Gibson--Day 31

What better way to end Gibson month than with the man himself.

Gibson--Day 30

In saving the best for last, what can I do tomorrow to top this photo?  Your suggestion, should you find the time to post a comment, will be considered.  I need a great idea for the last day of Gibson month.

Gibson--Day 29

Joe Perry signature Les Pauls.  Fifty of them!  Only two days left in Gibson month.  How am I ever going to top this photo?

Gibson--Day 28

Live at the Ryman auditorium.  How many great guitars have played this stage?

Gibson--Day 27

Can anybody tell me who this guy is?

Gibson--Day 26

Now here is a J-200 anyone would be proud to own.  The neck is just a little too ornate for me, but in this case I think I might be able to get past that.  As Gibson month winds down, I hope you have enjoyed looking at the guitars I have featured in the Blog--I look forward to April hoping for some nice sunny days and some nice guitar pictures to Blog.

Gibson--Day 25

What can you say about a J-200?  To me, just holding one of these elevates your status in the musical world--and isn't the whole world musical?  With only a half dozen days left in Gibson month, be sure to check in because there will surely be more great J-200s shown.

Gibson--Day 24

The J-100.  I don't know.  By now you know how I feel about jumbo guitars, especially the J-200--but the J-100?  Every one I have ever played has been just a little disappointing.  With nothing specific to criticize  it just doesn't measure up to the J-200.  The J-185 Everly Brothers model was specifically manufactured as a rock and roll flat top.  Having that, the J-200, and if you wish to come down from the J-200 you have the fabulous J-45, SJ etc...  I personally would not miss the J-100.  Even if you could find one with that big, boomy, jumbo sound--we already have the awe inspiring J-200.

Gibson--Day 23

When I purchased my 1967 SJ at Harmony Kids on Portage Ave in Winnipeg, they also had a Hummingbird.  The Hummingbird was an extra $25, and believe me, the $365 I paid for the SJ (no sales tax because it was like the week before sales tax came to Manitoba--I know--I can't believe I am that old either) was a big stretch as it was.  But of course many of my friends had Hummingbirds, so I have played them a lot through the years.  Someone very recently got a great deal on one at Long & McQuade in Ottawa.  It was a rental, and it was mint, and it sold for $1400.  It the guy who got it sends me a pic--I will post on the Blog.

Gibson--Day 22

How about this L5?  The L5 was initially produced as an acoustic in 1922.  It did not become electrified until 1951.  This was the guitar of choice for Wes Montgomery.  That's pretty much all the endorsement a guitar needs.

Gibson--Day 21

And how about these ES-335s.  Only ten more days left in Gibson month with more than enough  great photos to post.  Anything you want to see in April?  Just make a comment.  And hello to my friends in Finland who looked in yesterday.  Rock on pickers!!

Gibson--Day 20

I am not a big fan of the Bigsby tremelo.  I think it is big and ugly and for my style of play, it just does not get much use.  But on this beautiful CS-356, I have to admit, it works.  If I were to add another guitar to my musical aggregate, this could very well be my choice.

Gibson--Day 19

Not hard to pick out the Gibson in this fabulous foursome.  We are having a snowstorm in Orleans today--a great day to stay home and play guitar.  Maybe even lay down a track or two.

Gibson--Day 18

Fire Tiger SG.  Again, this one is for all of the St. Patrick's celebrants.  If yesterday's Dove matches the colour of your face--then here we have the colour of your eyes this fine Monday morning.

Gibson--Day 17

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!  No, you have not had too much Guinness.  Well, maybe you have but regardless, what we have here is an Iguana burst Doves In Flight.  Would I buy this?  No.  Would I play it?  Of course I would.  It's a guitar!!

Gibson--Day 16

Faded tobacco or Ice tea?  How to choose?  Well, you could start by giving both a test drive.  Tomorrow is St. Patty's Day--Do you think I could find and post a green Gibson?

Gibson--Day 15

This proves that Gibson has a guitar for every musical taste.  We have passed the three thousand mark for views to this Blog, so again, I thank everyone who has taken the time to look in.

Gibson--Day 14

Doves in Flight.

Gibson--Day 13

I saw my first Dove around 1963 in a little music store in Arlington, Virginia.  Needless to say I was blown over--and it wasn't near as ornate as this one.  A lot of years have passed, but I seem to recall the guitar I was enamoured with had a blue finish.  Years later in Edmonton, Alberta (1975 or abouts) I took my SJ to the legendary Frank Gay for a set-up and I asked him for a re-finish--in blue.  He refused.  Not because of the color, but because "Your finish is still good.  It's not ready yet.  Bring it back in 5 or 6 years."  Well, five or six years later I came to my senses and realized that a blue SJ just wasn't the thing to do.  Tommy Hunter or no.  The old SJ still sports the original finish--cracked, scraped and bruised as it may be.

Gibson--Day 12

And here you have it ladies and gentlemen--a J-45 with a natural finish becomes a J-50.

Gibson--Day 11

Cobra Burst J-45.  What can one say about a J-45?  And how about the finish on this one?  But what if it had a clear finish?  Would it still be a J-45?

Gibson--Day 10

I have never played a J-35, but just Google J-35 and you will find a ton of information about this guitar that origionally sold for thirty-five bucks back when it first came out.

Gibson--Day 9 (the real day nine)

Opps!  Day 9 and I am already repeating.  They say the second thing to go in the aged is your mind.  But hey--all is not lost.  Check out Alvin Lee's great Les Paul.  I'd think any one of those stickers would be enough, but let's not try to curtail creativity.

Gibson--Day 9

Equal time for the electrics.  In my mind there is no other guitar maker who has such a vast line of very desirable electric guitars, as well as the huge selection of acoustics.  Of course you could call me the Will Rogers of guitars--I've never met a guitar I didn't like.  There are lots of guitars I would not purchase--but never one I would not (at least attempt to) play.  If you love guitars--and if you love Gibsons--be sure to check in during the month of March for more great pictures.  And even if you don't like guitars at all--check back anyhow.

Gibson--Day 8

Wow!

Gibson--Day 7

This is too much decadence for a single photograph.  Yet--here it is.  Can you name the year of the guitar, and the year of the car.  Hint--if you are older than the guitar--I guarantee you are not near in as fine of shape.

Gibson--Day 6

No better way to blow your mind is with a wall of Gibsons.

Gibson--Day 5

Can you identify these guitars?  Awesome, yet not overly ornate.

Gibson--Day 4

There is no such thing as too many Gibsons.  But keep checking back because there are more to come.

Gibson--Day 3

Three Gibsons for day three.  I have a Fender Jazzmaster, a Strat and a Telecaster so the guitars to the left and right are not necessarily "must haves."  However, the Les Paul... one can hardly call oneself a guitar player if one does not own a Les Paul.

Gibson--Day 2

I suppose you could say that the J-45 is Gibson's workhorse.  I saw one in Halifax in 1964.  It was $220 brand new, but it could have just as well been priced at a million, because I just didn't have the cash.  But three years later I was able to come up with $365 for an SJ, which I still have.  You can see it if you check back in this Blog.  Matter of fact--check back anyhow.  There are lots of cool guitars to drool over.

Gibson--Day 1

Here we go guitar lovers.  Welcome to Gibson month at Jake the Snake's Blog.  At first I was worried that I might not be able to post a whole month of Gibson's since I have already included many great shots--especially that great Johnny Cash pic.  But really--I could do a whole month on J-200s alone.  So the problem now seems to be how to stop at month's end.  But since I make the rules--be warned that the Gibson month of March could possibly run over into April!!