Sound:
Nice fat trebles. Resonant bass. No wolf tones. Clear tone in all registers. Best with Martin SP 80/20 or John Pearce strings. When miking, you may need to reduce the bass just slightly because it is so resonant. But what an acoustic sound!
Feature:
No special features. Just solid construction and high quality materials.
Quality:
Construction is first-rate--not even any "orange peel" spots in the finish. Product is as sturdy as any acoustic guitar--let's face it, they are delicate instruments and one must respect them properly. OIf you can't do that, then buy a Takamine that you couldn't dent with a bowling and shape its sound with the electronics.
Value:
Absolutely.
Manufacturer Support:
Only dealt with them with questions regarding this and other Gibson products. They have always responded within 24 hours to any question.
The Wow Factor:
Why would I want something that I could make good music without? This is simply the best and most versatile all-around guitar I have found for my purposes and all the sex appeal that other models and other brands may offer is worthless is they can't match this instrument's sound and ease of play.
Overall:
It has a richer and more resonant tone than its competitors from Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, etc. I have played them all. Being made from Mahogany, it has a natural brightness, but the deeper tones also resonate freely. It has a woody quality to its sound, not steely like the others. I'd have to go with a Martin D-18 to even come close to the quality I like in the J-50. I like the sound best. What do I like least? The fact that I have only one of them.
6 of 6 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Balanced with robust base and fullness. Mine is one of the few I know of. Compared to the very fine other guitars I have owned (all the big names and a super quality hand made)it compares well them all. The J50 has a shorter scale 24.75", but still has the volume and tone I want, being an old Martin fan. I used to own the best HD28 I ever heard and I let it go (regrettably) but I am satisfied with the J50. The shorter scale is easier on my knuckles and joints. I think it has more "voicing" capability than other guitars, which makes it great for blues etc. Some of the quality comes from the hand made attention and the hand-scalloped bracing. It is only a few years old and I wonder why they quit making it. I am told they now make a "natural finish" J45.
Feature:
The J50 is simplicity on display. It is what it is. That lack of ginger bread and eye candy validates the guitar. I gave it an eight on features because the transducer pickup is outclassed by the other super systems on Taylors, takamines, and martins. However, it is more than adequate and in line with the rest of the package.
I use an Access Stage 5 case instead of the OHSC, for protection and future value.
Ease of Use:
So simple that this is almost non-applicable. It is a player's dream. May be not the Martin D35 slamming through early 70's stuff into a mic, but then who does that anymore.
Quality:
Again, it is what it is. Martin,Taylor, Takamine, Tacoma etc. all do a bit better on overall fit and finish. Mine has a tiny piece of fingerboard (way down by the sound hole) missing, i.e. meaningless. While looking for this, though, I saw many Gibsons from Montana, which were dull and lifeless. A few j45s were very good, and this J50 was superb. Another guitar buyer followed me out and tried to buy it from me in the parking lot... I digress. The finish is quite thin. The wood is aging nicely these last few years.
Value:
Yes.
Manufacturer Support:
All attempts to communicate with them have been unrequited. Generally, I find them arrogant and not helpful like Chris Martin's crew, or the fender guys.
The Wow Factor:
Simple and reliable. No stupid eye candy like the Songwriter or the Dove things.
Overall:
If they made it I would likely look for one. Maybe I would look at that natural J45.
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