Gibson CJ-165 EC Acoustic-Electric

[brammy]

Anyone have any experience with this guitar?

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/G ... %20EC%20R/

[brammy]

hmmm... surprised nobody had played this.... looks like a great guitar.

[rick36]

I've got the non-cutaway natural Maple version, and for the most part I am very happy. I played two (Rosewood & Maple) in a local music shop and thought they had possibilities. I was looking for a small bodied acoustic. It has a really good feel and is very playable. I found a 2006 model on ebay for quite a bit less than the over 2K store/internet price.
The first thing I did was to replace the really dead strings with Light Phospher Bronze and the Bridge Pins with Bone - an incredible increase in volume and clearer tone followed immediately. I can't over emphasize the increase in sustain and clarity imparted by the bone pins. I've owned many acoustics and never realized the difference that these could make. They also look a lot better than the cheap plastic ones that came stock (plus the Abalone dots match the Rosette!).
It now has a really good sound - nice for a smaller body. The only issues are a kind of so-so pickup system - nothing like Taylors' expression system - and a bad "G" grover mini tuner which I have to replace. Also, some just plain sloppy glue and inlay work from the factory - revealed on close inspection. No excuses for that. Otherwise, very pretty.
If you can find one for under $ 1500.00 I'd recommend it.

[brammy]

huh, I never would have thunk that the bone pins would make much of a difference.

I'll check into Taylors' expression system.

I recently had LR Baggs IMIX system put into my old Epiphone 12-string. It sounds amazingly great. This should definitely be a consideration for those wanting an ac/el: just throw and IMIX into your favorite guitar - it expands the options.

[brammy]

I asked my local knowledgeable music store guy and he confirms the advantage of bone for the bridge and nut (of course) and also the pins. He showed me his current project where he's putting 6000 year old mastadon bone (yes, mastadon) onto a very nice '62 Gibson acoustic (worth around $45k he said).

I didn't ask how he obtained the mastadon bone. Like the details of the "bizzare gardening accident" that killed one of Spinal Tab's drummers, some things are better left unknown.