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Hey All,
New member, excited to be here and learn from everyone!
I just traded a bunch of gear as I am scaling way, way down, and finally achieved a goal of mine for a long time, acquiring a nice vintage Gibson archtop guitar.
It's a '69 Johnny Smith model, with the double mini humbuckers. This guitar in particular is stunning and lively, sounds fantastic, and the 1 3/4" nut is dreamy, to put it mildly.
I was wondering, however, from those of you who play old Gibson archtops, what you have found in terms of quality from 60s models? I know the JS models avoided some of the less desirable changes, like the 1 9/16" nut width (to each his own though, right!) but I'm curious what the general consensus is with those who have played these guitars over the years.
Also, for those players using a Johnny Smith, what are your likes/dislikes?
I will get some better pics up, but here's a dealer pic in the meantime - thanks!
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08-30-2012 01:16 PM
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Beautiful guitar. Sorry I can't answer any questions, as so far my knowledge of Gibson archtops beyond my own ES 175 (which I love) is limited to what can be gained by lusting from afar.
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The Smiths avoided some of those problems. The volute on the back of the neck and not only the 1+9/16ths but the 1+ 1/2" nut. But it didn't miss the plain woods era. Though that is much argued as to if the plain woods actually sounded better than the fancy woods. The Smiths,were,are,nicer for me due to the 1+3/4" nut, the 3" depth and the shorter scale length. Making it simply an easier more comfortable guitar to play. I still own a Heritage Johnny Smith for just those reasons.
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Welcome, Lux! I have to ask about your name and whether you were a fan of The Cramps! (Their lead vocalist dubbed himself Lux Interior.)
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Thanks, yeah - my '69 has a lot of flame on the back of the neck, and some on the back of the body, but not as much as some I've seen from earlier on in the 60s...still the same neck specs as earlier models, though, and, as you mentioned, avoided many of those other issues.
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Haha, you bet! Though, that's not where I got it from, funny enough!
Originally Posted by markerhodes
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Lux . . . welcome to the club. That's a very nice JS you've got there. Just a couple of observations . . which are also probably questions as well. Unless it's the camera is causing an illusion, the tuning machines seem to be chrome or nickel and the rest of the hardware is gold? Am I seeing that incorrectly? Also, that is a very uncharacteristic shading pattern top and back for a 1969 Gibson arch top. I'm not saying that they were all cookie cutter identical .. .but, this one seems "different". Very beautiful shading . . . just a little different that what I'm used to seeing from that era. The color is beautiful . . . my favorite from Gibson.
I had an early '70s . . . '71 I think, but I'm not sure, Johnny Smith. Absolutely loved it. It was a single pup model . . not the dual pup as yours is. I had a 1969 L5CES with the dreaded narrow nut width you referenced. It was a great guitar, but, I couldn't handle the nut width. I also had a real nice 1970 Super 400CES. Wonderful construction, fit and finish . . great player. So, based upon my own experiences and also opinions of others through the years who have owned Gibson arch tops from that era, with a few exceptions . . . such as those mentioned . . . I would say it was a great era for Gibson arch tops.
Now, as a purely personal opinion . . . if that beauty was my guitar, I would look into converting it to a single pup. That would require a replacement pick guard . . . and a very skilled tech who is familiar with vintage Gibson arch tops. But, it's also a beauty just as it is.
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I am not a big fan of floating pickups, but that's just me and my ideosyncracies - many guitarists get wonderful tones out of them - Johnny Smith himself was one.
What's not to like about your Smith. You like the sound, you like the feel, and it's a beauty to look at. If woods in maple-spruce guitars begin to move around, they usually do so before the age of 20 years. This one has kept itself playable and in one piece for 43 years, so it will likely survive the next 50 years without other fixes than fret dresses and refrets. And should you need to replace a capacitator or a potmeter down the road, it's easy to do so with all the electric harness on the pickguard.
"Don't worry, be happy". You've got yourself a very nice instrument.
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Hey, thanks for the info! Originally Posted by Patrick2
Yeah, it's just an illusion caused by the lighting...the tuners are gold plated, not chrome or nickel.
The shading is a bit off in the photos as well, but it's the original finish - It is actually a bit more red and lighter, depending on the light. What era do you associate this finish with?
I agree, it's a beauty! Why just a single pickup, though?
Lux
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beautiful axe man...
welcome to the forum...
much to learn here...
time on that beautiful guitar...pierre
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Because that was the way the original version was, and they was JS designed it. The 2-pickup model came later, if I understand correctly. No problem with 2 pickups... Smith's just had 1 tho. Originally Posted by Lux
So yours is a Johnny Smith "with an extra pickup."
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The spray pattern is what I'm talking about . . . not the color. The color looks dead nuts on consistent with the Gibson arch tops of that era. It's the shape of what's referred to as the Gibson tear drop. The back is especially atypical. But, each one is an individual work of craftsmanship. Originally Posted by Lux
The pick up issue is just an issue to my own preferences and tastes. I don't have a need to use a bridge pup on an arch top . . . ever . . . and I prefer the more clean uncluttered look of the singel pup to the dual pup . . especially with the Johnny Smith where 5 control knobs are protruding from an over size pick guard. So, it just a very personal taste thing for me.
The flame maple pattern on the back of your guitar looks very familiar to me. I feel like I've seen that guitar before . . . maybe in an ebay ad or on a dealer's web site. Do you mind if I ask you where you bought it?
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Ah, got it...so mine's not 'authentic'
I think I read somewhere the double pickup models were introduced in '63 or thereabouts...and they are a bit harder to come by than the single pickup models.
Anyway, I don't use that pickup much now but I'm sure I'll find a use for it eventually...sounds great, for sure!
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Ah, I see...makes sense.
Yeah, it was on Gbase, I bought it from a local dealer here in Seattle, Emerald City Guitars.
Originally Posted by Patrick2
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No, no, no, no!! Please don't take that away from what I said. I'm sure it's authentic. Just atypical . . . and because there was more than one person doing the shading at Gibson . . . no two are alike. They're close, yet not identical. The back of my Johnny Smith was shaded more consistent with a Guild Artist Award Johnny Smith than with a Gibson L5 or Super 400. I've got a picture of the back and front of mine . . . but, I don't have the guitar anymore. So, in order to post those pictures, I'll have to take a digital picture and download it onto my computer . . . but, hey . . what the hell . . . I'm gonna try it.
And, yeah . . . now I remember seeing that guitar at Emerald.
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Just joking around, I hear 'ya! I'd love to see a pic of your old JS if you get the chance! Originally Posted by Patrick2
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OK man . . here's the best I can do. Here's a a shot of a few photos of my Johnny Smith and one of my Super 400. Notice how none of the shading of the darker tobacco burst goes below the pick up, on either the Super 400 or the JS as yours does. Also, notice the shading on the back.
Wow . . . these photos make me realize what an idiot I was for ever selling this JS. I could easily replace the Super 400. But, the JS was special.
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Beautiful, man. Originally Posted by Patrick2
OK man . . here's the best I can do. Here's a a shot of a few photos of my Johnny Smith and one of my Super 400. Notice how none of the shading of the darker tobacco burst goes below the pick up, on either the Super 400 or the JS as yours does. Also, notice the shading on the back.
Wow . . . these photos make me realize what an idiot I was for ever selling this JS. I could easily replace the Super 400. But, the JS was special.
Yeah, I see what your saying - mine is different, the tear drop shape is smaller, doesn't go up past the neck pickup and, in the back, is essentially they same type of pattern as the front...
Interesting...I do like the way mine looks, I have to say.
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No surprise that you like yours. What's not to like? I like it too. In fact . . . . I've never seen a Gibson JS that I didn't like.
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yes kids, there was a time before computers we took 35mm photo's and waited many days for the film to be processed before we could determine if we got a good shot or not. Originally Posted by Patrick2
OK man . . here's the best I can do. Here's a a shot of a few photos of my Johnny Smith and one of my Super 400. Notice how none of the shading of the darker tobacco burst goes below the pick up, on either the Super 400 or the JS as yours does. Also, notice the shading on the back.
Wow . . . these photos make me realize what an idiot I was for ever selling this JS. I could easily replace the Super 400. But, the JS was special.
Lux, welcome to the forum and congrats on owning a rare archtop!
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Yeah . . . and as you can see in the photos, I managed to get my bathroom in the back ground of these shots well. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
Hey Gerg . . . I just sent you an email to your personal email address . Please check it out and get back to me. Thanks, Patrick.
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Yes, but that's not the bathroom in previous photo's you shot that's as big as some entire flats I rented in Ukraine. Originally Posted by Patrick2
Medium D it was.
Here's the old link with photo's:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300745117331...84.m1423.l2649Last edited by 2bornot2bop; 08-30-2012 at 06:01 PM.
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Welcome aboard,
The Gibson Johnny Smith is my all time favorite guitar. I used to own a 69 smith with a quilted back and still can' t stop kicking myself in the but for letting it go! They IMO are best on an amp. I never played one that didn't play great! I love the specs and the feel of that guitar. I have played several and they all have been really good but one in particular had some magic in it. Oddly enough it was from the 70s very plain wood and beat to hell with a headstock repair. The dealer who had it wanted to much for it. If I had it to do over I would have bought that guitar so again I'm kicking myself. Enjoy your smith and never part with it!
Originally Posted by Lux
Hey All,
New member, excited to be here and learn from everyone!
I just traded a bunch of gear as I am scaling way, way down, and finally achieved a goal of mine for a long time, acquiring a nice vintage Gibson archtop guitar.
It's a '69 Johnny Smith model, with the double mini humbuckers. This guitar in particular is stunning and lively, sounds fantastic, and the 1 3/4" nut is dreamy, to put it mildly.
I was wondering, however, from those of you who play old Gibson archtops, what you have found in terms of quality from 60s models? I know the JS models avoided some of the less desirable changes, like the 1 9/16" nut width (to each his own though, right!) but I'm curious what the general consensus is with those who have played these guitars over the years.
Also, for those players using a Johnny Smith, what are your likes/dislikes?
I will get some better pics up, but here's a dealer pic in the meantime - thanks!
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Thanks, will do! Originally Posted by skiboyny
I just strung her up w/ a set of TI .13 - .53s, and now she is really singing!
Might go up to .14s...but, either way, she plays and sounds like a dream.
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Your guitar is beautiful. I have owned several Gibsons from the 50's, 60's & 70's and I have found the ones from the mid 60's to be great guitars. After all, the JS was just introduced in the 60's. As others have said, even the later JS's were spared from most of the undesirable changes Gibson made in the late 60's and 70's. You should be very happy with that wonderful example of a guitar that is one of the most perfect models ever made. I would change it to a single pickup though..
Keith
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