What an amazing guitar!! May I suggest people try all brands and styles of guitar regardless of price. They are all amazing and have a place in the mix.Thanks Michael. Love your playing!!
So nice that you feature these wonderful guitars, even though most of us will never even see one it's nice to hear them. What a great sounding guitar, thanks for allowing us to enjoy your playing.
Gorgeous. Gotta love that Gibson voice. I love my L-00 and my J45 …probably couldn’t justify another 🤔. The only jumbos I have are 12 strings, a Martin J15M and a gorgeous Guild (the pinnacle of 12 strings so far as I have experienced them). Thanks again Michael.
It certainly does the "Gibson Thing", also very beautiful. Thank You for sharing this with us, also, the drop tuning is where this guitar comes alive. 👍 😉
@@MichaelWatts I would agree. Thank goodness we have many builders who also do their own "great thing". Like I've always said, I try to make to world a better place, one note at a time. Thank you for all the great content Michael, very much appreciated Sir.
I think I commented under one of your other videos Michael, that I yearned for a tobacco J200 after hearing one used by the late Michael Chapman on his 1969 album "Rainmaker". I first got to play one in Selmer's in Charing Cross Road in maybe 1972 and around that time too in Hands Music in Kingston upon Thames. In 1974 I bought an Antoria J200 (blond - no tobaccos available) from Guitar Village in Shaftesbury Avenue - and it was surprisingly good. It is now in Los Angeles. Despite it's size, I found it a good finger-picker and tried some alternate tunings gleaned from an article on Michael Chapman in Melody Maker - remember that???? Happy days.
@@MichaelWatts They were indeed pretty good - my old friend DT had a real Gibson Hummingbird in the early 80s but was a bit envious of my J200! Michael Chapman used a Martin when I saw him live a couple of times in the early/mid 70s, in Les Cousins' club in Soho and at a gig at Kingston Polytechnic.
Ahh, SJ200s. I enjoy them quite a bit more than I ever expected to...especially those "Pre War" and 1957 models they're making lately. Hell, the Murphys are nice too!
I'm always torn between 'does it add to the sound or playability' and 'a wee bit bling adds to the desire to own, play and perform on the instrument'. I feel that may have crossed the line though - absolute respect and no harm meant to the artists who added the gem, or jewel like adornments, but to these eyes it is just... too much? Each to their own though! Diversity rocks! Thanks again for a cracking vid Michael! :D Doug
There are some really beautiful custom Gibson’s out there. A Ren Ferguson Southern Jumbo springs to mind. Personally I love the Gibson sound because I love the Steve Earle and of course the Stones for that country sound
".........those little brown guitars"..........that was priceless!!! This Gibson J200 is a gorgeous instrument !!! Sounds great too. I've always leaned towards Martin dreadnought style guitars myself, and I do own a D45 clone ( stunning example ), but I also own a Grand Auditorium with venetian cutaway and 2 medium jumbo's.......one with a florentine cutaway, and the other without. So I wouldn't shy away from one of "them big 'ole Gibson's".
@@MichaelWatts Absolutely so! It only makes sense. 2 entirely different acoustic guitars being played during a performance or laying down a studio recording would give a much colorful & wider pallet of sound.........just as a Fender Strat and a Gibson Les Paul being played together in the same song/band truly fills out the sound.
@@Mark-eg9lp absolutely no chance whatsoever! So much of this is personal choice. Basically if someone has been featured on my channel then I actively enjoy their work.
The best Gibson acoustic I had the pleasure to play was a J-185. Smaller and less chintzy, but still a different vibe from OM or dread style instruments. If you come across one, do try it.
That one that the late Woody Mann had with the painted rose decoration springs to my mind. I just can’t get down with the sound of those Everly Brothers Jumbos though. Even the great Albert Lee can’t make em sound good to me
Never been a fan of Gibson acoustics...this one is different. I'm telling you Michael, you def know how to place the mics etc.. Guitar websites should be banging your door down for advice on getting the best sound.
Can you re-shoot the video but this time, wearing a Stetson? Not you. The guitar! There’s plenty of room. Speaking of room, you asked for experiences with Jumbo’s. I bought a Gibson J-185 “Double Rose Vine” in quilted maple with tobacco sunburst (2007 model only) because it’s every bit as ‘blingy’ as that J-200, but in a slightly smaller package. HOWEVER, the sound is NOT smaller by any means. It’s a boom-box of an instrument, with crisp highs and a thunderous bottom end. Like you, I thought a Jumbo would be muddy, best suited for strumming. I was wrong. It’s my 2nd favorite to play solo. I can feel the guitar vibrating my rib cage. 100% recommend that folks at least try a Gibson jumbo. It’s an experience. Great video, as always.
@@BlackwingDan ha ha yeah… not this time! I did think a Stetson and a pair of six shooters would be a good look - or a bottle of Louis XIII and a fine Habano
That is a really gorgeous instrument and it sounds amazing. I owned a 1961 J-200, and it sounded better than other Gibson acoustics that I’ve owned, most of which sound muted and dull.
@@stickman55100 glad you enjoyed it! Thank you very much for chiming in. I understand some rosewood J200s were made in the early years and I’d love to try one of those
@@MichaelWatts Mine was all blonde maple. It was beautiful and played well, but was stolen along with 35 of my other instruments. 😢Fortunately, insurance made me whole.
Yikes...too much of good thing? Lovely sounding J200 Michael. I recently listened to your interview with Wizz Jones. An absolute delight. More life on the fretboard please.
Oh My ! ! This is not your grandfather's J-200. I have long been impressed by the Bling Tone Killer which is a considerable amount of the real-estate. Surprisingly some of the J-200s sounded good.
I once bought a J200 (circa 2010) as “ex demo” from a (still) very well known dealer. They’d strung it with 11’s so in the shop it was fine. Got it home and put on some 12’s and it was a total dog! A bid dip/ high action between frets 5 an d 10. My ( very excellent ) local luthier identified an inherent bow in the neck due to twisted grain; irreparable due to the neck inlays (bling!). The shop tried to fob me off but when they spoke to my luthier they immediately refunded me. Subsequently, the guitar was sent back to Bozeman where they scrapped it with no acknowledgment of the fault. These events leave a lasting impact and I’ll never(ever!) buy a Gibson again. I know at their best they’re great but for me, they are forever tainted.
Interesting you are doing so many Martin and Gibson videos. I think the only thing I like about their guitars these days is their history. Try some Yairi Masterworks guitars and let me know what you think. Although, now that I think of it, if it's clicks and views you're after, Gibson and Martin is the way to go.
@@Tshdb-74737 well, in the last 8 videos I’ve only featured one Martin and one Gibson - and in fact I didn’t even play the Martin. I have tried several Yairi masterworks guitars over the years. They made a lovely signature model for Isaac Guillory back in the day
What an amazing guitar!! May I suggest people try all brands and styles of guitar regardless of price. They are all amazing and have a place in the mix.Thanks Michael. Love your playing!!
@@paulheartsongs thank you Paul and yes, you’re absolutely right!
Always a great pleasure to get your take on all the guitars you feature, thank you for taking the time to.
@@philipwilkes2780 my pleasure Philip, thank you for watching!
So nice that you feature these wonderful guitars, even though most of us will never even see one it's nice to hear them. What a great sounding guitar, thanks for allowing us to enjoy your playing.
@@ellenrik well with only six of these ever made it would have been rude not to!
The birdsong in the background (4:08 and on) add a certain sparkle to your already magical playing.
Dove/Hummingbird/The Finger
@@williamneillgross3926 we have a family of magpies in the trees outside our house at the moment and they obviously fancied joining in!
Gorgeous. Gotta love that Gibson voice. I love my L-00 and my J45 …probably couldn’t justify another 🤔. The only jumbos I have are 12 strings, a Martin J15M and a gorgeous Guild (the pinnacle of 12 strings so far as I have experienced them). Thanks again Michael.
@@Benjamin.Bushcraft thanks for watching Benjamin! Jumbo 12 strings are always a good idea!
This is fantastic.....looks and sound! You bring out the best in it.........for sure!! Thanks for your wonderful videos and positive vibes.
@@leelossi1257 thank you very much Lee, glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your kind words
It certainly does the "Gibson Thing", also very beautiful.
Thank You for sharing this with us, also, the drop tuning is where this guitar comes alive. 👍 😉
@@hkguitar1984 the Gibson Thing is a good thing!
@@MichaelWatts I would agree.
Thank goodness we have many builders who also do their own "great thing".
Like I've always said, I try to make to world a better place, one note at a time.
Thank you for all the great content Michael, very much appreciated Sir.
A truly stunning instrument nicely played Michael.
@@troytempest290 thank you so much for listening, glad you enjoyed it!
Love all these showcases! Thank you for sharing all of these guitars
@@roscoe2311 glad you enjoyed it! Thank you Roscoe!
I think I commented under one of your other videos Michael, that I yearned for a tobacco J200 after hearing one used by the late Michael Chapman on his 1969 album "Rainmaker". I first got to play one in Selmer's in Charing Cross Road in maybe 1972 and around that time too in Hands Music in Kingston upon Thames. In 1974 I bought an Antoria J200 (blond - no tobaccos available) from Guitar Village in Shaftesbury Avenue - and it was surprisingly good. It is now in Los Angeles. Despite it's size, I found it a good finger-picker and tried some alternate tunings gleaned from an article on Michael Chapman in Melody Maker - remember that???? Happy days.
@@johnf991 ah the great Michael Chapman - I met him once and enjoyed his company, those old Antoria’s were sort of decent back in the day!
@@MichaelWatts They were indeed pretty good - my old friend DT had a real Gibson Hummingbird in the early 80s but was a bit envious of my J200! Michael Chapman used a Martin when I saw him live a couple of times in the early/mid 70s, in Les Cousins' club in Soho and at a gig at Kingston Polytechnic.
Ahh, SJ200s. I enjoy them quite a bit more than I ever expected to...especially those "Pre War" and 1957 models they're making lately. Hell, the Murphys are nice too!
@@BrianTruesby this one caught me by surprise!
Gibson with Mike? What a unique video!!
@@글향기도서관-d8z thank you!
I'm always torn between 'does it add to the sound or playability' and 'a wee bit bling adds to the desire to own, play and perform on the instrument'.
I feel that may have crossed the line though - absolute respect and no harm meant to the artists who added the gem, or jewel like adornments, but to these eyes it is just... too much?
Each to their own though! Diversity rocks! Thanks again for a cracking vid Michael! :D
Doug
@@douglasnelson3569 Vive le difference Doug!
There are some really beautiful custom Gibson’s out there. A Ren Ferguson Southern Jumbo springs to mind. Personally I love the Gibson sound because I love the Steve Earle and of course the Stones for that country sound
@@andrewbowen6875 totally agree!
".........those little brown guitars"..........that was priceless!!! This Gibson J200 is a gorgeous instrument !!! Sounds great too. I've always leaned towards Martin dreadnought style guitars myself, and I do own a D45 clone ( stunning example ), but I also own a Grand Auditorium with venetian cutaway and 2 medium jumbo's.......one with a florentine cutaway, and the other without. So I wouldn't shy away from one of "them big 'ole Gibson's".
@@howabouthetruth2157 I’ve found that Martins and Gibsons go rather well together. I know - sensational hot take
@@MichaelWatts Absolutely so! It only makes sense. 2 entirely different acoustic guitars being played during a performance or laying down a studio recording would give a much colorful & wider pallet of sound.........just as a Fender Strat and a Gibson Les Paul being played together in the same song/band truly fills out the sound.
Nice. Gibson does make some great acoustic guitars.
@@lhvent yes indeed! Glad you enjoyed it!
Any chance of a top twenty of independent luthiers. Doesn’t have to be a who is the best chart just a sensible rundown for those looking to buy.
@@Mark-eg9lp absolutely no chance whatsoever! So much of this is personal choice. Basically if someone has been featured on my channel then I actively enjoy their work.
You should totally buy that guitar!
@@dalgguitars I would love to but I have my eye on something else at the moment
Great playing ,sounds much better than a j45 I used to have
@@davidlewis2055 oh thank you David! Sometimes the one that got away did so for a good reason!
"Those little brown guitars..." 🤣 - that's almost a declaration of war!
@@PaulOwens something for everyone round here Paul!
What brown guitars?
The best Gibson acoustic I had the pleasure to play was a J-185. Smaller and less chintzy, but still a different vibe from OM or dread style instruments. If you come across one, do try it.
@@szabolcsmezei4088 I’ve played quite a few 185s and the best is the Froggy Bottom K model!
@@MichaelWatts oh very nice! Only heard good things about FBs.
That one that the late Woody Mann had with the painted rose decoration springs to my mind. I just can’t get down with the sound of those Everly Brothers Jumbos though. Even the great Albert Lee can’t make em sound good to me
@@andrewbowen6875 they are challenging…
Aloha Micheal! You don't see Gibson used much in slackey. The J 200 sounds like it would. Mahalo Nui Loa.
@@victorbeebe8372 that’s true! Need a Grimes guitar for that Ono sound!
Would be a standing strummer for me at least. Interested to know if it was a comfortable play sitting down?
@@jamesturtle it wasn’t bad! But I’m used to my White Falcon which is a similar size. It’s a beautiful thing - would suit you!
@@MichaelWatts everything on that guitar except the candelabra
Never been a fan of Gibson acoustics...this one is different. I'm telling you Michael, you def know how to place the mics etc.. Guitar websites should be banging your door down for advice on getting the best sound.
@@curtvahle2018 they’ll have to find me first! Ha ha, only kidding. Thank you so much Curt - that means a lot to me
Can you re-shoot the video but this time, wearing a Stetson? Not you. The guitar! There’s plenty of room. Speaking of room, you asked for experiences with Jumbo’s. I bought a Gibson J-185 “Double Rose Vine” in quilted maple with tobacco sunburst (2007 model only) because it’s every bit as ‘blingy’ as that J-200, but in a slightly smaller package. HOWEVER, the sound is NOT smaller by any means. It’s a boom-box of an instrument, with crisp highs and a thunderous bottom end. Like you, I thought a Jumbo would be muddy, best suited for strumming. I was wrong. It’s my 2nd favorite to play solo. I can feel the guitar vibrating my rib cage. 100% recommend that folks at least try a Gibson jumbo. It’s an experience. Great video, as always.
@@BlackwingDan ha ha yeah… not this time! I did think a Stetson and a pair of six shooters would be a good look - or a bottle of Louis XIII and a fine Habano
That is a really gorgeous instrument and it sounds amazing. I owned a 1961 J-200, and it sounded better than other Gibson acoustics that I’ve owned, most of which sound muted and dull.
@@stickman55100 glad you enjoyed it! Thank you very much for chiming in. I understand some rosewood J200s were made in the early years and I’d love to try one of those
@@MichaelWatts Mine was all blonde maple. It was beautiful and played well, but was stolen along with 35 of my other instruments. 😢Fortunately, insurance made me whole.
@@stickman55100 oh no!
I had to grab my Ray-Bans!!!😎
@@JimB802 the future is bright!
What’s the difference between the J200 and the SJ 200?
@@Billsingsong same thing, Gibson called it the J200 for a while
Yikes...too much of good thing? Lovely sounding J200 Michael. I recently listened to your interview with Wizz Jones. An absolute delight. More life on the fretboard please.
@@AnthonyMonaghan thank you Anthony! I just dropped a new episode featuring Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy which I hope you’ll enjoy!
Oh My ! ! This is not your grandfather's J-200.
I have long been impressed by the Bling Tone Killer which is a considerable amount of the real-estate.
Surprisingly some of the J-200s sounded good.
@@jeffhildreth9244 it’s quite a thing isn’t it!
@@MichaelWatts Yowzah !!
I like the Casimi better. I'll trade you.
Too "blingy" for me, but it sounds great in your capable hands. Gibson's neck profile has never been comfortable to me.
@@architypeone8646 it is an exuberant guitar to be sure - lovely sound though! I do struggle on 1920s Gibsons but this was very comfortable thankfully
I once bought a J200 (circa 2010) as “ex demo” from a (still) very well known dealer. They’d strung it with 11’s so in the shop it was fine. Got it home and put on some 12’s and it was a total dog! A bid dip/ high action between frets 5 an d 10. My ( very excellent ) local luthier identified an inherent bow in the neck due to twisted grain; irreparable due to the neck inlays (bling!). The shop tried to fob me off but when they spoke to my luthier they immediately refunded me.
Subsequently, the guitar was sent back to Bozeman where they scrapped it with no acknowledgment of the fault.
These events leave a lasting impact and I’ll never(ever!) buy a Gibson again.
I know at their best they’re great but for me, they are forever tainted.
@@stanby2712 that’s a horror story to be sure - I’m very sorry to hear that
Ultimate expensive 😉
@@peppik well you could pay double if you go vintage
@@MichaelWatts I pay only 800 Euros, because I play a J200 copy from Sigma 😁
Interesting you are doing so many Martin and Gibson videos. I think the only thing I like about their guitars these days is their history. Try some Yairi Masterworks guitars and let me know what you think.
Although, now that I think of it, if it's clicks and views you're after, Gibson and Martin is the way to go.
@@Tshdb-74737 well, in the last 8 videos I’ve only featured one Martin and one Gibson - and in fact I didn’t even play the Martin. I have tried several Yairi masterworks guitars over the years. They made a lovely signature model for Isaac Guillory back in the day