An "Aaron Cowles" 1984 Gibson Citation

[2bornot2bop]

A gorgeous archtop...

What's this medium brown tone Gibson shading known as? Was Gibson using a "bjb" in 1984, or could that be another floater without adjustable pole pieces?

https://reverb.com/item/183676-gibso...-22-1984-brown

[Max405]

Ok, I'm speechless..

[2bornot2bop]

Ok, I'm speechless..

I'll teach you to poke 2b for "going small."

[Max405]

I'll teach you to poke 2b for "going small."

2b just schooled Jd

[Patrick2]

Couple of observations; I've got a couple of guitars that Aaron made for me with signed labels insde the F hole. The signature on this Citation is definitely Aaron's. Also, who ever put that pup on it aftermarket in 1989 was a butcher!! The neck shows even by just the photos, that the shoulders are not at all prominent and the neck itself appears very thin. Probably not rolled by Marv. Possibly done by Aaron. He favored a thinner neck profile. One last thing .. . the shading on this guitar doesn't seem to be Floyd's work. Shading was not one of Aaron's strongest assets as a luthier. He might have done this shading. What I'm saying is that this guitar might have been totally built by Aaron with no one else's hands having ever touched it.

[Danny W.]

A gorgeous archtop...

What's this medium brown tone Gibson shading known as? Was Gibson using a "bjb" in 1984, or could that be another floater without adjustable pole pieces?

My 1980 KA has a factory BJB, so it could be one. The color could be just a one-off, with no official name

Couple of observations; I've got a couple of guitars that Aaron made for me with signed labels insde the F hole. The signature on this Citation is definitely Aaron's. Also, who ever put that pup on it aftermarket in 1989 was a butcher!! The neck shows even by just the photos, that the shoulders are not at all prominent and the neck itself appears very thin. Probably not rolled by Marv. Possibly done by Aaron. He favored a thinner neck profile. One last thing .. . the shading on this guitar doesn't seem to be Floyd's work. Shading was not one of Aaron's strongest assets as a luthier. He might have done this shading. What I'm saying is that this guitar might have been totally built by Aaron with no one else's hands having ever touched it.

Since Gibson was not officially building Citations then, might it have been Aaron's in toto, a government job?

I think that there's a lot not to like about this particular guitar, but it could be fixed.

Danny W.

[2bornot2bop]

Okay, since the Least Coast is now asleep I wonder how many will come here tomorrow, read that header and think, 2b has completely lost it and acquired a Citation?

[wintermoon]

the broken t.p. is a drag but wouldn't stop me from buying it.

that being said I have no desire to own it or any other Citation, just not my cup of tea, though I don't mind the Epiphone cloud inlays.

that being said, if was going to buy one, I wouldn't spend that kinda cake for one w/an issue when you can buy an issueless one for about the same coin if you really look.

btw, I think the finish might be antique natural.

[Patrick2]

My 1980 KA has a factory BJB, so it could be one. The color could be just a one-off, with no official name




Since Gibson was not officially building Citations then, might it have been Aaron's in toto, a government job?

I think that there's a lot not to like about this particular guitar, but it could be fixed.

Danny W.

Here's another from 1984, also signed by Aaron. Also not Gibson's best shading work, although this one does have a slight burst to it. When I forst saw the Citation that 2b posted, my first thought was the it was one of the earlier models when the fort 17 or so were done in lacquer. Then, I went on the read that it was a 1984.

Wintermoon . . . looks much too dark to be an antique natural.

2b . . . I got your "Least Coast", right here!!!

[2bornot2bop]

Here's another from 1984, also signed by Aaron. Also not Gibson's best shading work, although this one does have a slight burst to it. When I forst saw the Citation that 2b posted, my first thought was the it was one of the earlier models when the fort 17 or so were done in lacquer. Then, I went on the read that it was a 1984.

Wintermoon . . . looks much too dark to be an antique natural.

2b . . . I got your "Least Coast", right here!!!

Apparently not. You forgot to include the link to the Citation you were referencing. 2b rests his case

[Woody Sound]

A gorgeous archtop...

What's this medium brown tone Gibson shading known as?

I think the VERY short-lived Al Dimeola archtop model had that color.

[Patrick2]

Apparently not. You forgot to include the link to the Citation you were referencing. 2b rests his case

Damn!! 2b is correct once again.

This guy musta been a cop or somthing in the previousl chapter of his glorious life. :-)

https://www.archtop.com/ac_84citation.html

[Danny W.]

Whatever that color is called, Gibson seemed fond of it in 1984:



Danny W.

[Patrick2]

Danny . . that one appears to be much nicer as related to uniformity and shade. The Citation almost appeard to be hand rubbed and not sprayed.

That Super 4C seems to be some sort of a special commemorition guitar.?.? Wha't all of the notation on the back of the head stock . . . and I've never seen a stinger quite like that one before. Is that inliad, or painted? Wish I could see a more detailed closeup.

[Archie]

Yes that is a rather unfortunate shade of brown :-))

The Citation is a guitar that used to excite me a lot more than it does now. Although I'm sure in person I would be more impressed. Still I see no recurve on a $20,000 archtop!

More bling than sing I imagine for that price.

Also what the hell happened to the higher fret markers? Did they just give up on the clouds or did they want to put in a pedestrian road crossing?

(The Gibson Custom Shop Inlay Department)

[Danny W.]

Danny . . that one appears to be much nicer as related to uniformity and shade. The Citation almost appeard to be hand rubbed and not sprayed.

That Super 4C seems to be some sort of a special commemorition guitar.?.? Wha't all of the notation on the back of the head stock . . . and I've never seen a stinger quite like that one before. Is that inliad, or painted? Wish I could see a more detailed closeup.

Your wish is granted :



Danny W.

[2bornot2bop]

Damn!! 2b is correct once again.

This guy musta been a cop or somthing in the previousl chapter of his glorious life. :-)

https://www.archtop.com/ac_84citation.html

In the famous words of Joe Friday, "just the facts M'am."

[2bornot2bop]

Whatever that color is called, Gibson seemed fond of it in 1984:



Danny W.

As a person whose fonder of most any archtop in a colored shade other than natural, I could very easily live with this '84 50th Anniversary model. Just think about all the fond memories that guitar must be reminding someone about 1984. Oh wait...wasn't that the first year of the AMC Pacer? Oh wait my bad...that was '76!

[Patrick2]

Thank you Danny. Is/was this yours?

[2bornot2bop]

https://www.archtop.com/ac_84citation.html

So, JV refers to that shading as a "violin" finish. I wonder if that was JV's interpretation or Gibson's? And JV confirms it was "bjb" floater....very kewl! I dig the bjb.

[Danny W.]

Thank you Danny. Is/was this yours?

Nope--if I remember correctly, the seller wanted more than I thought it was worth.

Danny W.

[Patrick2]

So, JV refers to that shading as a "violin" finish. I wonder if that was JV's interpretation or Gibson's? And JV confirms it was "bjb" floater....very kewl! I dig the bjb.

The shading name violin finish has been around for quite some time. Gibson didn't come up with that name either. Benedetto does a beautiful violin finish.

[Jabberwocky]

Gibson Super-400 50th Anniversary 1984 (#81584003), mint condition, red violin-style finish

Of the dozen or so Anniversary Model Super 400s made, this is apparently the only acoustic version (with original floating BJB Johnny Smith pickup). All others were twin-pickup CES models and share few of the special details on this guitar. This instrument, which was made in the last months of the Kalamazoo production, displays features specified by renowned Super 400 collector Dr. Tom Van Hoose. These include: 1930s style tuner buttons, an engraved tailpiece, the inside of the back is signed by all the Gibson craftsmen involved, a unique design on back of headstock, and 1930s style arching.

[Archie]

.

And to think all they had to do was add some lacquer with a touch of yellow. What a complete waste of wood and time just to end up looking like that. I would expect that paint job on a New £100 guitar and even then I'd be bummed out.

Not even I could make that look good.
SMH

[Woody Sound]

Also what the hell happened to the higher fret markers? Did they just give up on the clouds or did they want to put in a pedestrian road crossing?

(The Gibson Custom Shop Inlay Department)

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