Gibson Solid Formed 17" Venetion Cutaway

[Max405]

Very nice sir! I am a huge Johnny Smith fan and that's an ambitious tune to take on indeed! You do the tune and the guitar proud....

thank you very much buddy. Playing Johnnys stuff requires a guitar that won't introduce additional challenges. There are 2 chords in this piece that I just flat out could not play. Hands too small or not flexible enough. This guitar is a perfect chord melody machine. Extraordinary sound, perfect neck and a 24-3/4 scale. The materials used in the guitar seem to articulate the notes very well. Vinny immediately knew I would like this guitar. He was right on the money.
Thanks, Joe D

[Max405]

I believe that one unconsciously strives for the sound he has "imprinted" in mind. Some instruments allow this naturally, others you have to fight to get close. The partial inability to get there, this fight initiates the individuals "different" way of playing.

right on Jazznote. This guitar doesn't get in the way. Even if it did, it's nice enough to gently nudge it a little.. But doesn't get in the way. Thanks, JD

I don't know about the "touch" thing. Yes it's the most important thing, but when I play my Herb Ellis, my 175, or even my Aria PE180 my "touch" seems to get better! Something about the guitar brings out a different way of playing for me. The responsiveness of the instrument can have a big impact on the player's technique.

Lawson, I've played a couple of lower end Eastman's and never felt the desire to continue battling it. I've never played a Gibson that I've put away and said, "Naa, not this one.."
yes, I agree, the guitar does make you better. If you are inspired to play it, that's practice. And you will get better. 100% for sure.
thanks buddy.

[Stringswinger]

Joe,

You are incorrect that only guitar players like chord melody. I have a weekly gig at a wine tasting room where I play solo guitar and I get lots of applause. And the tip jar ends up with a lot more money than the five dollar bill I seed it with.

Beautiful music reaches a lot of folks and what you do should be shared with more people than a bunch of middle aged guitar players on an online forum.

You do the music justice. You have a gift. It should be shared with others. Somone who has no clue about jazz guitar could see your solo guitar playing and be inspired to learn jazz or take up the guitar.

Trust me, it is very cool to get paid to noodle around on your guitar. You decide what to play, in what key, in what tempo. When you finish a piece and applause fills the room, you will know that all is well in the world, for it doesn't get better than that.

Cheers,

Marc

[silverfoxx]

Joe , if you will indulge me I would like
to recount an incident of a few years
since, I was playing a chord melody
trying a guitar well away from home
On the other side of London when an
older gentleman came in to the shop,
he asked my name,the staff shrugged
indifferently because I was not playing
their kind of music . The man approached
and to my surprise said " were you taught
by Joe Pass"? ( I had two brief lessons )
He said that I phrased like my late tutor
Cedric West, this was the best compliment
I ever had. Goes to show , even a short
lesson can have a lasting effect. I can't
really play like JP, but even to be likened
to my tutor pleased me enormously. JP
and my Tutor were buddies. The man
who engaged with me was a well known
older big band player , and then a jazz
Tutor himself.
Just my 2p's worth.

[Max405]

I was looking at the Solid formed last night, trying to figure out where the Bruce Kunkel influence went. Usually he does something extraordinary on a guitar that makes it different. The guitar is so plain. The only thing different about it is the Bruce Kunkel signature on the label. Perhaps he was going the "less is more" angle? Jeeze, I looked at a couple of beautiful NGD posts here recently (Wine L4c, Burst 175, 16" Comins, Sweet Sixteen and the SB Wes) and then I look at this guitar and think, "damn, I could have made that myself".. After I look at the Shark L5 that our man Travisty has I wonder, does Gibson have 2 different Bruce Kunkels on staff?

[Max405]

Scale Length 25-5/16"
Supposed to be 24-3/4"

Gibson is a trip..

[Max405]

Now what do I do with this eyesore?


I am looking for cost effective solutions. I like the pickup. I'd like it to be black. I am considering a Zoller or a Benedetto S6 and a new pickguard, with a single layer binding. I like the Cc rider floater too but a birdie from out in California told me beware of the noise.
Any thoughts?

[Jabberwocky]

25 3/8" scale length. I read it up to the crown of the 12th fret, 12 11/16". Nice scale length. The specs. said 24.75" which I thought was short for a 17-incher.

Floating CC? Pete Biltof says he offers a humbucking version of the floating CC. Could be interesting...

I like that unbound pickguard. Grows on me. If you could get someone to bind it for you it should look grand. Gary Hines (guitarcarver) made a pickguard for Marty Grass. Reach out to him. Or you could try Steve Holst or Bill Gagnon.

[Hammertone]

Scale Length 25-5/16"
Supposed to be 24-3/4"
Gibson is a trip..

I like the way you roll with ruler placement.
"supposed to be 24 3/4" - might I suggest this instead: "The Gibson website is supposed to say that the scale is 25 1/2" but the Mensans at Gibson marketing have erred in their communications efforts."

[skiboyny]

Now what do I do with this eyesore?

If it were me I'd set it up like a Gibson Johnny Smith.

[neatomic]

Scale Length 25-5/16"
Supposed to be 24-3/4"

Gibson is a trip..

that's unreal!!!


but just think...those stretches you were making, thinking it was 24.75!!! haha

a guitar that makes you better than you think you are..not bad!!

cheers

[2bornot2bop]

What a beautiful Rodgers and Hart tune I'd never heard JD. And your playing of the arrangement is nothing less than superb! I had to listen to it several times to absorb it.

So, for some odd reason, hearing you play this tune put me in the same space I experienced the first time I heard Ellington's classic 'Single Pedal Of A Rose'....I don't know why, as they're not similar, but it was as good a way to spend a Sunday afternoon as any!

Great sounds coming from that guitar in your hands! Sounds like the definition of a "keeper" as I've ever heard bro! Keep on keepin' on - More like this!

Although written for piano, Kenny Burrell plays his arrangement for SPOAR on a flattop

[Max405]

2b,
thank you so much brother.
i can see bits and pieces of similarities in the tunes. These old American songbook tunes need to be revived as often as they can be. Melodies that have spawned 1,000's of other songs. There is so much that you can do with them.
Thanks again for liking the recording.
Neatomic,
i knew something wasn't quite right when I asked Vinny to measure the distance between 2nd and 7th fret on his Byrdland and it was off by 3/8". Shouldn't have been off that much. Thank you for your kindness and class as usual.

Joe D

[Max405]

I like the way you roll with ruler placement.
I read that as 12 3/4" to the 12th fret - 25 1/2" scale, which doesn't surprise me.
"supposed to be 24 3/4" - might I suggest this instead: "The Gibson website is supposed to say that the scale is 25 1/2" but the Mensans at Gibson marketing have erred in their communications efforts."

Hammertone, the specs should be right. No doubt.

25 3/8" scale length. I read it up to the crown of the 12th fret, 12 11/16". Nice scale length. The specs. said 24.75" which I thought was short for a 17-incher.

Floating CC? Pete Biltof says he offers a humbucking version of the floating CC. Could be interesting...

I like that unbound pickguard. Grows on me. If you could get someone to bind it for you it should look grand. Gary Hines (guitarcarver) made a pickguard for Marty Grass. Reach out to him. Or you could try Steve Holst or Bill Gagnon.

Jabbs, ordinarily, the scale length would be almost perfect. It's an important and it should accurately stated. I am choosing my next guitar based on scale length and factory spec should be something you can count on.
Gotta check out the humbucking floating CC! Thanks buddy. I got your YouTube message too. You are the best Jabbs.

If it were me I'd set it up like a Gibson Johnny Smith.

i have a feeling some day it will replaced by a Johnny Smith..

[gustri]

I sell a Gibson Somid Formed At reverb.com for that price:

Gibson Solid Formed 17" Hollowbody Venetian 2015 - Cremona | Reverb

OK, its only been 5 days. But I've had enough time to see if I like it. And, I LOVE it.
Vinny and I nick-named this guitar "JSjr". It really is a Johnny Smith Jr. It really plays itself. It sounds just like the famous 18" Unity. The lower notes swirl around the body and waft out into your ears. Very unique sound. To me, it feels like half Gibson and half high end Boutique Guitar.. Its extremely lively. The strings on it are TI 13 Jazz Swings.

I wanted to play something on it so you can HEAR the guitar. Nothing flashy. Just like the guitar. But in my opinion, it is a fantastic Guitar. It is very clear and has great sustain. The neck is classic Gibson, just like the 175 and L5.

If you can get one for around $3,000, I really think it is a GREAT buy. Next time you see it, hopefully it will have some bindings on the pick guard.

Pics of the beautiful wood to follow.

Thanks, Joe D.