Pics Added Gibson Johnny Smith - I got my baby back!!!

**Max405** · 08-30-2023, 08:10 PM

Hi Guys,
After 4 long years, My GJS is back.
I owned this guitar for 1-1/2 years. At the end of 2019 we found a buyer for my house (after 4 yrs) and I had to sell just about everything I owned to get out of that house. We emptied our credit cards and sold alot of stuff. Over improving the house and a poor real estate market set us back a ways. That ordeal left us $160,000 in debt. Over the last 4 years, we clawed our way back and here we are.
I'd like to thank a few people who helped me along the way.
Vinny, your never ending friendship and generosity are things that mean the world to me and I'll never forgot you bro.
Big Mike, During this time, you couldn't stand to see me without a guitar so you sent me some really nice guitars to play with. Thank You. I hope you feel up to coming back on soon.
Lastly the guy I sold the guitar to, MauiBob who sold it back to me in the EXACT same condition it was in when I packed it up. Thanks.
Here is a little video I put together for the occasion. My 1st video in 9 months! Please listen to how beautiful this guitar sounds.
I hope you like. Pictures to come.

Thanks Guys!
Joe D

**Stringswinger** · 08-30-2023, 08:22 PM

Beautiful playing, beautiful arrangement, beautiful tune, beautiful guitar. A grand slam!

That guitar is exactly where it belongs. This video proves that beyond a reasonable doubt.

**QAman** · 08-30-2023, 08:56 PM

Joe,
I've said it before - your best tone was on that guitar. So glad you have it back home.

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

**tbeltrans** · 08-30-2023, 08:59 PM

Absolutely beautiful, both the guitar and your playing, OP. I recognized Johnny Smith from the first note! I am glad you got your guitar back where it obviously belongs.

Tony

**wintermoon** · 08-30-2023, 09:13 PM

Either the guitar got bigger or you got smaller.
Congrats on the reaquisition, even got the crappy grey cord back I see.
Just joshin' Joe, couldn't resist, hope the guitar and magic cord stay for good this time.....

**John A.** · 08-30-2023, 09:51 PM

Beautifully played, and a great sounding guitars. Congrats on your reunion.

**Dennis D** · 08-30-2023, 10:08 PM

Nice going Joe. Just a great story ! Happy for you .

Dennis

**oldane** · 08-31-2023, 04:12 AM

I have said it before, but I haven't heard you sound less than great on all the videos you have uploaded with different guitars through the years. They may sound marginally different, but just that - different - not better or worse.

**Archie** · 08-31-2023, 05:23 AM

Nice one JD.
sounds like the plot to a great jazz guitar movie.

We should give Woody Allen a call!

Sweet & Low Down: 2

What year is the jS?

**pilotony** · 08-31-2023, 06:43 AM

I'm happy for you--on every level. Your arrangement of this classic tune is "just right"--from the chord extensions to the arpeggios, the listener never loses the underlying melody. Thanks for posting.

BTW, the better half requests another "lindy hop"!!!

Tony D.

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Beautiful playing, beautiful arrangement, beautiful tune, beautiful guitar. A grand slam!
That guitar is exactly where it belongs. This video proves that beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sounds great right bro? Man, this guitar really is an upper decker. Alot of times an "elite level" anything dissapoints when you actually get it in your hands. This one just keeps bringin it. Extraordinary in every way. Thank You Marco. You are the man.
JD

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by QAman

Joe,
I've said it before - your best tone was on that guitar. So glad you have it back home.

I think you are right QA. And thanks for finding it for me in the 1st place!
JD

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by tbeltrans

Absolutely beautiful, both the guitar and your playing, OP. I recognized Johnny Smith from the first note! I am glad you got your guitar back where it obviously belongs.
Tony

Hi Tony,
Yeah, I've made a lifetime trying to be Johnny. Unfortunately, its gonna take another 3 lifetimes, with a complete stripdown of my picking technique and my fingers have to grow at least another inch in order to pull it off. Johnny will always be my #1 Inspiration. Im glad to have this wonderful guitar back too. I cant even imagine if it was a Citiation!
JD

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Either the guitar got bigger or you got smaller.
Congrats on the reaquisition, even got the crappy grey cord back I see.
Just joshin' Joe, couldn't resist, hope the guitar and magic cord stay for good this time.....

Hahaaa
Yeah bro. I'm down to 202, from 244 on 12/28/22. You know what they say.. "You never see a fat old guy"..
And as for my beloved little ol' grey chord..
I did an A/B the other day using it, another Gibson shielded grey chord and a modern chord. Out of the 3, I liked this one the best. It sounds closest to the unplugged sound when using that chord. My L5's sound best with the modern chords.
I dont know.. Once I get something in my concrete head, its in there for good!
Thanks WM

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

Beautifully played, and a great sounding guitars. Congrats on your reunion.

Thank You John. I hope this is only the beginning of a honeymoon that lasts forever! I appreciate it buddy.

Originally Posted by Dennis D

Nice going Joe. Just a great story ! Happy for you .
Dennis

Thank You Dennis. I appreciate it buddy.

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by oldane

I have said it before, but I haven't heard you sound less than great on all the videos you have uploaded with different guitars through the years. They may sound marginally different, but just that - different - not better or worse.

Youngdane,
Thank You sir, I really appreciate it. It continues to be a challenge remembering all this stuff. I've pared it down to about 25 of these, which I continue to enjoy playing a couple times a week. Its the only way for me to remember them. I've cut back on learning new stuff because I've reached a point where one goes in and two fall out of the back of my head. Thank You so much buddy.

Originally Posted by Archie

Nice one JD.
sounds like the plot to a great jazz guitar movie.
We should give Woody Allen a call!
Sweet & Low Down: 2
What year is the jS?

Hahaa.. Thank You Archie! But, Woody Allen? Come on bro. Why not Daniel Craig? Or, Mel Gibson? How about Brad Pitt (who I'd like to think I look like, but I dont..)
The guitar is a 1976. And cept for a couple of small nicks, it has REALLY held up for 47 years. I cant imagine it not being the same in another 47 years. Me, maybe not!
How about, George Clooney?, No? Maybe? Alright.
Thanks bro. JD

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by pilotony

I'm happy for you--on every level. Your arrangement of this classic tune is "just right"--from the chord extensions to the arpeggios, the listener never loses the underlying melody. Thanks for posting.
BTW, the better half requests another "lindy hop"!!!
Tony D.

Tony my man! I cant even imagine a "better half" of you! Thats great bro. Just great. Maybe I'll try something a little faster. But it will be foot tapping fast. Sort of like the time it took Lindbergh to "Hop" the Atlantic! Funny thing, The pics I will post later were taken in Atlantic City where that phrase originated. (well, kinda sorta..)
I appreciate all you said. You have always been the new class of the organization. Always a gentleman. Thank You for being here.
C74 and Neatomic, I really miss you guys! Stay you, where you are. I hope to see you again in another 40 years.
JD

**yebdox** · 08-31-2023, 08:21 AM

Wow, really great, Joe. I am always impressed by your videos and your seemingly perfect touch. I will have to study this one, thanks for sharing that, and for keeping us posted on your exciting journey!

**floatingpickup** · 08-31-2023, 08:42 AM

Joe:
Beautiful playing and a beautiful guitar!
Keith

**Max405** · 08-31-2023, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

Wow, really great, Joe. I am always impressed by your videos and your seemingly perfect touch. I will have to study this one, thanks for sharing that, and for keeping us posted on your exciting journey!

Thank You Sir! The videos are not easy to make. Basically a production of sorts. I do it all by myself. My son is proud of the fact that I was able to learn all the aspects of video production. Lighting. Sound. Camera settings. Triggering 3 cameras and recording at once. And then, there is the syncronization of 3 clips plus sound. Switching between clips. adding in transitions. Then ripping the whole thing so it can be viewed on Youtube.
I wanted to buy a BlackMagic switcher that handles the multicam triggering and recording at the touch of a button and even lines up your files in DaVinci Resolve. But, I decided not to because I have a workaround that, well, kinda works. I use the Canon Camera app. The problem is, you can only record/control one camera at a time with that software. So, I set up a virtual PC on the same Computer and load a 2nd iteration of the Canon software on that and now I have 2 cameras. The, I use my Iphone and IVCam for the 3rd camera. The sound is linked to the IVCam recording via the Boss GT-001 software and drivers.
Yeah its alot of work.
Oh, I forgot, And then, I actually have to play this stuff!
Thank You yebdox. I appreciate it sir!

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Joe:
Beautiful playing and a beautiful guitar!
Keith

Thanks Keith. Look familiar doesnt it? Hahaaa.. I hope you enjoyed your trip.
JD

**vinnyv1k** · 08-31-2023, 10:57 AM

WOW - all is right again in this world.
That GJS looks like a brand new shiny penny. Even the strap button is in the right place.

Funny how magical a guitar can sound when it is in the right hands.

Bravo Bro.

……Heaven dropped a big blessing onto your lap.

So who got kicked out of the beautiful glass case…..

**AllanAllen** · 08-31-2023, 11:18 AM

Great playing, thanks for posting.

**2bornot2bop** · 08-31-2023, 11:34 AM

I’m so sentimental, and I just love happy endings!

JD, you two belong together. Like Scotch and Soda.

Is it just me, or have you lost weight? Those forearms!

Keep playing that one my good brutha! That’s some of the finest tone you’re ever going to hear right there. You’ve got your tone down to a science!