Gibson Gospel

1993 square shoulder Gibson dreadnought. Solid Spruce top, laminated mahogany back & sides (arched back), rosewood fretboard and 'belly up' bridge. Gibson Kluson tuners, Dove inlaid headstock, white ivoroid body binding. Classic Gibbo Square Shoulder design with natural finish, quite a no-frills instrument, which I like. Not sure of the scale length as the Gospel is a relatively rare guitar and not much info to be found on the net. I'm guessing the nut width to be 1 23/32", slightly more room than your average 43mm, not quite 45mm width, perfect neck for me.

Personnally, I love the sound of the Gospel. It has much of the typical clarity of a mahogany backed acoustic but with some rosewood warmth and punch. It probably won't sound as good as a mid-sixties J45 or Hummingbird but it was a lot cheaper. I bought my Gospel today, 8 Aug 2009. It had a, for me, perfect set up, the strings were well past their best, but it sounded superb and I knew I had to have it. I played it side-by-side with a 1988 Guild D25, exact same build specs and the Gibson's feel and sound won over. The Guild felt more resonant but sounded thinner. Gospel Gorgeous !

No idea how the factory set it up 17 years ago but I spoke to the guy who had done a recent set up on it and he commented on its full and rich sound. At present, the set up for me is perfect, nice and low and superb playability. The nut is cut perfectly. The solid spruce top is tightly grained and the overall feel is spot on. Not as deep sided as your typical Martin or Guild which makes sitting down and playing that bit easier. Being an arched back, there is no strutting on the back but the side kerfing is really clean. I will score on its current set up.

My Gospel is very light which would go some way explain its suberb sound. While light, it feels every bit the solid quality product that it is. I presume the finish is Gibson's good old nitro-cellulose but mine has been obviously well looked after that no finish cracks are present. My gigging days are a year ago so my Gibbo will only get occasional light work-outs at home, of which it is more than up to the task.

Never dealt with Gibson and don't expect to considering mine is 1993 and used. Have read less than complimentary reports about Gibson, but don't feel I can comment.

I've been playing for about 14 years and had the good fortune to play in a great band, Monkey Harris in the UK for about 8 years. For me acoustic guitars are king as the quality of cheap vs expensive guitars is more easily identified. When I finished with my band a year ago I had been gigging with a nice Taylor 314ce, for which I'd traded a new Martin D18. A year later, I started noodling around at home and decided I wanted a good 'vintage' acoustic, so traded my Taylor for a 1999 Martin OM-21. I had the Martin for about 5 weeks before I saw an ad for a 1997 Gibson CL-10, a more modern take on the Gospel, styled after the current Songwriter. Alas the CL-10 had zero saddle left and a too high action. After getting the OM-21 back I saw my Gospel calling out to me and here I am writing this review. With the Gibson Gospel, I truly believe I have found my acoustic nirvana. It may not be as famous as the J45, J200 or Hummingbird but on May 12 1993, Gibson in Bozeman, Montana made the superb acoustic that I now own and I thank tham for their efforts.

This is a 1993 gibson gospel. My first one was a bit newer. Both are lower end gibsons so there is not a lot of fancy stuff or frills, but good, solid components. Don't need the fancy stuff when you've got good tone. These are definitely that! Pretty much a plain Jane kinda guitar. No installed pick up or electronics. Made in Montana.

What this guitar lacks in features it makes up for in tone! They have that great gibson sound! Not thin or trebly at all. It's a great palm mute player that almost sounds electric sometimes. I have friends that have different model years, and not a bad one in the bunch. A 1974, 1995, and 1994. The '74 is a bit thicker bodywise and a bit boomier in sound. I put a Martin thinline active p/u in mine, and it sounds great plugged in! I have been playing 30 years and this is hands down the best acoustic guitar I have played to date.
Great tone, not overbearing or ringy, just right. No feedback problems when plugged in unless it's at insane volumes. I bought my first Gospel sight unseen from the musicians friend catalog, and haven't looked back since. These could be the best kept secret in the music industry.

Mine is used so I can't comment on factory settings, but mine has good action and playability. It feels good in my hands, and I can strum, fingerpick (outstanding for that), or pick out some leads with relative ease. Not buzzy at all. Like i said, not real fancy, but well made. Very solid, with good hardware. Mine hs a dove on the headstock.(patterned after the gibson dove?)

Been playing this thing for about 7 years a couple times a week with it in live stettings, beating the tar out of it sometimes, and it keeps on ticking like a charm. It's a workhorse! The only worry I have is a dead battery for the active p/u. Stays in tune amazingly even when I don't touch it for a while. No need for a backup here.

No idea, never had to deal with gibson.

A lot of guitar bang for the buck. I can't imagine playing anything else. No desire to upgrade or to see what else is out there. I'm fully satisfied with the gospel. If it was lost or stolen I would find me another after a nice long cry. This is the only acoustic guitar I own, and, hopefully ever will. It's absolutely great. It just kind of sits ther begging to be played, and who am I to deny....

this guitar was made in 1993, in bozeman. i bought it from a friend about 6 months ago. spruce top, mahogany back and sides. very simple guitar with no frills in decoration to speak of. eveything is stock, with the exception of bone end pins to replace the factory plastic.

this is the first gibson acoustic i have owned, and i've become very fond of the gibson sound. i recently played a nice j-200 which really knocked me out--it's a bigger sound than the gospel, but in the same family.
the gospel is a surprisingly responsive guitar--not real loud, but it's even throughout the fingerboard, and particularly sweet through the middle range. i find the highs to be very alive and satisfying. bass is not boomy or real big, but well defined. i finger pick a bit, and i'm not a real hard flatpicker, i mostly play with flatpick and 1-3 fingers. this guitar responds real well to that kind of lighter approach. i don't have any pickup in it yet, but probably will do something that isn't too invasive, so i can play it out. i've listened to other people playing this guitar, and i'm always impressed with the presence of the sound--it just seems to be alive, without demanding your attention. the other day a friend was playing in the living room, and i was in another part of the house, and the guitar just kinda calls for your attention--not because of overpowering volume--it has a very direct voice.

everything seems good--several others have commented about the design of the bridge (belly up), and it looks like a less-than-solid design to me maybe, but no problems with this guitar. the guitar is really comfortable for me to play. i love the neck--feels more rounded and friendly than my other acoustics.

a real light and comfortable guitar, but looks real solid. i haven't played it out much, but i handle instruments pretty carefully, and i suspect it will be fine.

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i've been playing for about 35 years, semi-professionally, sometimes professionally. i've owned lots o'stuff--but right now i'm happy with the stuff i use: a home-made tele, '89 strat plus, rickenbacker 330 12-string, american jazz bass, 50's koa/spruce ukulele, '91 martin hd-28 (very nice, different from the gibson), guild 212 acoustic 12-string (a very cool guitar).

i really like this gibson: it's responsive, has a real "soul", real friendly. i'd look for another if lost. i'm kinda planning to find a nice j-200 gibson, having played a good one, but also want to keep the gospel.

2002 Bozeman produced; supposedly budget dred but superb sound; Spruce top; mahog sides; full 25 inch scale; laminated arched (like Guild) mahog back for better projection; b-band active installed after purchase. Beautiful top; stable kluson tuners; tacky silkscreened fleur under Gibson logo headstock; already some barely visible classic Bozeman finish cracking on the back, apparently exaggerated by archback - what can you say, chalk it up to character.

Great sound - less boxy, rhythmic and classic for playing in the band or solo flatpick strumming than J45, but fuller bottom end, better projection and string articulation, as expected with longer scale. Big projected, balanced sound for strumming (richer and less trebly/tinny than Taylor 310 and 410) and better for fingerpicking and capo work than J45. If you could pick a single guitar for the night, I'd prefer it to the J45 and 310 for live unaccompanied stuff. With B-band, very versatile when run through the board. For the price - about as well rounded a dred as you can find

Tuning good, top looks great, bridge looks 3 years after build; you can see finish nitro cracking starting on the back - either call it classic nitro or an unstable modern finish. Whatever - sounds great and top grain looks great.

Seems very solid build; finish will go on back

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Could have quibbled over the price, but finish seemed secondary. Picked up off the rack, sounded better than newer Martin D18, older J45s, Hummingbirds, and Taylor 310 and 410 in the shop. Didn't sound as good as J200, in terms of bottom end and mids, but whatever, it cost 1/3 of the price. Bought simply on the basis of quality sound money - tacky headstock and finish issues aside. A bargain guitar - high quality sound, versatile across flatpick, strumming, country folk and rock, Gibson name, beautiful top ... rare - install the b-band and you've got a one-stop gigging guitar that doesn't need insurance and an anvil case.

1972 GIBSON GOSPEL PURCHASED MARINE CORPS EXCHANGE PANAMA. LEARNED TO PLAY ALL THE BEST SONGS FOR ME ON THIS BEAUTIFUL GUITAR.lOST IT ONE DAY DUE TO THEFT AFTER 30 YEARS OWNERSHIP. I SIMPLY SAY THIS NO ONE INVOLVED IN THE THEFT OF THIS GUITAR WILL EVER GET THE JOY OR KNOW WHAT GREAT MUSIC WAS PLAYED ON THIS GUITAR.THEY'LL NEVER KNOW THE JOY IT BROUGHT TO WAR WEARY GI'S OR THE PROMISE FOR A BETTOR DAY. ONE DAY THAT GUITAR AND I WILL MEET IN HEAVEN AND WE WILL PLAY THE GOSPEL TRUTH.

iTS SOUND WAS BRIGHT ON THE HIGH END. IT WAS A GUITAR YOU COULD ASSAULT I MEAN REALLY PLAY IT HARD. IT GIVES YOU WHAT YOU PUT IN IT.
I ALWAYS REFERED TO IT AS MY ASSAULT WEAPON. FOLK , BLUEGRASS , ROCK
PSYCEDELIC , COUNTRY , IT WAS PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PARTIES GATHERINGS

NO COMPLAINTS HAVE PLAYED FASTER SMOOTHER LESS PAINFUL GUITARS BUT THIS ONE WAS HOME TO ME. THE LITTLE BLOND BEAUTY.

ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE SEPARATING OF THE BRIDGE FROM MAIN BODY. I ALWAYS FIGURED I PLAYED IT TO HARD ??? LOOKS LIKE FROM READING THIS LITERATURE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 1995 G-GOSPEL--HOPING TO RIDE AGIN !!!

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FIRST GUITAR IN 1965--- I HAVE JUST BOUGHT THE 1995 ISSUE GOSPEL
HOPING TO DUPLICATE IT ALL OVER AGAIN.I PAID 900 DOLLARS FOR IT. EXPENSIVE FOR A GUITAR I KNOW ONLY COST $235.00 IN 1972
Its the year 2005 now.

1993 GIBSON GOSPEL MONTANA.
PAID: STRAT PLUSS, AND PRINSTON CHOURUS AMP.

I WOULD AGREE WITH ALL THE OTHER OWNERS SAVE THIS ONE. I HAD TO SEND IT BACK AFTER 2 YEARS WITH A NECK TO BODY PROBLEM. IT BUZZED BAD ON THE 12TH FRET. I LATER HAD TO HAVE A NEW BRIDGE PLATE PUT ON BECAUSE THE TOP WAS CAVING IN AND THE BRIDGE GLUED BACK ONE. SOME BRACING ALSO CAME LOOSE. THE FIRST TIME I SENT IT TO GIBSON IT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO COME HOME. GENERALY I LIKE THE GUITAR AND FIND IT SEVERLY SENSITIVE TO HUMIDITY.

AFTER SENDING IT IN IT SEEMED TO TAKE FOREVER TO COME BACK

PLAYING IT 10 YEARS. I OWN A RIGEL MANDOLIN.

Purchased my Gospel with no knowledge or ability... just wanted a good guitar to learn on and stay with... this was a good choice ! Basic, simple just what you need, nothing fancy.

Beautiful sound, rich tones.

Purchased new... no flaws noted, good set up.

Guitar developed a "crack" which extended from the side of the "hole" and extended to the bridge... returned it to Gibson and they repaired without out cost ( you would have to look very very close to see the repair ) No trouble since, have had the guitar for approx. 20 years.

When returned to Gibson they were fast and the repair was very good.

I keep thinking I'll get a "better" guitar, but every time I play another I just think, "my Gibson is a good as this". Great looks, great sound, stands the test of time.

1995 gibson gospel, bought new in 1996, made in USA. 14 open frets, non cutaway. no pickup from factory. i added a fishman matrix [active] undersaddle pickup. solid sitka spruce top, solid mahogany sides, laminated mahogany arched back. high gloss sunburst colored finish. dreadnaught in size. very thick mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge, chrome tuners that hold well. 25 1/2" scale. came with a brown plush lined gibson hardshell case. i'm giving this a 9 because of it's sunburst finish [100.00 option at the time].

the gospel suited my style. my style is a loose thythm playing using my thumb for strumming plus picking bass notes and 3 fingers picking kinda like a banjo player. it had the gibson sound. it had a full well balanced sound with a good bass responce. it sounded as good as most of the more expensive gibsons i tried and much better than the vintage gibsons i was able to find. it sounded great [unplugged]. although it sounded a little electric when plugged in, it recorded well with no feedback problems.

the guitar was set-up with a medium/low action from the factory. i do my own set-ups and brought the action down just a little. the top was bookmatched. there were no problems or issues with the bridge, nut, frets, fretwires, tuning machines, saddle etc. it did have the thick gibson neck. for the price range this guitar was put together right with quality materials. i received many compliments on it's sound and appearance.

the gospel did withstand live playing and recording. the hardware was solid and should last. the finish was starting to check which gibsons are noted for. i don't use a pick so the pickguard and sounhole finish didn't show much use. the original strap button was fine but replaced when the pickup was installed. i did depend on the gospel and used it without a backup.

i did call gibson once about the serial number. the number on the back of the headstock was slightly different from the number on the label in the soundhole. although this didn't affect the guitar. it should not have passed final inspection with this error. the person i spoke to was friendly and knowledgeable. it never needed any repairs. i can't remember how long the warranty was for. i sold the guitar in 2003. i'm sure the warranty has expired.

i've been playin for years, not very good. i own a Simon & Patrick S&P 6 acousic with LR Baggs onboard i-beam electronics. a Martin DM acoustic with fishman prefex-plus electronics. a 1960's USA made Regal 36" parlor size acoustic in almost new condition. 2 Shure 57 mic's. a Stone acoustic amp. i'm waiting for delivery of a Art & Lutherie wild cherry acoustic today.
i asked all the questions before buying the gospel, it couldn't be stolen, i sold the gospel. i drove from one end of Ma. to the other looking before buying. i loved the acoustic sound the neck was large compared to my other guitars. i that [1996] i compared the gospel to too many guitars to list. it had the features i wanted after the addition of the electronics. there is something i wish to share. I SAW A COMMERCIAL FOR THE GIBSON GUITAR COMPANY. IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS: LYRICS ARE WHAT INTERFERES WITH GUITAR SOLO'S. where would music be without LYRICS. where would music be without GUITAR SOLO'S. where would GIBSON BE WITHOUT SINGER SONWRITERS. amen.

1974 Gibson Gospel Made in Kalamazoo Michigan USA. Spruce Top, Maple Sides and Bowled Maple Back. Maple Headstock and Maple Neck w/ Ebony Fretboard, 20 Frets. Binding aronud the Body front and back is Tortise shell. Beautiful Guitar. Top is aged to a Golden Glow. I love the features. Gibson kept them simple. Someone installed a pickup with an active electronics control pad with EQ. It has a Dove carrying a Twig w/Leaves in it's beak on the Headstock. Nice touch to go with the Gospel name.

I use the Guitar for sevice to God in our church . It is a great guitar for that and I use it to write most of my songs on. When I first got it it had 13's on it which made it sounds very boomy. It tried Elixer's in 12's but not much change. I finally tried Martin Marquis 80/20 Bronze in Extra Light .10-.047 and they did the trick. They gave the Tone just the right amount of bottom end. Wonderful Guitar for Fingerpicking. The sound is full and the highs ring very clear and distinct. I call them Tones from Heaven. The Guitar is very used. I prefer used over new. I have no dislikes about the instrument.

Action needed a tweak of the truss rod to lower it a bit as I prefer lower action than most players. Hardware is in great condition.

Used for home and live playing. It still has many years of playing left on it. I'm 52 and it will outlast my years here on this earth. I'm going to will it to my Grandson John Worden the VI who is now 10 months old. I want to give him the gift of music because music has been a great friend to me over the years and gotten me through some very hard times in my life and I'm sure it will do the same for him.

In the past Gibson has been pretty good to me and if it needs some work which I can't perform I'll trust Gibson to come through.

I've been playing 40 years now. I own a Wasburn XB 920 Bass and a few Fender amps. I grew up on Gibson Guitar's and to me nothing else compares. I've tried Martins, Taylors and others and to me there's just no substitute for a Gibson. I want to share one more thing. In my life I have played Rock, Jazz, Blues and the like, and it was all good and lots of fun, but to be in service to God and play and write music which leads His people into His presence has a reward that is both internal and eternal. It is something that words can not describe. To the young up and coming musician's I say write and play music which does not take away buts adds to life. When you can do this you will be filled.

This is a reissue my wife bought for me in 1997. It has a spruce top mahogany back and sides with a 2-way truss rod. Original style kluson type tuners with a tobaco sunburst. Came with Montana hardshell case.

Excellent sounding overall guitar works well fingerpicking or flatpicking. I play folk, blues and some country on it. I've even picked some rock-n-roll on it. I wish it had a cut-away.

Set up well from the factory. Have only had to adjust the truss rod seasonally.

This is a no-frills re-issue. Well built and solid. I wouldn't let Pete Townsend or Jimi Hendrix play it, but under normal usage it should last a lifetime.

Never dealt with the company.

I've been playing about 35 yrs. I've owned many high end guitars too many to list. My wife bought this for me. [great gift] There is no perfect guitar for all usages but this one hits down the middle as well as any and better than most. Could use a few features [cutaway, electronics, ect.] Sometimes when you add things it takes away from something else. I'll not change it.