much more expensive. I'm a OM / Jumbo guy but that Larry would have been mine had I needed a guitar.
We discussed theyre sloped dreads and 12 fretters on here a while back - anyone remember the model that so impressed me ?.

SD60 (I have one in TSB)
and SD50 I think

I had a TSB SD50 that I sold about a year ago. Its a fantastic guitar and the only "D" guitar that I have played that could handle open tunings. However, the neck was to wide for me (1"7/8th at the nut) but I kept it over 6 years hoping my hands might grow! Like most Larrys, punched well above its price point.

The 1 and 7/8" nut is one reason I've kept it:
very good for tunings like DGCGCD (The rain song, etc) where you want to play around the top frets and leave open strings vibrating

WindmillGuitars · December 2017

Avalon Americana Dred - stunning guitar and better build than a Gibson

ToneControl · December 2017

Anchorboy said:

Avalon Americana Dred - stunning guitar and better build than a Gibson

Yes, it's lovely, I have a D300A

Castro · December 2017

Bourgeois Slope D Custom is incredible. They have one at TAMCO

http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=Bourgeois+

guitargeek62 · December 2017

Yeah... almost all the suggestions are at least double the original budget, but thanks anyway. Also most of them seemingly add 25.5” scale and rosewood back & sides, so further from what I like about J45s!

I’m going to try and get my hands on an Eastman ES10/20ss, else just go for a used J45.

BigLicks67 · January 2018

My advice is get a J45, I got one at the start of 2017 and I'm more than happy with it.

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J45 / slope-shoulder alternatives?

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