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Originally Posted by tbeltrans
That's great.
On the other hand, maybe, I bought the wrong guitar ... LOL
I know there were some other players watching that guitar.
I hope it serves you well.
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08-18-2022 10:04 PM
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No, you didn’t!
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Wait a minute...2 top of the line Gibson Citations purchased within a week or so of each other and posted in the same thread?? I'm pretty sure that's never happened here before and probably won't again. The posts in this forum (and most other online forums) can sometimes get so cantankerous and frustrating...and then there's times like this when the stars align and you're so stoked for a couple members that it washes away the negative and puts a smile on a readers face. Did mine.
Congrats guys! and I'm pretty sure we need pics of the latest tbeltrans. One of the coolest NGD threads in awhile.....
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Originally Posted by D'Aquisto Fan
Tony
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Originally Posted by Bluedawg
One thing I found interesting is that in pictures I have seen around the internet, some of these guitars have the metal bridge and others have the wood bridge. Mine has the wood bridge and I suspect that contributes to the sound I described. From your pics in your OP, it looks as if yours does to, so I would guess yours sounds very similar to mine (or mine to yours...).
I saw one on reverb.com in Germany for something over $35k. I don't know if that is realistic or not, but I do believe (based on what I read about these) that there aren't all that many floating around. That one is a newer model from 2016 and has a metal bridge:
2016 Gibson Custom Shop Citation - Antique Natural | Reverb
Tony
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
If these Citations are as rare as what I have read around the internet seems to indicate, yes, a thread like this would be unusual.
I have never posted pics to this forum, so will have to figure that out. I think folks would enjoy seeing the back of this one because it has wood grain that looks like pillows (quilted maple?) rather than the typical straighter grain I see on most archtops. The top grain (spruce) is unbelievably tight and very consistent.
Tony
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T Beltrans,
A big congrats. As I was reading your post - I too was so happy it led to a purchase. When you come across a guitar which moves your sole beyond anything you’ve experienced , the worst thing is to walk away without finding a means to buying it. So glad you made the right decision - we’ve all been faced with that same decision , and many of us have regretted not buying something.
With Gibson prices escalating……along with a dwindling supply of Citations - you made a wise decision. Don’t forget to buy your wife something nice.
Wishing you many years of enjoyment.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by QAman
My interest is in continuing to learn and play solo instrumental guitar. I have little interest in retirement in playing out, making videos, and that sort of thing. I am well stocked with materials from Robert Conti, Barry Greene, Jake Reichbart, and Steve Crowell, not to mention a bunch of arrangements from Steve Herron's collections at chordmelody.com. Having such a nice guitar now, these all take on a whole new light. I don't need to live near a golf course or take any more trips, a fine guitar and a bunch of learning materials are good enough for me.
Tony
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Tony,
You have a great mind set - and I know it was a lot of money to spend, but if it resonated with you that much, it’s likely the only guitar you will need, and it will spare you the journey of collecting guitars you don’t play. Trust me I know.
In 1992 , I had the chance to buy a blonde
D’Aquisto that was built for Ed Benson, the prior editor and owner of a magazine called “ Just Jazz Guitar”. The magazine is no longer in publication. Today, 30 yrs later I am still in search of that guitar…..and would buy it in a minute.
So , no need to have any buyers remorse….you found you jewel, and can always sell it on this forum if your desires or circumstances change.
Just enjoy it !
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Originally Posted by QAman
The one that got away from me years ago was a MacIntosh tube stereo components system that I could have gotten locally at a good price. I had just taken on a new job and didn't want to spend any money until I was sure it would work out. Of course by then, the system was sold. At that time apparently Japanese audiophiles were buying that stuff up. If I had the room, I would love to have had that tuner, preamp and the MC-275 power amp. Oh well.
I just got back from my guitar repair tech person and she put a strap button on the guitar for me and checked it over carefully, giving it a perfect score. She said that it is in perfect shape, so I can rest easy knowing that there aren't any problems lurking waiting to be found. Both your post and Michelle's assessment of the instrument have chased away any buyer's remorse, not to mention that my wife told me to buy it or I would be forever regretting it.
Tony
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
I've been eyeballing these for many years.
It's nice to finally have one.
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Originally Posted by Bluedawg
By the way, did you know that the nut width on these Citations is not 1 11/16", but instead 1/32" wider at 1 23/32"? A friend who knows these guitars well just told me that a little while ago, so I measured it with my digital calipers and he is right. On the internet, any specs for this guitar I have seen say it is 1 11/16". To me, this is good news, the wider the better.
Tony
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Originally Posted by mauibob
Currently it has round wound strings on it that sound great and seem to bring out the high end more. The high end on the Citation is really fantastic. The low end is also good, but I'm curious to know what it would sound like with flats.
I find that flat wounds bring out the bottom end of an archtop. I usually prefer flat wounds on an archtop.
I'll have to try flat wounds someday, but if I decide to go back to round wounds, I hope I can find strings that sound as good as the current round wounds.
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Originally Posted by tbeltrans
Looks like we bought the last two "reasonably" priced Citations on the internet. At the moment.
There is still one on Gbase at $27K, but it says, "On Hold." It's an early 80s which is probably the reason for the advertised price. Who knows what it will actually sell for.
And the 2016 in Germany at $35K. It's a beautiful blonde. Not sure of the European market justifies the higher price or not.
There was an early 70s on eBay in Japan at $49K a few weeks ago, but it's not there anymore. Seems high to me, but I don't know the Japanese market.
As for the nut width, Gibson's advertising and reality are not always in sink. I suspect the people who write their ads aren't always in communication with the teams that are actually doing the work. Gotta love company bureaucracy.
I have played a few 60s Gibson archtops that I really did not like. I think they had the thinner 1 9/16" nuts which really did not feel good to me.
I picked up an 18 inch Campellone a few years ago with a 1 13/16" nut that is a real sweetheart and very comfortable to play.Last edited by Bluedawg; 08-19-2022 at 03:58 PM.
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Originally Posted by Bluedawg
Tony
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Here are a couple of pics of my (new to me) 1995 Citation that I purchased this week at Lavonne Music. Again, thanks to the OP and this thread for cluing me in on both the Citation and the one available in my area. It is my "forever" guitar now.
Tony
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good gracious, my eyes are spinning in my head looking at the back of that one, geez!
I like both of them however.
For me the only thing I'm not crazy about on Citations is the figured guards and Switchmaster tailpieces.
I'd rather see a plain maple guard, and maybe just a burst on the treble side so it would blend in better w/the top. And I think for a top of the line guitar they could have put some thought into coming up w an original tp design.
But just 2 minor nits on my behalf, carry on...
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My gosh that guitar is a sight to behold. One could find one that better but frankly you might spend eternity trying to find it. To me this is simply fantastic story of someone finding the guitar they wanted, and it checked all the boxes. Then when you went back to review your situation you found.....................damn all the boxes are check...........it cannot get better. Oh, for a sound clip please.
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Boy when Gibson gets it right nobody can touch them.
I always dug the no heel cap on a Citation. Gorgeous !!!
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wintermoon, deacon Mark, and vinnyv1k,
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I only buy my guitars locally where I can see and play them before I buy, and not have to worry about shipping issues. So the fact that Bluedawg started this thread with his own Citation purchase and then clued me in that one was available locally, all led to those pics. I simply couldn't pass it up.
Some years ago (early 2000s), I purchased a used Gibson Johnny Smith from the early 70s. It had been stolen from the previous owner and later recovered, and had some issues but was relatively inexpensive for a Johnny Smith. Gasses from the pick guard pretty much destroyed the electronics after I had owned it for a few years, and that on top of some other issues were enough for me to decide to sell it. I did pay somebody to address these issues, but moved it on anyway. Since then I have wanted just one top notch Gibson archtop and this one is immaculate with absolutely no issues, so I went for it. Happy days!
Tony
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Citation is a favorite of mine and the Le Grand as well. I find it interesting that Gibson's most expensive offering features cloud inlays which were an Epiphone signature on the Deluxe models early on. A nice tribute indeed.
I found it odd about choosing the Switchmaster tailpiece as well, but it works and I love the look. What's there not to love?
Does the Le Grand come close in feel and sound? Big difference in price but those Citations . . . wow, just beautiful! Thanks for a gander!
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Originally Posted by Sleeko
If the Le Grand is supposed to be a version of the Johnny Smith (?) then it must be a fine instrument too.
Tony
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Appreciate it and thanks for the reply Tony, much luck with that beauty. I read somewhere years ago, and I don't know how true it is, but the Le Grand bodies were Citations that didn't quite make the grade wood wise. (Though I've never seen an ugly one).
I noticed the f holes on the Citations are shaped quite elaborately compared to the typical straight forward ones featured on most Gibsons, my L4 included. I see a bit of early Epiphone/ Guild style and flair.
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Originally Posted by tbeltrans
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Originally Posted by deacon Mark
Truth be told, I really didn't know anything about the Citation beyond that it was a higher end Gibson. I went to try it out of curiosity since not many guitars like this show up around here, and it was my fingers and ears that told me I had to have it. Had I read the various threads here that have discussed it over the years, I may have gone in with a strong bias that precluded whatever my fingers and ears told me, and bought it because it was "cool". Whenever I have done it that way, I always end up regretting it sooner or later. I am sure that if the guitar in question that was available locally was a Le Grand, I would have been just as taken with it, based on what I have read around here.
I would think that at that level of guitar, there probably isn't really a clear winner standing above the rest by model number or name, but maybe by variances between individual guitars where some just come out a bit better than some others in the build process through no fault of the builder. With only a sample of one, I have no idea where my Citation would compare that way.
There is a concept called "paradox of choice" in which when we have only one item to choose from, we get it and are fully satisfied with it. But when we have at least two choices, we pick one, but are thereafter wondering in the back of our minds if we REALLY picked the best one, and therefore do not experience the same level of satisfaction. So, in my case, the only higher end Gibson archtop available at that point in time was that one Citation so I can avoid that paradox of choice. If there were a few other models of higher end Gibson available, I would probably at some point wonder if I had made the right choice. Fortunately, there were no Le Grands.
Tony
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