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Gibson J-180 EC Reviews  5 / 5 based on 1 reviewsBought this baby second hand from "Academy of sound"'s new store in Stockton-on-Tees UK..for £950 after a haggle and persistent cajoling over two days..
Well its a Gibson Acoustic..so we get that great neck "feel" that fits like a glove (you know the one) and theres plenty of space for fat fingers and complicated chords as well as suiting pickers (and grinners.. and no-doubt lovers and sinners).. the construction is nice and clean (inside and out) - I'm particularly impressed with the cut and finish of the nut.. something I think they have worked hard on to improve over the last 4 or 5 years after a bit of criticism that they "werent what they used to be".. Across the strings theres great balance of tone with chunky bass and bright tops (but not tinny).. play a good old C chord and its all there in spades, this particular one has star insets at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th frets (phew) as well as well as a mother of pearl rosette and tortoise style pickguard.. Luckily they have steered have steered clear of the Doves which always looks a bit too much for my taste.. The Top is Spruce and has all the brightness you'd expect (stay clear of the brighter phosphour bronze stings especially when recording or it really is to much).. The machine heards are Gold Grovers and are responsive but reassuringly sturdy.. and the cherry on the cake is in this case is the Fishman Prefix Plus System that makes it come alive in any environment with the merest of tweaks.. All in all its a winner and theres no denying.
Its only a minor complaint but...Is it really necessary to have ALL those stars?.. well - thats gibson for you..
As mentioned the finish is as clean as a whistle.. the laquer finish (of which I'm usually not a big fan) has been applied evenly and not to thickly as to lose that wooden sound.. the Nut is cut as if its been done by super accuarte high powered lazer (has it been I wonder??) and the strings fit snuggly without being "burried".. the grovers are up to the usual quality we have come to expect and all in-lays (and there are many) are all perfect as far as I can see..
This is a serious guitar folks.. big and ballsy but with supreme intonation and responsiveness.. you take your taylors and your martins (Ive had both) and they wont hold a candle to a well set up and "played in" Gibbo in my opinion. Jimbob Jones rated this unit on 2004-07-05.
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