Gibson SJ-200

Maple back and sides, solid spruce top. Madagascar rosewood fingerboard and bridge (extremely rare). Active electronics and Gotoh tuners. It comes with a deluxe case (like any good guitar). And of course, the biggest feature is the Gibson name.

I was surprised when I heard the sound of this SJ-200. I own an Epiphone EJ-200 (Gibson copy) and they both sounded the same! And the Epiphone has laminate sides!!! They don't much different, if they sound any different at all. The "true Gibson sound" is very weak and puny. I have played MANY Gibson guitars, and I have to say this is one of the worst I've ever played sound-wise.

The stock strings are horrible, but those you can always get replaced. The neck is slow and has A LOT of fret buzzing. If you put a capo on beyond the second fret, all you hear is buzzing. The action is way too high for my liking. It says the guitar was made and set up in the US, if that's true, it was inspected by a clarinet technician.

Despite some of its terrible other features, it seems like a solid made guitar, wood-wise. If I had to gig with this guitar, I would have a backup. I wouldn't gig with this guitar anyway, the sound and action on it are absolutely atrocious. If it got dropped onstage or anywhere else, it would probably stay in the same condition as it was before.

I've heard Gibson is excellent with customer support, but I've never contacted them, so I don't have an opinion for this category.

For almost $3300 and with the Gibson name you'd expect a quality guitar, right? WRONG! I don't know, maybe I got a bad one, but this experience has really ruined my high standards of Gibson acoustics. I sent it back about a couple days after I got it, but even though it was a piece of junk, I regretted sending a GIBSON back to the store. Next time I want to buy an SJ-200 I think I'll just put $3300 in my kitchen sink grinder.

Spruce top, flame maple back & sides, Gold Tuners, Embossed picguard, mustache bridge w/MOP inlays, rosewood fretboard w/MOP inlays. SJ stands for Super Jumbo, not to be confused with Gibson's Southern Jumbo which is a different, smaller model. They have a J100 which is similar body shape and less bling. The SJ200 is used by professional musicians on stage and in studios worldwide. Newer models come with onboard electronics.

With the maple B&S, it is bright and balanced. Great for strumming or fingerpicking. Not punchy or brassy. Good sustain.

I bought his '04 model when it was 2 years old. I kept the action setup by the previous owner and undersaddle Fishman p/up. The guitar is a little larger than most, but I don't think that would be a problem to anyone over 5 feet. The engraved/painted flowers on the pickguard are an important part of the guitar, but can wear off. I bought a clear plastic static 'pickguard bra' for when I'm strumming heavy. The pg on mine is slightly raised off the face in one corner by 1/8" where the adhesive didn't stick.

This is a very solid guitar. It is suprisingly light, but I'm sure it will hold up. The tuners hold, never slip. See comment above re. pickguard. Finish is super. No strap buttons - that is after market and best done by a pro. You can split the wood if you don't know what you're doing, on any guitar. While I believe it to be 100% dependable, I would never go to a gig without a backup.

I have no direct experience with Customer Support. The Gibson Warranty does not extend past the original purchaser. However, I have heard their support under warranty is excellent directly from those who have used it. Repairs sent to Bozeman out of Warranty are handled equally well.

I've been playing 40 years. Currently own another Gibson acoustic which I've had 35 years and experienced only one problem with. Pickguard glue dried up and I had to re-glue it.
I researched this and other models (Martin & Gibson)before purchasing and there have been no regrets. It is better than I had hoped for. IF it were lost, I would definitely replace it with the same exact model.

My SJ-200 is a sunburst jumbo with tulip kluson tuners-standard spruce
top with maple sides,back and neck. Full size neck with jumbo frets and mop crown inlays-bridge has mop inlays reminiscent of the 1950's models. Made in 1996 at the Gibson Montana facility. Multi-ply binding on the neck body and tuning head. Pickguard has the usual flowers and leaf design.

Playing Blues and Fingerpicking style I was immediately struck by it's balanced tone-very grand piano like. Its loud when picked hard and very clear when fingerpicked softly. It's not called the "king of the flat tops" lightly. My only backhanded comment is at first the tone was a bit "tight" but playing it diligently "smoothed" the tone so now it's hard to put down. I have a vintage Martin D-18 and the tone is much more complex with the SJ-200. All gibson instruments develop a better voice as the finish melds with the wood over time.

The action was a bit high so as to require a trip to my luthier other wise the guitar was perfect out of the case. Constuction of the guitar was excellent.

What can I say except this truly is a lifetime instrument and will last me a long long time. I would have no trouble with this guitar at a gig without a backup. This is a profesional instrument.

Gibson customer support is friendly and helpful. They reply promptly to emails and calls. Never had to invoke the waranty yet.

I have been playing both in bands and at home since 1966. I have other acoustics (Martin/Guild) and this by far is my favorite axe.
Certainly I would replace it if lost. In fact I'm in the process of getting a Natural J-200 as I'm selling off gear no longer used. Every J-200 I've played is a bit unique-no two are exactly alike-thats real mojo-vintage or new. Hats off to Gibson Montana for all their fine guitars! The guitar was sold used one month after being purchased new as the first owner decided on a smaller bodied guitar and came with the original papers/waranty.