The best LOOKING guitar you own......

[Danny W.]

@Danny W. ...Did you sell all of those gorgeous Johnny A.'s?! Besides your L5, those were my favorites in your collection.

Still have them:



Only one of those sold is the big one in the middle.

Danny W.

[oldane]

This is my best looker - a "Master 400" made by Jim Triggs.

[DMgolf66]

Still have them:



Only one of those sold is the big one in the middle.

Danny W.

Danny, what is it you love or drew you to the Johnny A. Model?

[omphalopsychos]

some of you might remember this one. It used to have a snakehead neck but that kept getting in the way of my hand on the lower frets. Now it has a ridiculous birdseye maple neck.

[jonasb]

So many beautiful guitars Mine is probably my '98 LeGrand!

[Alder Statesman]

Not the best photograph, but my D’Angelico Style B Throwback I am still just crazy about the looks. It plays and sounds great. The Viola finish was just what I wanted.

Getting this new in 2023 at the price I paid is the third instance in my life of proof that God wants me to play guitar. (Please don’t let this cool thread devolve in religion debates or that the current D’A’s don’t hold a candle to the originals.)

[carlones]

Henneken

[Danny W.]

Danny, what is it you love or drew you to the Johnny A. Model?

Early this century I decided it was time to find smaller & lighter replacements for the ES-355s that I used for pop & rock gigs. Gibson had introduced the CS-356, a 355 lookalike with rather different construction and sound. I had them build a dark faded cherry one for me and, after a period of adjustment, found I liked it quite a bit. I had always wanted a 355 with a 25.5" scale to match my L-5s but my requests for a custom build had all been turned down and a 356 with that scale was also a no go. Soon after that Gibson announced the Johnny A. My contact arranged for me to spend some time with Johnny in the Gibson suite at the 2004 Winter NAMM. Johnny turned out to be a great player and a really helpful guy. He let me play both a personal guitar of his and a production prototype. I liked everything about them except that the necks were a bit deep for me at the nut.

Johnny told me that the necks were hand carved and there might be some with which I'd be happier. At the time Gibson had a membership program called Custom Shop Direct, which is how I had my 356 built with bound f-holes. When I was first a member the up charges for having custom features added was fairly minimal compared to dealer prices on stock instruments, so I had them build a Johnny A with slim taper neck and bound soundholes. It's a fabulous instrument. Later I added the blonde one and a blonde CS-356.

Danny W.

[Gitfiddler]

Early this century I decided it was time to find smaller & lighter replacements for the ES-355s that I used for pop & rock gigs. Gibson had introduced the CS-356, a 355 lookalike with rather different construction and sound. I had them build a dark faded cherry one for me and, after a period of adjustment, found I liked it quite a bit. I had always wanted a 355 with a 25.5" scale to match my L-5s but my requests for a custom build had all been turned down and a 356 with that scale was also a no go. Soon after that Gibson announced the Johnny A. My contact arranged for me to spend some time with Johnny in the Gibson suite at the 2004 Winter NAMM. Johnny turned out to be a great player and a really helpful guy. He let me play both a personal guitar of his and a production prototype. I liked everything about them except that the necks were a bit deep for me at the nut.

Johnny told me that the necks were hand carved and there might be some with which I'd be happier. At the time Gibson had a membership program called Custom Shop Direct, which is how I had my 356 built with bound f-holes. When I was first a member the up charges for having custom features added was fairly minimal compared to dealer prices on stock instruments, so I had them build a Johnny A with slim taper neck and bound soundholes. It's a fabulous instrument. Later I added the blonde one and a blonde CS-356.

Danny W.

Danny, thanks for the back story related to your Johnny A. Signature and C-356. You were truly an early adopter to those two amazing guitars.

I also fell in love for those small-bodied models, especially after attending Johnny A's shows, meeting and chatting with him back in his trio days. I ended up buying a brand new stop-tail JA in sunset glow, as well as a Bigsby in antique natural. For my big hands, the standard, medium-full neck profile was a nice feature.

Later I spotted a used, sunburst CS356 ordered from the Custom Direct program. It's a one-off with abalone cloud inlays and Bibsby. That was love at first sight, and I had to have it. It has a very full neck that makes it one of my all time favorite guitars.

Small world!!

[omphalopsychos]

[Jabberwocky]

This thread reminds me of my 15-year old self poring over my much older by 18 years brother's stash of Playboy and Penthouse magazines. All these beauties...

[stevo58]

I showed my banjo before, but now I’ve found a pic of my Epi. Nothing fancy, just a nice burst (imo) and restrained, tasteful trim.

[jads57]

I keep saying it Danny W. Is the Man, when it comes to all of the later Gibson Archtop and CS Semi Hollows! Although I do prefer the larger profile necks, Lol!

[Ol' Fret]

German vodun goddesses ...

[omphalopsychos]

[DMgolf66]

Juan, I need you to take pics of my guit-fiddles. All your guitars are wonderful, but your pics bring them to "11's"

[omphalopsychos]

Thank you! Yeah I am really into photography but mostly not of guitars. Sometimes I take pictures of guitars to practice photography things and when they come out good I share them here. Love this thread.

[skykomishone]

Yes. Great thread.
I've considered posting, but the minute I think one is most beautiful my concept of beauty forces my mind to consider how does one define it when considering the uniqueness and multivariate nature of the question of visual beauty? I love looking at blonds, and the infinite array of burst. The wood, with what nature indowed. Again, an incredible variety. Shapes, oh my!

Yes, some things hurt to look at, and ugly seems to be bone deep at times. But still, love, as is often said is blind.

I guess I should consider which of my guitars I would send valentines day cards to. Maybe that would help. But I'm not sure.

[Dean_G]

It's beautiful to me, battle scars and all .

[2bornot2bop]

Thank you! Yeah I am really into photography but mostly not of guitars. Sometimes I take pictures of guitars to practice photography things and when they come out good I share them here. Love this thread.

Oh, another photography buff! Keep shooting brother!

[2bornot2bop]

Yes. Great thread.
I've considered posting, but the minute I think one is most beautiful my concept of beauty forces my mind to consider how does one define it when considering the uniqueness and multivariate nature of the question of visual beauty? I love looking at blonds, and the infinite array of burst. The wood, with what nature indowed. Again, an incredible variety. Shapes, oh my!

Yes, some things hurt to look at, and ugly seems to be bone deep at times. But still, love, as is often said is blind.

I guess I should consider which of my guitars I would send valentines day cards to. Maybe that would help. But I'm not sure.

Happy to come over and shoot every guitar in your glorious collection, with that beautiful grand piano in the background anytime bro!

[stelflip]

This is my current favorite! I bought the body as a blank with only the f holes cut in. I built the rest. That’s a rail humbucker in the bridge; 8.7k resistance. A lipstick single coil in the neck; 6.1k.

It’s a great combo for me. It’s been up and playing for about three months now!

[stelflip]

What model are the two on the bottom; left and right? Nice collection!

[Sleeko]

I think looks-wise I’d have to hand it to my Gibson L4CES.

[jads57]

Dean Granross love the Black Guitar tribute to Howard Roberts! For those of you in other locales. Dean G is a local guitar hero in the Twin Cities area.
That translates to being able get a free cookie or cup of coffee at the local Caribou for a gig,Lol!