My Beloved Gibson is Back.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my Beloved Gibson was delivered to a relative’s house the day we arrived in Florida, and I have been itching to see it since then.
Here is a photo of the box in which it was returned. Apparently, the UPS guy delivering it said, “Somebody’s got a new toy. If he doesn’t want it, I’ll take it.â€
I opened the box and examined my case. Gibson cautions that sometimes cases can be scratched while in their hands. The case looked as good as ever. In fact, I was never happier to see it. Here are top and side views of the case. I like to think that the big, orange “T†on the case (bought after the first blogmeet at Eric’s) might have gotten the guitar a little bit of special attention from the Gibson folks in Nashville.
I then feasted my eyes on the guitar itself. In addition to doing the repairs on the cracks in the body (and, as it turns out, in one of the braces), cleaning and setting up the fretboard and bridge, they cleaned it all up. Beautiful! Here are two views of the guitar and a close up of the headstock (all taken with a cell phone camera). Beautiful.
I then sat down and tuned it up (guitars are shipped with slack strings) and WOW! It plays like a dream and sounds as good as the day I bought it more than 45 years ago. No, it actually sounds better now, because the wood has aged all those years.
I take my hat off to the Gibson luthiers. They did a wonderful job. It was worth the money and worth the wait. Oh, and I also learned from the Gibson folks that the actual model name of the guitar is a “Southern Jumbo.†Go figure. Back when I bought it, all I knew about the model name was that it was the “Model I Could Afford.â€
Excuse me; I’ve got a bit of playin’ to do.
suhweeeeeeet! It’s all shiny-pretty.
I’m thrilled for you, Jim.
Comment by Jean — June 3, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
It’s a beautiful instrument!
Comment by Kevin — June 3, 2010 @ 7:15 pm
can’t wait to play a tune or two on THAT!… wow, looks good
Comment by chef of da future — June 3, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
Southern Jumbo played by a Northern Jimbo? Sweet!
Comment by Omnibus Driver — June 3, 2010 @ 10:47 pm
Sweet. I was worried that your guitar may have been caught up in the flood.
Good to see it home safely.
A
Comment by Andy — June 3, 2010 @ 10:49 pm
Check this out….
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126776761
A
Comment by Andy — June 3, 2010 @ 10:51 pm
Andy,
I had thought about that and when I heard nothing, I figured that no news is good news. The following quote from the article you linked speaks volumes: “Instruments are a category of loss unto themselves. They are not alive, but neither are they lifeless. For their players, they are extensions of their emotions and intimate companions.”
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — June 3, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
When’s the next Parkway Playin’ tour?
Comment by Mr. Bingley — June 4, 2010 @ 7:19 am
Just Damn!
Comment by Dax Montana — June 4, 2010 @ 8:43 am
You Tube or Google “Soundcheck Nashville” if you want your heart ripped out over pictures and/or video.
Soundcheck was/is a storage facility in Nashvegas that cateres to musicians and bands. They store instruments, as well as road rigs like racked effects and stage drops, costumes, etc etc.
The place got four feet of water in it.
I understand Vince Gill kept some of his instruments there and lost a few.
I saw a picture of a guy holding a 50s Les Paul Gold Top that had been submerged for a day or two.
Heartbreaking……….
Comment by Andy — June 4, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
OH hell the fucking YES>>>>
Comment by Yabu — June 4, 2010 @ 1:50 pm
If I just scan the pics you posted it looks like your guitar went a-riding the rails or free-rangin’ or something. Roamin’ the countryside on its own. Maybe toting a little knapsack like a “hobo.” Can we still say “hobo”? Anyway. Kinda cracked myself up there for a second.
Comment by sheri — June 5, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
Real nice to go to my favourite blog and read some GOOD news ;-)))
Comment by Dan Kauffman — June 6, 2010 @ 5:14 am