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I'm about to buy a Gibson Johnny Smith and had a very good feel about it until yesterday when i once more realized that it is indeed most risky to buy sight unseen, having to rely on description and fotos. (thanks plasticpigeon ;-))
Here are pics of the neck joint which show a couple of things which i'm unsure of. As i find such a wealth of knowledge here i decided to post them and see if the "experts" can make out something more than i can.
Topics of "insecurity" are: color of the heel cap compared to the binding. The black line on the heel cap looks somewhat strange where it meets the binding, same for the black line of the binding where it meets the neck next to it. Some white stuff along the top where it meets the neck extension.
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08-25-2016 05:14 AM
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Looks OK. Heel cap is just the lacquer worn off the binding by the strap. Neck joint seems OK for a 40 year old guitar which is inevitably going to have a little bit of differential top / neck shrinkage and then years of accumulated polish in any small gap.
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Its a lovely guitar, and you're damn lucky.
I was looking at the same guitar on Reverb trying to calculate what the seller would take as a best offer when an old NYMFC buddy of mine called me. His name is Johnny Lach, he and I used to trade tales of debauchery and do some back and forth guitar business with Ms. Lora and Mr. Wu. A great guy and we think the world of Ms. Lora and Mr. Wu. At times he and I both had a thing for "the sauce" and eventually we talked each other (after listening to the other guy when he was out of it) into going straight...
So just as I'm getting ready to make the offer the guy I jokingly think of as "my sponsor" calls. LOL !! True story my friend... He talked me out of it.I do not need another guitar and that is a lovely JS...
Good luck on the deal... I think you'll be all right. Being over here you want me to call them and ask some harmless questions you might have. Be glad to help you, simply PM me what you want to know. I used to live right near there and can probably strike up a light hearted dialog with the seller.
Big
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BigMike, thanks for your offer to call them! Most likely it's not the same guitar, i have never seen it on Reverb. But i might be mistaken. When did you see it / where was the guitar located?
Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
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that guitar wasn't on Reverb Mike.
I know the one Jazznote is looking @.
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I found it on eBay (yours I am assuming) and then as a dutiful shopper (my Mom taught me to bargain hunt) found it over on Reverb, same shop. Trust me I do my homework. I used to work and live right near Calabassas back in the 70s when it was NOTHING... You want me to reach out let me know.
Big
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Wintermoon, I just saw your post and appreciate you telling me.
So you mean if I fall off the wagon I won't be swooping up Jazz Note's baby ???
Actually I need "another guitar ???" like I need a hole in the head (another one).
Big
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wasn't on ebay either Mike.
I won't link the site since Jazznote seems to be in the middle of purchasing it.
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Totally hear you winter moon. In the spirit of GAS I stand by to help any brother in need...
Big
now see what you guys are doing to me. Now I have to call my sponsor and have him talk me down, worrying I MIGHT be stepping on toes I went and looked that the HJS that Lou has online... Oh Lord Hep Me, Hep Me !!!
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Gosh, I had no idea I had any influence. However I really do think buying something so expensive sight unseen, especially as we know what a perfectionist you are can only end in disappointment. With shipping so expensive, what happens if you want to send it back? You will be down the price of a cheap car! I honestly believe that one will come up within driving distance of where you live if you are patient. I saw one on UK Gumtree for £3700. It was sold a while back, and once again the problem is not seeing it for yourself, but these things do come up!!!
Last edited by plasticpigeon; 08-25-2016 at 04:30 PM.
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the "white stuff" along the neck extension could simply be a lazy polish job...much like waxing a car if you get wax inside the joint between two separate pieces you've got to spend some time getting it out, especially before it dries...better to stay away from the joint with your polishing compound. After 40 years I'd imagine there'd be a fair amount of cleaning/polishing compound in that joint. Looks like a find to me JN!
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You made me think it over once again which is a very good thing. But i don't really think that i'd be so lucky that one would come up within driving distance. And of course it is always a risk to buy unseen. I have minimized the risk of "disappointment" by getting high res. pics, asked lots of questions and talked to the seller on the phone which revealed some helpful additional information. You can't imagine how many hours i spent within the last half year looking for a blonde GJS. I believe through this and with the help of the members in this forum i have gained a feel for prices and what one can expect for the money and this guitar seems to fit. My final decision is yet to be made, but so far i'm still positive. Originally Posted by plasticpigeon
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I realy really do hope it turns out well. just to show you that they do pop up from time to time, here is the one in the UK from about 6 months ago.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.c...ient=firefox-b
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Yes, i remember this one, it was from a private seller named Jon who wrote to me that he also had a Heritage JS for sale when i inquired about it. I believe that it is more likely to find one in the UK than in central Europe, but the UK is not in driving distance from Switzerland either. It feels almost as distant as the US, just the "pond" in between is a little smaller ;-)). Originally Posted by plasticpigeon
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Ok, I'll say no more!
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I have just authorized the payment - will have to work on the shipping and then pray to the gods .....
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God Bless
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Jazznote,
Congrats on the decision - and im sure your due diligence will pay off. Looking forward to the NGD.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk
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Congrats Jazznote! Gibson's rule. Here's hoping that the guitar has a safe journey.
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Calabassas!? With that accent? Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
You should have been buying up all the property you could back then bro!
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one wouldn't believe it .... after four days of waiting for the payment to arrive on the sellers account the money still didn't reach the proper destination. So i decided to call the sellers bank to verify and was told that the account didn't exist. After informing the seller i got the correct number and an apology from him.
I will wait for the money to come back and see .... . Somehow i think he should compensate the extra expenses i have like "double" fee charges, exchange rate developing slightly unfavorable ..... .
Also i'm a bit wondering if someone who doesn't triple check an account number can be trusted to check a guitar properly.Last edited by JazzNote; 09-01-2016 at 11:52 AM.
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