Incoming 1968 Gibson Johnny Smith

[deacon Mark]

Johnny Smith was looking for even sound and the highs of the upper registers transmitting sound better to the top. His guitars have the neck, and the top come together on the fingerboard extension. A Johnny Smith guitar has the dovetail joint but unlike an L5 the fingerboard extension is then not raised above the soundboard. It makes perfect sense just hearing his playing. Johnny played those long extension piano chords in the high registers and would keep the notes sustaining on voice leading. Just listen to Moonlight In Vermont.

Johnny also told me personally he did not care for an archtop that the bass end rumbled and stood out, he simply wanted the whole guitar to be smooth and even all across the fingerboard each note carry the same volume or weight. His 17-inch Dangelico New Yorker really hit this at least most of the way. I think the D"a had more bass resonance than his GJS, but it was not a booming Epiphone Emperor sound by any means.

When Gibson got it right with the GJS they are super guitars, however it seems they miss on a some and they are heavy. I think because GJS were not regular production line guitars with all the templates and forms done in advance. They require more individual deviations that might have led the problem. A guess on my part.

[L50EF15]

So the lack of a raised fingerboard extension; does that mean it’s the same design as my humble Gibson L-50?

For the record, my L-75 has the raised extension and it isn’t quite as full sounding up there as the L-50 (for that matter, my L Jr., granted it’s a much smaller guitar, also has the fretboard flat to the body and has a very sweet and full sound on the upper frets).

[ThatRhythmMan]

So the lack of a raised fingerboard extension; does that mean it’s the same design as my humble Gibson L-50?

For the record, my L-75 has the raised extension and it isn’t quite as full sounding up there as the L-50 (for that matter, my L Jr., granted it’s a much smaller guitar, also has the fretboard flat to the body and has a very sweet and full sound on the upper frets).

It’s not really the same construction as an L-50. The fretboard isn’t flush, it’s still elevated. It’s just that isn’t a cantilever type construction floating over the top. It’s more of a solid block instead.




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