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And what a sweet Cameo it will be Bob. Then mine is next.
Originally Posted by mauibob
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07-13-2023 11:02 AM
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I wish I had wrote down the date, but I attended a JS concert @ St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, MN.
It probably was some time in the 1970’s. This probably fits with the above (#24) observation, if his visit here was a component of his “final tour” that would have included Europe.
When I ordered my 1967 L-5C, I had it included with a single JS pickup. I was on the fence….the L-5 or a JS with a single pickup. There was no L-5 or JS available @ our local music stores to try out. For my 19-year old, 1967 eyes, they seemed similar but the JS was just a bit too ornate…headstock and fingerboard. The 3/8” shallower body and the shorter 1/2” scale length of the JS were not factors. Rightly or wrongly @ the time, it was just aesthetics for this inexperienced youngster.
Tom
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A short follow-up to the above.
On my every-other-day-bike-ride, I listen to jazz guitar recordings…old ones. Today I chose “The Sound of the Johnny Smith Guitar” (Roost 1961). He has a very distinctive, imaginative and recognizable style. It’s been awhile since I listened to his recordings, and was glad that I did today. He does chord melodies very nicely!
The guitar he is holding on the album cover photo does not appear to be a Gibson. Almost looks like a DeAngelico, but not sure. But that reminds me of what I’ve seen on this forum several times….listen with your ears not your eyes.
Tom
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If I remember correctly from Lin Flanagan's biography of Johnny, the guitar on the cover of that album is the D'Angelico 1955 custom New Yorker. There are some photos of him with a blonde D'Angelico; it's the same guitar. The top was damaged at a bar gig and he sent it back to John D'Angelico, who replaced the top. Johnny needed the guitar for performances, however, so he initially got it back with just a sealer coat on the top until there was time to do a proper sunburst finish.
Personally, I think that particular guitar might be the pinnacle of jazz guitar lutherie.
His first GJS was sunburst and the second one was blonde. He sent the sunburst back to Gibson for repairs and it went missing; they diverted a guitar in process of being built as a replacement; I believe it was actually a Citation (according to Lin Flanagan, IIRC). Initially, he still recorded with the D'Angelico, and performed with the Gibson, but later switched to using the Gibson for everything. In one interview, he said he regarded the Gibson as the best guitar he'd ever had at that time. The blonde Gibson apparently developed a number of cracks that he had repaired by gluing popsicle sticks on the inside of the cracks.
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Gibson has a department that makes replicas of famous guitars. They go for piece for piece authenticity. They did a Les Paul Jimmy Page I think, a series of them I think?, complete with relic damage and aged pickups, nick for nick, gouge for gouge. Originally Posted by Cunamara
C'mon Gibson! Get with it! Get back in the archtop game with a Johnny Smith special edition! Tap tuned top, hand split along a carefully measured grain line and sealed with an authenticated vintage popsicle stick.
They can sell it for $50,000.01 just to prove that it's better than a limited edition Benedetto signature custom.
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They will be glorious Bob and Vinny. My pals are gonna be really happy. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
And what a sweet Cameo it will be Bob. Then mine is next.
Last edited by Max405; 07-15-2023 at 11:18 AM.
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Steve just told about this post, I’m sorry! Originally Posted by mauibob
Hi Bob. I am looking forward to this. Big time.
Do you still have the cheapo patch chord? That is mandatory!
I really miss that guitar. It is the missing link for me..
JD
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When the GJS is back with you JD, some needed balance will return to the world...... Originally Posted by Max405
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No doubt bro. No doubt. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
Maybe Johnny will come back me while I’m playing once again. That hasn’t happened to me in a long time.
I remember the last time, I was trying to work out a line in intro to Nearness of You. Couldn’t get it. Then all of a sudden, my fingers went right to it as if they were redirected. I looked up and said, Thank You Sir..
JD
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