The Gibson Johnny Smith

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 02:05 PM

Lately, I've been deeply exploring my guitars. And I am finally identifying the differences between all of them. This Gibson is really something else. I can best describe by saying it is an ultra professional grade instrument. Nothing I've ever played stands up to anything can throw at it better than this Guitar.
The Tal Farlow is close. The 18" Heritage JS took its sound up a notch. But this guitar always makes you feel in control. The most solid guitar I've played. Ever since I put the medium Jumbo frets on it, It has that "auto-pilot" mode that just kicks in when you are grooving on it.
When I play a guitar like this, it re-affirms the reasons I love Gibson Guitars. Its not just a guitar. It is a masterful creation that came together from years of experience gathered from Johnny Smith, John D'Angelico, Lloyd Loar and Ted McCarty.
Gibson.. When they did it right, they really did it right..

Thanks Guys. I hope you like my video.

Joe DeNisco

**floatingpickup** · 02-25-2018, 02:15 PM

Joe:
Beautiful guitar and great playing!
Keith

**Jabberwocky** · 02-25-2018, 02:18 PM

You're the best, Joe. I sense your love and respect for the guitar, not fanboyism that is total blind faith.

Your playing moves me. Keep well, sir.

**fws6** · 02-25-2018, 02:22 PM

Great ! Of all the things you posted I still like the Johnny Smith the best

**Steven Herron** · 02-25-2018, 02:32 PM

Hi Joe,

Loved your solo playing - very nice indeed!

I couldn't agree with you more about those Gibson Johnny Smith models. I own a 1977 Johnny Smith and like yours it just has that gorgeous sound.

Whether I'm playing it plugged in or unplugged it just has that gorgeous sound that is so unique to Johnny Smith models.

I've played some Gibson Kalamazoo Award models and didn't like any of them as much as my Johnny Smith.

**vinnyv1k** · 02-25-2018, 02:33 PM

What a difference a good fret job makes. Glorious tone for sure. Gibson archtops rule !

**Rob MacKillop** · 02-25-2018, 02:33 PM

A tricky little number there, Joe. Sounds great, of course, as it always does, as you always do. Keep it up, Joe!

**Fred Archtop** · 02-25-2018, 02:42 PM

Cascades of beautiful notes. Gorgeous sound and great chops !

Congrats Joe.

**cgratham** · 02-25-2018, 02:46 PM

Thanks for sharing this Joe. What a wonderful sound and great playing. You are clearly in your happy place there

**BigMikeinNJ** · 02-25-2018, 03:24 PM

Wow Joe, when you're in love with something it just turns your playing loose. Love and treasure all your guitars. Man You Are BLESSED !!!

Big

**Dennis D** · 02-25-2018, 03:25 PM

Damn ! That's 'the sound' and you've nailed it !

Thanks as always Joe !

**QAman** · 02-25-2018, 03:37 PM

Joe,
Great playing and fantastic tone ! There is a certain presence and purity of tone in a GJS that is without compare, and you have the nicest one I have ever come across.

For your style of playing , and your love of Johnny Smith - I can’t imagine you ever being without that guitar - you’ve made it your own for sure.

Glad your still enjoying it !

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Joe:
Beautiful guitar and great playing!
Keith

Keith, that means a lot coming from you buddy. Thank you!

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

You're the best, Joe. I sense your love and respect for the guitar, not fanboyism that is total blind faith.
Your playing moves me. Keep well, sir.

No Jabbs, you are the best, not me. One of the pillars of the forum. I am glad you are always with us and thanks for your nice words.

Originally Posted by fws6

Great ! Of all the things you posted I still like the Johnny Smith the best

Fws6, thank you sir.
You cant go wrong with a GJS!!

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Herron

Hi Joe,
Loved your solo playing - very nice indeed!
I couldn't agree with you more about those Gibson Johnny Smith models. I own a 1977 Johnny Smith and like yours it just has that gorgeous sound.

Whether I'm playing it plugged in or unplugged it just has that gorgeous sound that is so unique to Johnny Smith models.

I've played some Gibson Kalamazoo Award models and didn't like any of them as much as my Johnny Smith.

Regards,
Steven Herron
Learn To Play Chord Melody Guitar

Wow, the real Steven Herron! Nice. I appreciate the service you provide to the Jazz guitar playing community.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting in my post!

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

What a difference a good fret job makes. Glorious tone for sure. Gibson archtops rule !

bro, what can I say.. I wasn’t putting new frets on this guitar if it wasn’t for you. After seeing Gibson using the Evo golds on some of your brand new Gibson guitars, I knew it was cool. I’m glad I made the guitar. I could have left it stock, but what’s the sense if it didn’t play right. Thanks bro. For everything.

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

A tricky little number there, Joe. Sounds great, of course, as it always does, as you always do. Keep it up, Joe!

Rob.. I was trying to do one in black and white, but my computer kept telling me I wasn’t cool enough and I’d never pull it off.. thanks my man. Joe D

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Fred Archtop

Cascades of beautiful notes. Gorgeous sound and great chops !
Congrats Joe.

Fred, thank you my good man. Sheets of Sound just like Coltrane.. thank you sir.

Originally Posted by cgratham

Thanks for sharing this Joe. What a wonderful sound and great playing. You are clearly in your happy place there

Chris! I thought we lost you forever! How did the shed come out? And I hope the beautiful guitar in you avatar still makes you smile each and every day. I miss mine. I really do.
thank you Chris. JD

Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ

Wow Joe, when you're in love with something it just turns your playing loose. Love and treasure all your guitars. Man You Are BLESSED !!!
Big

Mikey.. I am blessed. With great guitars, the patience to play them ok and to have friends like you.
Thank you my good man.
Joe D

**silverfoxx** · 02-25-2018, 03:56 PM

Great job as usual Joe, I’ve only just
seen the vid , congrats my friend,
when you get compliments from Fred
Archtop, & QA man you’re doing well.

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dennis D

Damn ! That's 'the sound' and you've nailed it
Thanks as always Joe !

Thank you Dennis. The sound of the Johnny Smith guitar is a glorious sound indeed.
You are welcome my friend.

Originally Posted by QAman

Joe,
Great playing and fantastic tone ! There is a certain presence and purity of tone in a GJS that is without compare, and you have the nicest one I have ever come across.
For your style of playing , and your love of Johnny Smith - I can’t imagine you ever being without that guitar - you’ve made it your own for sure.
Glad your still enjoying it !

Steve, what can I say.. if it wasn’t for you, I would not have this guitar.
The original owner really kept this guitar in fine condition. Like Ian said, when he refretted it, “when you first brought it in, I thought it was a modern guitar!”
im glad my house deal fell through. I would have missed this guitar. Losing it would have left a mark.
The new pickguard, new frets and polishing the verdigris off the pickup made this guitar nearly perfect. A future trip to Chris Mirabella will make this a 42 year old time capsule!
thanks for making it happen Steve!
Joe D

**Dennis D** · 02-25-2018, 04:13 PM

I mean, no kidding. I ( accidentally ) did the ' eyes closed ' test , and Joe that sound is right off those JS LP's we grew up with !

What a kick !

**sgcim** · 02-25-2018, 04:20 PM

I kept thinkin', ' Oh no, is he gonna try and do those double stops at the end?'

I still don't know how he pulled that off at that tempo!

Beautiful sound and playing, JD.

**Stringswinger** · 02-25-2018, 04:22 PM

JD,

You are lucky to have a guitar you have bonded so well with. If you keep posting these videos (and please do!), I may develop a case of GAS for a Gibson Johnny Smith.

One can be saddled with a worse affliction, I suppose.

Thanks for sharing!

**neatomic** · 02-25-2018, 05:31 PM

nice..tone has some of that classic gibson grit when you really dig in

wasn't expecting that drum track

fast tempo well handled..some tricky passages

another good one Joe D!! bravo pal

beloved gibson will always live on as long as ones in your hands!

cheers

**ptchristopher3** · 02-25-2018, 05:36 PM

Great playing Joe. Many thanks for the music.

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by silverfoxx

Great job as usual Joe, I’ve only just
seen the vid , congrats my friend,
when you get compliments from Fred
Archtop, & QA man you’re doing well.

Foxman,
thank you dear kind sir. I actually long for the day that my wife compliments my playing.. All she said to me today was “oh boy I’m glad you are done with that song. Not my favorite version of it.. “
thanks Alan.

Originally Posted by Dennis D

I mean, no kidding. I ( accidentally ) did the ' eyes closed ' test , and Joe that sound is right off those JS LP's we grew up with !
What a kick !

Thank you Dennis. I wish I could be mistaken for Johnny. What a beautiful player he was. Brilliant!

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by sgcim

I kept thinkin', ' Oh no, is he gonna try and do those double stops at the end?'
I still don't know how he pulled that off at that tempo!
Beautiful sound and playing, JD.

It’s funny, I tried and tried and tried and I couldn’t get it. I am almost convinced he threw a 2nd guitar in there, ala Lulaby of Birdland.. There is no way the was one man playing one guitar.
Thank you buddy. I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

JD,
You are lucky to have a guitar you have bonded so well with. If you keep posting these videos (and please do!), I may develop a case of GAS for a Gibson Johnny Smith.
One can be saddled with a worse affliction, I suppose.

Thanks for sharing!

SS, you should try out a Norlin.. they have those nice volutes you like so much.. they come in handy when you are hanging the guitar on the Stringswinger... the neck sits perfectly between your thumb and 1st finger!
thanks buddy.

**Max405** · 02-25-2018, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by neatomic

nice..tone has some of that classic gibson grit when you really dig in
wasn't expecting that drum track
fast tempo well handled..some tricky passages
another good one Joe D!! bravo pal
beloved gibson will always live on as long as ones in your hands!
cheers

Neatomic, thanks my pal. My drummer was in the floor. I woke him up after the intro and he went crazy for 2 minutes.. thank you very much buddy.

Originally Posted by ptchristopher3

Great playing Joe. Many thanks for the music.

Hey Thanks Chris. The pleasure was all mine.
JD