An "Aaron Cowles" 1984 Gibson Citation

[Archie]

You mean the way D'Angelico used to "give up?"

Attachment 21840

Sorry I'm not sure that posting is having the desired effect. It's just making me think less of D'angleico. Anyway his is kinda different, Its almost like adding a full stop after a sentence if you get what I mean. Gibson's just looks cheap and wrong and I wonder if D'angleico's were the equivalent of $20,000 new? imo.

BTW what kind of person would I be if i changed my opinion every time someone else said "but they did it"?

The average is never best, most people like average, I like best. D'angelico was great but some of the things he did were very average. Beware of false idols ;-)

[Woody Sound]

Sorry I'm not sure that posting is having the desired effect. It's just making me think less of D'angleico. Anyway his is kinda different, Its almost like adding a full stop after a sentence if you get what I mean. Gibson's just looks cheap and wrong and I wonder if D'angleico's were the equivalent of $20,000 new? imo.

BTW what kind of person would I be if i changed my opinion every time someone else said "but they did it"?

The average is never best, most people like average, I like best. D'angelico was great but some of the things he did were very average. Beware of false idols ;-)

ps - (I do agree with you that the plain block at the end of fancier markers looks dumb, no matter who did it. Just that it wasn't just a Gibson thing, because you usually have a bulls-eye for them.)

[Archie]

ps - (I do agree with you that the plain block at the end of fancier markers looks dumb, no matter who did it. Just that it wasn't just a Gibson thing, because you usually have a bulls-eye for them.)

Ha ha fair play ;-)

(Its Gibson that make themselves the target, I'm just a straight shooter with a hair trigger. I think the term "Don't shot he messenger" should be my new signature lol :-))

[citizenk74]

May I make the observation that the "plain" blocks toward the treble end of an otherwise more or less ornate fingerboard provide a space for personalization, or dedicatory or historical information unique to the instrument, its owner, or makers. The photos Danny W. was kind enough to post illustrate this nicely, I think.

[Patrick2]

ps - (I do agree with you that the plain block at the end of fancier markers looks dumb, no matter who did it. Just that it wasn't just a Gibson thing, because you usually have a bulls-eye for them.)

Not at all dumb looking, or even a dumb thing to do. It's actually a pretty nice aesthetic break in motif, IMO. It also serves as a reference of possition . . as does the two dot inlay at the twelfth vs a single dot at all others . . . dating back to when Jesus was a cadet. That's why the vast majority of builders, production and boutique alike, do so.

However, to your point . . . even the fact that many builders do it, is not enough for a very obvious dyed in the wool Gibson basher like ATH, to keep from bashing Gibson when they see it on a Gibson guitar. Before you know it, he'll be bashing Gibson and questioning Henry J.'s judgement for their choice of which area in Nashville and which street in that area to locate their business on. Lord knows that Henry J. hasn't done a single damned this right [in the eyes of ATH], ever since he first started making decisions on his own in his early childhood.

[2bornot2bop]

Well, if I'm going to stand in judgment of a 1984 guitar, designed and built for 1984, when perhaps I was 5 years old, it's important to consider the history of 1984, and see it from the perspective of 1984, not my critical eye of today. But you can't do that reasonably well if in 1984 you were 5.

Same goes for a 50's D'A or any other builder of vintage guitar, imho.

OTOH, one can always offer up their own guitar build design to be judged as an alternative to the guitar they're judging. It's a thought.

[wintermoon]

5 in 84?

whippersnapper alert!

[Archie]

Well, if I'm going to stand in judgment of a 1984 guitar, designed and built for 1984, when perhaps I was 5 years old, it's important to consider the history of 1984, and see it from the perspective of 1984, not my critical eye of today. But you can't do that reasonably well if in 1984 you were 5.

Same goes for a 50's D'A or any other builder of vintage guitar, imho.

OTOH, one can always offer up their own guitar build design to be judged as an alternative to the guitar they're judging. It's a thought.

I still think that colour in 84 looked just as odd as it does now ;-)

Sorry mate just ignore me.

I was 4 in 1984

[wintermoon]

double whippersnappers

[2bornot2bop]

I still think that colour in 84 looked just as odd as it does now ;-)

Sorry mate just ignore me.

I was 4 in 1984

Oh I knew that. I exercised OP's option to rib you about it.

seriously though, I'm thinking back to perhaps what that '84 model appeared as when new. More vibrant. Alive. Don't forget you're making judgments based on a crappy photograph. You're the photographer you should know better

I'm thinking Gibson's intent was to give a nod to the violin without going there completely...mod colors were still very much in vogue and in use in 1984. Ever see an '84 Chevy Citation?...okay, of course not but you get my drift.

[2bornot2bop]

double whippersnappers

What the? Were you even alive when I was in Philly?

[wintermoon]

What the? Were you even alive when I was in Philly?

waaaaaay before.

how can you be retired LEO so young?

[2bornot2bop]

waaaaaay before.

how can you be retired LEO so young?

They can retire at five two. That gig ages 'em fast....gotta stay busy, and get a life...learn something new...like guitar?

[wintermoon]

I must've missed something.
if you were born in '79, you're only 35ish now, no?

[2bornot2bop]

I must've missed something.
if you were born in '79, you're only 35ish now, no?

You forgot the other thread where I was making the weekly migration from the Naval Base to the Spectrum to watch George McGinnis and Dr. J, and the broad street bullies of old. I was in the Navy at the time, not a dependent. But hey, born in '79 sounds great...do we get 'do overs'?

[wintermoon]

You forgot the other thread where I was making the weekly migration from the Naval Base to the Spectrum to watch George McGinnis and Dr. J, and the broad street bullies of old. I was in the Navy at the time, not a dependent. But hey, born in '79 sounds great...do we get 'do overs'?

didn't forget, just wondered about the late 70s birthdate.
hey geezer!

[Archie]

didn't forget, just wondered about the late 70s birthdate.
hey geezer!

This is funny but only because I know 2b is not my age ;-)

He's more of the vintage re-issue age, not quite the original vintage but getting there :-))))