Finally Found That Acoustic Sound!

Rox · July 2015

For years I've been looking for an acoustic with a shimmering sound when picked, but with some nice bass when strummed. It was a sound I heard back in the 1990's. Some friends of mine were in a duo and they both had Takamines. I had not idea what model they played, and by the time I started looking, we'd lost contact.

So it's been a frustrating experience, trying a lot of acoustic guitars, hoping I'd find that sound. To be brutally honest I'd given up. I never thought I'd find that sound - or if I did, it would be on an acoustic far too expensive to afford.

There have been recommendations online, suggesting Taylors, etc... but I never found an acoustic with that sound I was searching for.

Last Thursday, I pulled the trigger on an acoustic from Ebay. I'd always wanted one of these for the way it looked. Purely aesthetic. To be honest, I didn't expect much from it...

The seller packed it really, really well, and it arrived on the Friday - structurally in one piece, but a corner of the headstock lacquer had broken off (a 3 cm section!) - it looked like it'd take a fair old whack, although the box looked fine. Can't blame the seller.

Putting that disappointment aside, and having checked over the guitar, I tune it up.

THERE IT IS!!

The sound I've been looking for all these years!

Here it is.... not the best picture but...

OUCH!!

So, a sound I've struggled and struggled to find, ended up on a damaged-in-transit Epiphone SJ200. Frankly, I expected this to have a booming sound and no finesse at all. WRONG!

An astonishing sound at a ridiculously good price. And it doesn't matter if I bump it or knock it around.

A big recommendation on the sound from these. Despite my love of Epiphones, I never even considered picking one of these up to try.

I'd have saved myself a lot of time and effort if I had!

I want a Hummingbird and a Dove now.

Any other SJ200 fans on the board?

stimpsonslostson · July 2015

My boss has one.
Sounds GREAT! Too big for me though- fun to borrow, but I couldn't have one as my main acoustic.

usedtobe · July 2015

Used to have an ej200, which was quite nice.

guitarfishbay · July 2015

From the first paragraph I was going to say sounds like a jumbo. Congrats! I have a jumbo made by BSG.

guitarfishbay · July 2015

stimpsonslostson;708956" said:
My boss has one.
Sounds GREAT! Too big for me though- fun to borrow, but I couldn't have one as my main acoustic.

A lot of people find them too big when the guitar sits on their picking hand leg. My solution is attach a strap and let it hang between my legs at a comfy height, like I'm playing stood up (or just play stood up). My Jumbo is very lightweight so I am fine doing this. I played with it on my left leg for a while but I felt that put my fretting hand too far away from me. I can play with it on my right leg but I find having it central more comfortable.

ICBM · July 2015

A good luthier can fix that headstock damage. It won't be that cheap, but it will be worth it even if you're never planning to sell it.

I hate couriers… even though I repair things

.

stickyfiddle · July 2015

Brilliant sounding guitars, J200s. It seems to be generally accepted that J45s and Hummingbirds are the "classic" Gibson acoustics, but imo Doves and J200s are far better sounding guitars.

Rox · July 2015

Well I made the repair myself. It'll do.

There was some of the mop that had come off and disappeared, but a black pen and a metallic silver pen made it quite easy to fill in the gaps and darken the light bits on the corner that came off.

It'll do.

I must admit, I've not found it too big - in fact, when trying some acoustics, one - although it wasn't a small size - felt like a toy.

At the ridiculously cheap prices these go for, I'm kicking myself for not trying one sooner!

ESBlonde · July 2015

Back in the early 80s I worked with a chap that owned one of these but never played it. He asked if I could set it up to play nicer. I managed to hold onto it for months as he had little interest in getting it back and his then wife was happy it was out of the way. Lovely sound, simply wonderful when strummed. All that bright maple and a deep body. Sadly I eventually persuaded him to take it back and have since lost contact (although his now ex wife lived near my present home a few years ago).

Rox · July 2015

Been so impressed by this guitar, and kicking myself I didn't try one sooner - even if it's 'only' an Epi.

What I've found is that the online serial number dating site says it's a 2002 guitar - but the stamp inside it says 1992.

It's amazing to think it's a 23 year old guitar. It'll be vintage in no time...

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Finally Found That Acoustic Sound!

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