Anyone know the history of the Gibson Songwriter?

FiggyPudding18 · #1 06-22-2021, 06:12 PM

Hi All,

Looking at Gibson's website, it says this model is titled the Gibson Songwriter Standard. However I see the Songwriter Studio and Songwriter Deluxe in the used market and on youtube, etc...

Is one of these past iterations of the model basically the current Songwriter Standard? Just trying to figure out its history here. Thanks in advance if you have any info...

Bushleague · #2 06-22-2021, 06:27 PM

As far as I know they spec out pretty similar. I played 3 of them last week, I think one was a standard, one was a studio, and the other was an "Antique Natural"

I sure couldnt see much difference. The studio sounded pretty close to the standard, maybe a tad better, that particular Antique Natural however was a cannon.

Wellington · #3 06-22-2021, 06:32 PM

I think Ren Ferguson talks about the origins of the Songwriter series in a video interview on youtube, I could be wrong but I seem to remember him mentioning the beginnings of that line and possibly his role in it in the 90's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Kf6jyBuak
It says part 1 so there must be a part 2 out there, incase you're interested.

Rev Roy · #4 06-22-2021, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wellington

I think Ren Ferguson talks about the origins of the Songwriter series in a video interview on youtube, I could be wrong but I seem to remember him mentioning the beginnings of that line and possibly his role in it in the 90's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Kf6jyBuak
It says part 1 so there must be a part 2 out there, incase you're interested.

Pretty sure the Songwriter was the only new model introduced under Ren’s leadership in Bozeman. Great guitars.

DCCougar · #5 06-22-2021, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiggyPudding18

Just trying to figure out its history here....

From what I heard, it's a Ren Ferguson design. I've got the 12-string version. Spectacular.

Wade Hampton · #6 06-22-2021, 08:17 PM

What eventually became the Songwriter was first marketed by Gibson as part of a series called the CL product line: they started out with a plain CL-10 model with bubinga back and sides and got up to the CL-40 (rosewood) and CL-45 (rosewood with a cutaway.)

The CL series only lasted two or three years before the best sounding rosewood models were turned into first the Songbird and then the Songwriter models we know today.

Hope that makes sense.

Wade Hampton Miller

ribsareyummy · #7 06-22-2021, 08:37 PM

Not sure about its history, but one thing is certain: It has the best Gibson pickguard.

hbg · #8 06-22-2021, 08:48 PM

I have a 2007 Songwriter Deluxe EC and it's a fantastic guitar. Rich, deep tone, very playable and beautiful. It also still smells really good, I can still smell the rosewood after 14 years! Don't tell my other guitars, but it's my favorite.

When I got it in 2008 there was just the Songwriter Deluxe in cutaway or non-cutaway versions, and if I recall, a Koa version that was sunburst. The Studio and Standard versions came later, maybe 2009? The CL was the prior version in the '90s.

ruger9 · #9 06-23-2021, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribsareyummy

Not sure about its history, but one thing is certain: It has the best Gibson pickguard.

AMEN!!!

At the time, I had a cheap acoustic that I removed the pickguard from, then cut a new one like the Songwriter's had, I liked that pickguard so much. I always wanted a Songwriter, but never had the money back then.

Dreadhog86 · #10 06-23-2021, 06:40 AM

I inherited a 1996 Gibson CL 30 deluxe with snowflake inlay and Bubinga back and sides. It was designed by Ren Ferguson when he worked as master Luthier for Gibson in the 90s. This is what morphed into the songwriter and deluxe series. Very beautiful guitar and plays extremely well. I would not part with it ever.

DCCougar · #11 06-23-2021, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribsareyummy

Not sure about its history, but one thing is certain: It has the best Gibson pickguard.

"Rosewood burst."

zombywoof · #12 06-23-2021, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

Pretty sure the Songwriter was the only new model introduced under Ren’s leadership in Bozeman. Great guitars.

The first original Ren designed Gibson was the hybrid AJ35 which came out in the early-1990s. Today these are highly sought after instruments. He also, of course, designed and introduced the L200.

SongwriterFan · #13 06-23-2021, 11:00 AM

Given my name on here, you might think I'd know. But you'd be wrong.

Truth is, I hadn't even heard of the Gibson Songwriter when I joined here . . I'm just a huge fan of singer/songwriters. So much so that I turned into one in the last year or so.

Wellington · #14 06-23-2021, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribsareyummy

Not sure about its history, but one thing is certain: It has the best Gibson pickguard.

Interesting how preferences vary, it's definitely one of my all time hated pickguard designs next to Alvarez, different strokes for different folks!

Mark Stone · #15 06-23-2021, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SongwriterFan

Given my name on here, you might think I'd know. But you'd be wrong.

Truth is, I hadn't even heard of the Gibson Songwriter when I joined here . . I'm just a huge fan of singer/songwriters. So much so that I turned into one in the last year or so.

You burst my bubble -- I always thought your username had to do with the Gibson Songwriter.