This is the only review for a 70s J200 I could find and it's a doozy. The 70s truely sucked for Gibbies and strats. I think it was kinda like what happened to Harley bikes at one point. Very poor management decisions. You could find a decent 70s strat,but you have to dig through a pile of them. I would approach this purchase with extreme caution. You may get lucky,but the odds are against you. Have it assesed by a very experienced player or walk away. The same guitar in later years is getting excelnent reviews BTW.
Heres the review.
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Price Paid: US $700
Features: 3
Bought this in 1974. Didn't know anything about Guitars then, but Elvis, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, etc. all had one so it must be good. At the time it was the best sounding guitar I had ever played, until a year later when I played my friend's Martin D-28. So THAT'S how a good guitar sounds.
The 70's was NOT the time to buy a Gibson. The quality during this time was really poor.
Sadly, this guitar was an investment, I've been stuck with it ever since. New Gibson's might be better, but not this one.
To show how poor Gibson were during this period, I originally bought a Custom Dove. Beautiful to look at. Took it home, started to polish it, turned it over and discovered the back had NEVER been join together. There was a clean split going down most of the back. Not a crack, smooth edges that were NEVER joined. Bells and whistles should have gone off when the music store offered to swap it for the J-200 they had just got in. Just a dumb kid at the time I guess.
Sound: 4
Large, deep bass. That's what I SHOULD be saying, but that is NOT the case. This is not a very loud guitar. I would say that the sound is even and clear with good substain. But did doesn't seem to have much personality to it. Action has always been high, took it to an authorized Gibson repair shop but they couldn't do much for it without major re-work of the cheap bridge, not the moustache usually associated with J-200's.
Action, Fit, & Finish: N/A
What a weird neck. It is only 1 1/2 inches. I kid you not. I have seen other J-200's and NONE of them have a neck this thin. I thought with my small hands that it would be great, but it has never worked out.
The top is NOT top grade spruce, you can barely seen any grain in it at all. Back is nice.
Reliability/Durability: 5
It has lasted all these years, but I only play at home. Then again, they recently found Dinosaur vomit that has lasted millions of years, so what does lasting for years mean????
Customer Support: 1
Poor. The back split one year after buying this guitar. Sent it back to Gibson. They repaired it and sent it back to me. Looked at my repaired back only to find 4 drilled holes in the back of the guitar!!!!!!!! 4 holes. 4 holes. 4 holes.
What where they thinking? How could they send this guitar out with 4 holes in the back? Pure garbage. Yes I got them to replace the back, but what poor poor poor workmanship.
Overall Rating: 1
I've been playing since 1971. Bought this in 1973. I own an Ovation Custom Legend which sounds worlds better than this Gibson, An Ovation Glen Campbell 12 string in 1974, good sound and quality. I picked up an Ovation UK-II eletric from E-Bay for $195. What a steal! Great sounding and playing electric guitar
I have heard that Gibson has turned it around and have been making quality guitars since the 1990's. That's nice but I'll never buy another Gibson.
If I were stranded on a desert island with this guitar, I would break it up for fire wood.
If this guitar were stolen, I'ld use the money to buy a Taylor or Martin or Guild or Adamas.
True story, my house was robbed. The theif actually moved this thing out of the way to take my $200 Sears TV.
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