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Many these around? His story is that when Johnny Smith's contract with Gibson ran out, they stuck Super V stickers on unsold Johnny Smiths. Plus, I hadn't heard of humbuckers mounted flush to the top. I have seen Super Vs with Johnny Smith pickups, though.
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08-31-2018 09:18 PM
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The Super V was normally available in two forms: single floating pickup, and dual mounted pickups. I don't recall ever seeing one with a single mounted pickup. They would be rare.
Last edited by Woody Sound; 08-31-2018 at 10:05 PM.
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Very interesting back story on that amazing Super V.
The blonde one on Reverb appears to be a steal of a deal.
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He says it's a 1978. Gibson was still selling Smiths as late as 1987. It's listed in the 1983 and 1985 catalogs
I owned 1985 and 1987 anniversary models--bought the '87 from Johnny himself, shipped from Rice music in early '88:
So while his story is interesting, the timeline seems out of whack.
Danny W.
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I would like to know if there is any Gibson archtop that Danny W hasn't owned? This gentleman has a unicorn ranch, I am sure, somewhere in Florida.
When is a Super V not a Super V? When it is a Super V with a Super 400 tailpiece, neck and inlays, a 17" L-5CES body with twin pups and named a Super 400 Special. I saw one for sale on ebay a few years ago and it came down from a heady $10 000 to a more realistic $4950. For that reason, the Super V is not highly valued. It is seen too much as a Gibson bastard, cobbled together with leftover parts from the parts bin.
Too many variations named Super V. That single pickup one makes another unicorn sighting. Somewhere out there, there must be one with a Charlie Christian pickup and a Super V Switchmaster with 3 humbuckers.
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Of all the Super V models I have come across not one struck me as something special - they were "nice", playable but left me underwhelmed. My personal peeve re the design : the headstock (the Super-400 design and size) ist too long in relation to the body size. This is another argument towards the oberservation, that these guitars were cobbled together with various parts from the the L5, Johnnny Smith and Super-400 models ....
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Here is a Super V with a floating pickup:
1979 Gibson Super V BJB Archtop Electric Guitar! L-5 400 | Reverb
Note the pointed fingerboard, which I think, other than the scale length, differentiates a super 400/super V neck from a Johnny Smith neck. The guitar in the video has a squared off fingerboard, ie, appears to be a Johnny Smith neck.
The L5C is a true acoustic, where the L5CES is decided not (braced and carved differently, I think). Would it be fair to suggest that Super Vs with floaters use L5C bodies, and Super Vs with floaters use L5C bodies?
Is it possible to mount a standard Gibson neck humbucker as described in the video, without routing the top and cutting the braces?
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All of this has me puzzled. What is it exactly that makes a guitar a "Johnny Smith?" That JS gave his opinion about it? That it was built based on things JS said? Are there features one will find on a "Johnny Smith" by any maker that are consistent?
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Ah Danny,I remember her well. You should show the forum the back of her. All I have is hard photos from my pre-computer era.
Originally Posted by Danny W.
He says it's a 1978. Gibson was still selling Smiths as late as 1987. It's listed in the 1983 and 1985 catalogs
I owned 1985 and 1987 anniversary models--bought the '87 from Johnny himself, shipped from Rice music in early '88:
So while his story is interesting, the timeline seems out of whack.
Danny W.
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>What exa
ctly that makes a guitar a "Johnny Smith?"
A *Gibson* Johnny Smith is a true carved top x-braced cutaway acoustic, 17" body but not quite as deep as an L5, floating mini humbuckers, and a 25 (not 25.5) inch scale. I think that the neck inlay and headstock is like the Super 400, without the point at the end.
Guild and Heritage made Johnny Smiths, probably similar specs.
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^^ plus a 1.75" nut.
Aesthetics aside, it's the X-bracing, scale length, and nut width that make it functionally different.
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Lawson, Everything no pedals and RP said, plus, Johnny himself would agree to it being his signature model.
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Super V - L5 CES body with a Super 400 neck. I sold one on this forum 1 - 2 years ago. Tobacco SB with single routed humbucker. The interior label said Super V Custom. Great sounding and playing instrument! I agree with those who feel the Super 400 headstock is (visually) too large.
As with all the instruments I’ve ever sold, it was a tough decision. Ultimately I replaced it with a new LeGrand. I love it! Way lighter build than the Super V.
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Wasn't there also something about the neck having a solid block instead of the overhang? Is that a constant on JS guitars? Originally Posted by rpguitar
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Actually I love that big ole headstock. My Aria ProII PE180 has that, and honestly, when my L5ces arrived, I thought "Who shrunk the headstock?" That Aria is kind of a Super V copy, and I like it a lot. It's got that slightly over-made up hot cheerleader vibe, you know? But it can purr sweet or kind of growl low and rumbly. Love that guitar. Never letting it go. Originally Posted by AKA
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This is exactly right. Johnny's thought was that it created more sustain in the higher notes. I have to agree with him. He was also insistent that the top was carved before the cut away was put in. Who knows if Gibson really followed thru with that once they got going with the model. Originally Posted by lawson-stone
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I sure hope everyone is successful in softening the market for Super-V guitars. I love them. Talk those prices down some more.
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Like I said, I LOVE my SuperV copy (Aria PE180) esp. with the L5 tailpiece. Originally Posted by Greentone
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I believe that Heritage did the 25 inch scale and 1 3/4 nut. Guild's first Johnny Smith (1950's) had cross bracing, (I am unsure about body depth), a 24.75 scale and 1 11/16 nut (Perhaps that is why JS never played it? Or it could be because of the way the cutaway was done during the build process as the legend goes). Guild's later Johnny Smith (made with imput from Bob Benedetto) was X braced but had a 25 5/8 scale and a 1 23/32 nut (JS was retired during the production of these and may not have been very concerned about the specs, his interest was probably all about the royalty checks at that point). Originally Posted by nopedals
The Gibson and Heritage models are the ones most similar to his D'Angelico
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I remember reading an interview with him where he talked about how disappointed he was in Gibson's implementation of his design specs. One line in particular still sticks in my head: Originally Posted by skiboyny
"Frankly, I could have gotten closer myself with a jack knife."
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Like Lawson, I love the Matsumoku tribute to the Super-V. Mine is the stable mate to the Aria Pro II PE-180, the Memphis EL 300:
I think the large headstock is, well, super.
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I am dead serious that when I got that superb L5ces, I compared it to the Aria headstock and it's the only thing I found disappointing. Somehow I thought the L5 had that manly headstock. I love the L5, but that Matsumoku just has some mojo with the headstock and Super V vibe. And being a laminate, it's got some "thunk" to go with the sophistication and borderline gaudiness. Originally Posted by Greentone
Like Lawson, I love the Matsumoku tribute to the Super-V. Mine is the stable mate to the Aria Pro II PE-180, the Memphis EL 300:
I think the large headstock is, well, super.
Let's don't even start about how great the pickups on this beast are...
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Haven't been anywhere near FL in 25 years. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
I've owned several and feel the same way. Mine were all good, but not great. I think a lot has to do with the era in which they were built, as much as the design. Originally Posted by gitman
John, I'm not following you here. (?) Originally Posted by Archtop Guy
My LeGrands were much better than any of the Super V's I've owned: Originally Posted by AKA
Danny W.Last edited by Danny W.; 09-04-2018 at 05:40 PM.
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Why do the orientation of the finger tailpieces reverse in the sunburst guitar(s) ? Originally Posted by Danny W.
Haven't been anywhere near FL in 25 years.
I've owned several and feel the same way. Mine were all good, but not great. I think a lot has to do with the era in which they were built, as much as the design.
John, I'm not following you here. (?)
My LeGrands were much better than any of the Super V's I've owned:
Danny W.
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