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  #1  
Old 10-25-2021, 08:10 PM
negriljerry negriljerry is offline
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Default NGD: Gibson J-45 Avant Garde WOW

First, thanks to all who helped me HERE last week, to clarify what I was chasing. It's what appears to be a shortly lived model from 2019, the J-45 Avant Garde. Walnut b&s, Baggs undersaddle PU.

http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Ac...arde-2019.aspx

I drove up the road a bit to meet seller who, as it turns out, I knew from a shared gig recently. I even risked asking "why are you selling" which elicited "Not crazy about the walnut and I have a 60's reissue J-45 [the real deal, not the Studio-type which the AG seems to be] and a J-200." OK, that makes sense. Price was right - they originally went for $2K street, his was new condition and after minimal haggling he agreed to $1500.

Looking to replace my workhorse Blueridge BR-160CE which I knew would sound better acoustically than the Gib due to full depth body of solid rosewood, so I didn't even bring it to calibrate my ears. (The BR has to go, a bit of belly lift compromising the highest notes and I just couldn't love it with all that dang BLING on the headstock). I was hoping for a balanced sound and, above all, a great feeling NECK. Boy did I get that! Perfect neck, easy playing and low action.

True, the walnut b&s along with the slightly slimmer body doesn't have the bass chunk of the BR or my Martin D-16 but oh man does it sound sweet and so amazingly BALANCED. Yeah, lotsa mids but they sing out, and I can't perceive any lack of bottom at all. I can't keep my hands off this ax. Not to mention the gorgeous soft sunburst, and the Baggs undersaddle which is much mellower than the Fishman on my BR. Gigged with it a couple days ago, nothin' but love.

Now I'm quite seriously thinking of going after its sister ax, the Parlor Rosewood - and as I type this I realize that as soon as I sell the Blueridge I'm gonna track one down. Because I'm TOTALLY IRRATIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO GUITARS BWAHAAHAAAAHAAAAHAAAA

http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Ac...arde-2019.aspx
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Old 10-25-2021, 08:52 PM
Jengstrom Jengstrom is offline
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I test drove one of those the day I bought my GPCPA4. It had a chime quality to the sound on the treble side of the neck that was absolutely mesmerizing. It was a tough decision that day. Congratulations on a really nice guitar.

John
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Old 10-26-2021, 07:42 AM
Gee Man Gee Man is online now
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https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=628252
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Old 10-26-2021, 08:03 AM
Jay5150 Jay5150 is offline
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At first, I was on the fence about the Avant Garde series, but after playing most of them, I must say I was wrong.
I absolutely love the slimmer body. It makes them so comfortable to play and so much more responsive. Parlor, J-45 and Hummingbird AG are beast for fingerstyle stuff. They don't have the same bass response as their bigger siblings, but they seem to have a bump in the lower mids which makes them sound really warm and delicate in the top end.
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Old 10-26-2021, 09:07 AM
Shishigashira Shishigashira is offline
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I wonder how these compare to the recently discontinued J-15 which is also walnut B&S but was otherwise just like the standard J-45. My understanding was that the J-15 was selling just fine, but may have started cutting into the J45 sales as it was a little 'too good' at the price it was selling.
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Old 10-26-2021, 09:15 AM
Boneman Boneman is offline
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Oh man, very nice! Love the cutaway look on that, its a classic looking rocking guitar.
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Old 10-26-2021, 09:51 AM
scriv58 scriv58 is offline
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Looking at the specs- can you describe what Gibson is calling “advanced response” neck profile? Thanks
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Old 10-26-2021, 11:45 AM
rollypolly rollypolly is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by negriljerry View Post
First, thanks to all who helped me HERE last week, to clarify what I was chasing. It's what appears to be a shortly lived model from 2019, the J-45 Avant Garde. Walnut b&s, Baggs undersaddle PU.

http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Ac...arde-2019.aspx

I drove up the road a bit to meet seller who, as it turns out, I knew from a shared gig recently. I even risked asking "why are you selling" which elicited "Not crazy about the walnut and I have a 60's reissue J-45 [the real deal, not the Studio-type which the AG seems to be] and a J-200." OK, that makes sense. Price was right - they originally went for $2K street, his was new condition and after minimal haggling he agreed to $1500.

Looking to replace my workhorse Blueridge BR-160CE which I knew would sound better acoustically than the Gib due to full depth body of solid rosewood, so I didn't even bring it to calibrate my ears. (The BR has to go, a bit of belly lift compromising the highest notes and I just couldn't love it with all that dang BLING on the headstock). I was hoping for a balanced sound and, above all, a great feeling NECK. Boy did I get that! Perfect neck, easy playing and low action.

True, the walnut b&s along with the slightly slimmer body doesn't have the bass chunk of the BR or my Martin D-16 but oh man does it sound sweet and so amazingly BALANCED. Yeah, lotsa mids but they sing out, and I can't perceive any lack of bottom at all. I can't keep my hands off this ax. Not to mention the gorgeous soft sunburst, and the Baggs undersaddle which is much mellower than the Fishman on my BR. Gigged with it a couple days ago, nothin' but love.

Now I'm quite seriously thinking of going after its sister ax, the Parlor Rosewood - and as I type this I realize that as soon as I sell the Blueridge I'm gonna track one down. Because I'm TOTALLY IRRATIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO GUITARS BWAHAAHAAAAHAAAAHAAAA

http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Ac...arde-2019.aspx
Nothing wrong with that. I feel like every time I buy a new one , I end up with 1-2 others to go along with it. On the path to finally purchasing my D-18 I pretty much acquired all the other guitars in my stable that I admittedly don't really need. Fun times!
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