Just waxing enthusiastic about square shoulder Gibsons

[eljay]

I played my J-45 last night in response to the J-45 NGD postings of late. Awesome guitar! With this noted, my go-to Gibbies these days tend to be the Hummingbirds and the Doves, not necessarily in that order.

I'm fortunate to have a near-standard HB from Wildwood and a custom-shop HB, sitka on koa, also from WW. Also, Sweetwater supplied me with a custom Dove, sitka on acacia, and E.M. Shorts came through with a standard 2018 Dove (which may be the pick o' the litter).

I show them here (reposts, all) for the enjoyment of the square shoulder owners and fans among us.

Please post pics of the square Gibbies in your life, past and present!

[Wade Hampton]

Nice photos, eljay. But I, for one, would like to see photos of those same guitars' backs and sides, as well. I'm particularly interested in what the koa and acacia guitars look like.


whm

[zombywoof]

Although I have been playing Gibsons for over 50 years and at present still have five of them, I have only ever owned one square shoulder guitar - a natural top 1963 B45-12. Played it for a very long time and never wavered in my belief there was not another 12 string on the planet that could take its place. I was wrong. It was replaceable - by a 1961 Gibson B45-12.

[rokdog49]

Great photos of great guitars.
The garden hose in the first picture is a nice touch.

[Graham H]

They are real beauties, I do love Gibson, I own 2 Les Pauls, they are wonderful guitars. Your Acoustics are great, I used to gas for both of those models !!!

[skitoolong]

My J30
Love it.FB_IMG_1529644351693.jpg

[zombywoof]

The first Gibson square shoulder guitar was in fact not a Gibson. It was the 1958 Epiphone Frontier.

[AMW]

Known for his slope D / J-35/45 interpretations, our buddy Kevin Kopp also makes a superb "Bird" style guitar!



The short scale really makes it a whole different experience from dreads in the Martin family.

[eljay]

per Wade's request

acacia left, koa right

to me the acacia is reminiscent of mahogany while koa is kind of unique

[Wade Hampton]

Thanks, eljay! The koa back in particular is gorgeous.

When you said the acacia reminds you of mahogany, do you mean that it's similar to mahogany in terms of tone and response?


whm

[SalFromChatham]

Great thread... I'll have my new to me Bird in a week.

I have owned my share though, my favorite being a Hummingbird Vintage.





And here was a recent Bird I let go...

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by AMW

Known for his slope D / J-35/45 interpretations, our buddy Kevin Kopp also makes a superb "Bird" style guitar!

The short scale really makes it a whole different experience from dreads in the Martin family.

Kopp does make some outstanding Gibson-esque guitars. HBs, by the way, started out as a short scale guitar but around 1968 started rolling out of Kalamazoo with a 25.5" scale.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Kopp does make some outstanding Gibson-esque guitars. HBs, by the way, started out as a short scale guitar but around 1968 started rolling out of Kalamazoo with a 25.5" scale.

Gibson is currently building them with the short scale, though, aren't they?


whm

[Slinky]

Yes they are!

[RussL30]

I love square shoulder Gibsons. Birds, Doves, J30s, J60s, Gospels, etc are all great guitars. My square is just a lowly Gospel reissue, but it is a lifer guitar. Here it is next to its small body sibling.