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Rating And Reviews: Gibson Songwriter Studio

Rosewood back and sides. Features active electronics with a built-in tuner.

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"A completely functional cutaway acoustic that sounds like a full dreadnaught." submitted June 14, 2003

By a customer from bigriver.net
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Music Style: classical and blues fusion
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SPOTLIGHT REVIEW
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Sound: I love dreadnaughts. This sounded just as good as the best dreadnaught I've ever played. I played a Songwriter Deluxe Cutaway at the Gibson Memphis factory. Which gave me the opportunity to compare it with others in the Dove line, including a black Elvis Dove, and a " Dove's Inflight." Tonally, it knocked me off my feet. The action was perfect. I could get up on the register above the twelth fret and do hammers, and pull offs. It would actually ring even up there. Feature: It was fitted with sealed gold grover keys acorn type. A natural spruce top, rosewood back and sides, super wide nickle frets, an ebony fret board, beautiful mother of pearl and abalone inlay, on the head, fretboard and around the rosette. This guitar did not include visible electronics, but I believe it had a pickup mounted under the bridge. The salesman said that most had fishman preamps. Quality: I found no cosmetic flaws. It was well setup. A nice set of medium gauge Elixirs would have been in order. Gibsons are as tough as any guitar. Still, keeping any guitar new looking is a labor of love. I don't play with picks, so it is easier for me than most other guitarists. Value: Not sure what the MSRP is. Everyone sells them for the same price, 1699. Cheaper than Dove, more than Hummingbird Manufacturer Support: I own a The Paul, a Q4000 and a Skunk Baxter. The Q4 got steamed. Gibson sent me to an authorized repair center in Virginia. It was a days drive. It cost me, but actually, the Guitar was better even after those major repairs. The Wow Factor: I wouldn't describe it as sexy. But, I do lust, I lust real bad. It is very asthetic. Offerings in finishes other than natural would be nice. Overall: This guitar could not be replaced. I would keep it till I died, I'm certain of that. I've had my Guild since it was new, 28 years, it's a part of my life. I could never part with it.
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Gibson Songwriter Studio Customer Review submitted May 25, 2006

By a customer from websouthconsulting.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: Rock, Alternative, Country, Christian, Bluegrass
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Sound: Outstanding. Hands down compares to any Martin or Taylor and I think sounds better than any acoustic dreadnought I have ever played. I have a Martin D28 which is hard to beat but the Songwriter holds it own and I can't put it down. Great bass sound and bright but not shrill. Feature: The Fishman electronics are top-notch and you have a large variety of useful features. Easy to change out the 9volt battery too unlike some others I've looked at. Ease of Use: Right out of its case, the action is lower than other high-end acoustics like Martin's. This guitar is so much easier to play. I would recommend this to beginners as well as you won't get as discouraged trying to learn your harder chords. Very easy to barr and no buzzing. Just fun to play and a dream to play. Quality: I get compliments all the time on this guitar. The abalone inlay on the rosette, neck and headstock is absolutely beautiful and high quality. It definitely turns heads. The cutaway adds to this guitar as well. Not an ugly cutaway like many have. Solidly built and feels well made. Value: I feel like I definitely got what I paid for. Don't feel cheated or burned. This guitar is worth every penny. Manufacturer Support: Can't comment, have never had to contact support. The Wow Factor: Late at night when I'm playing so I have no distractions from the family...:-)...I finish playing and then sometimes place my Songwriter on my guitar stand and just gaze at her. If it was another woman I would be in trouble. Overall: Overall, I love this guitar and would buy it again with no hesitation. I highly recommend it to anyone considering buying it. You will not be disappointed. Go ahead and buy it. There is never that perfect moment to afford a high-end guitar like this so just go ahead and pull the trigger and take it home with you.
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"A guitar made in heaven..." submitted November 24, 2005

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Active Musician
Music Style: Rock, Contemporary, Hillsong Style
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Sound: The sound of my Gibson Songwriter blows away taylors and martins. Everyone (including taylor owners) knows that taylors have no bass and are sometimes too bright. I put some Elixir Phospher Bronze's on my guitar and now it has tremendous brightness as well as the deep warm bass tones that make it sound amazing. Feature: the Fishman electronics are amazing. Having played the expression system on a 4 series taylor I would still rate the electronics on this Gibson above all others. I didnt like the Gold grovers so I swapped them out for some silver ones which make it look much better. Gold is to old fashioned for me. Quality: This is a solid guitar and as soon as you pick it up you feel like your picking up a 100% handmade guitar, not a machine cut one. Value: Well being as this is the best sounding guitar I've ever played, it is worth every penny and then some. I was lookin at some 8 and 9 series taylors that were close to 3 grand, but this guitar blows them away, for only 1900. Manufacturer Support: Sent off my warranty info and got a response right away from Gibson. Website is a little lacking in information and accurate pictures though. Taylors website is 100 times better than Gibsons. The Wow Factor: I was starting to feel a little lonely coming into the holiday season without a girlfriend but then bought this guitar and I fall in love all over again everytime I sit down and play her. I lust after this guitar. I always bring it with me everywhere I go just so I can show it off. Its B E A utiful Overall: Dont know why a bunch of chumps rated this a 7 overall when the combined average of their sub-reviews was like 9. Anyway like I said, this is the best guitar I've ever played. Look wise its hands down the hottest looking guitar ever. Sound wise as soon as you slap on some new strings it becomes almost unearthly in how beautiful it sounds. When I get to heaven, all the angels will be playing Gibson Songwriters and singing Kum Bai Yah. Of this I am sure..
24 of 26 people (92.31%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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"Great Tunes" submitted August 5, 2003

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Music Style: Blues, Country and little bit of everything
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Sound: Excellent Guitar. I tried out several Martins to include the D-28, HD28 and some cutaways, also tried several Taylors which had great action but no punch unless you moved up to the $2600 and up bracket. The Songbird Deluxe has it all.... Great looks, very soild and somewhat heavy in weight.. Pick up a Tacoma and then the Gibson and you just might end up asking yourself.....Where's the wood? The tone is excellent, great bass response with clear mid and high's. Yes they are a little pricey but then again they are hand made and come with a lifetime warranty. The action is a little on the high side as are all gibson acoustics. Feature: Came with a really nice Hardshell case. And of course a Gibson pick. Quality: Top Quality....no imprefections Overall: It's a keeper.
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"Heads and tails above the rest!!" submitted December 16, 2005

By a customer from msn.com
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Musical Background: Band leader/Lead singer
Music Style: Rock, Blues
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Sound: This instrument sounds great. A great balance of lows and highs. Quality: Quality wise this guitar is perfect. Just by looking at it you can tell that it was not just thrown together. Gorgeous!! Value: I think it is the best sounding guitar I've played. I got mine for 1800, considerably less than a comparable Taylor. The Wow Factor: The detail is beautiful. I've have many comments on the beauty of this guitar Overall: Before I bought this I played many Taylors, Martins and a few Gibson jumbos-200 & 185 series. This was the last guitar I picked up to try. This guitar messed me up bad. My buddies played it to and we all agreed that it sounded better than all the others. It was love at first strum. This is a must own guitar.
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"No competition" submitted February 3, 2013

By Thomas R in Providence Forge, VA
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Musical Background: 4 years
Music Style: Rock
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Overall: By far the best acoustic guitar I have ever played. Martin and Taylor do not even come close to matching the sound and play of this beast.
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"Top of the mountain" submitted July 23, 2004

By a customer from bigriver.net
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Music Style: blues
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Sound: Incredible tone. I played over two hundred guitars before I selected this one. Everyone who has heard it says that it is the best sounding guitar they've ever heard. All I did was pluck the D string while it was hanging on the showroom wall, and I new, this was my Gibson. 30 years ago I had a Dove stolen. This Guitar sounds as good as that one. Feature: Excellent tuners (Grover Rotomatics - mine has the presentation pearlwood buttons), rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard, quality electronics, high-end inlay. I like the cutaway, I can get up on the neck. Beautiful and functional. Quality: very well made instrument. It appears as rugged as any square shoulder guitar I've seen. They could have used a more choice quad A spruce top. This one is grainy but it is definitely not a defect. Value: To me, the value is beyond the current retail price. I traded a Taylor K14C for this. Cost wasn't an issue for me. The other guitars I had been looking at were priced above this one. Manufacturer Support: When I purchased it I knew it would need set-up (see ease of use). Where I bought it they wanted to charge for this. I took it to the factory service center and they did the fret work for free. I polished the frets and did the final fine tuning on the saddle. The Wow Factor: It turns heads. Everywhere we've played It receives comments. Overall: I'll keep this guitar til I die.
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"Overpriced and for hit and miss quality." submitted April 7, 2010

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Hobbyist
Music Style: Blues, Classic Rock, Acoustic
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Sound: I purchased one of these back in 2001 from store in San Diego for half what they are going for now. When I opened the case I was in awe at the beauty of the instrument, the quality of the woods and the wonderful smell, like walking into a craftman's wood shop. When I picked it up and played... well, what a disappointment. It was set up very poorly, had a terrible action and sounded dull and lifeless. I contemplated spending 200 bucks to get it fixed up and figured that perhaps after 10 years the woods would mature and it may sound OK but decided to return it (got a Taylor 710ce instead). Feature: It had all the features that I wanted at the time including a cutaway and on board electronics. Ease of Use: Very poor factory set up, expect to pay a good tech to work on it first. This was the norm back in the 80's and 90's but since Taylor started 'mass producing' perfection from the box others followed and for the price you shouldn't have to expect that any more. Quality: Beautiful woods that did not translate to beautiful sounds... very typical of Gibson custom guitars. Value: Not much value in something that sounds so dull and muddy and is hard to play. Manufacturer Support: I called them with some questions and they are easy to contact and reply is quick. The Wow Factor: If I could find one again for the price that I paid that sounds sweet and has a decent factory set up I might give it another shot. I remember some years later playing one in 'everybody's favorite instrument emporium' and it played well and sounded OK but by then the price was almost 2000 bucks, now look at them! Overall: I was not satisfied.
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"Overpriced with inconsistent quality control." submitted November 29, 2008

By a customer from hotmail.com
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Musical Background: Active musician
Music Style: Blues / Folk Rock
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Sound: Very woody and dull. Takes about 5 years to mature. Feature: Useful cutaway and electronics useful for stage work. Ease of Use: Very poor set up out of the box (or should I say the included case). Quality: Beautiful craftsmanship but why such a poor set up from the Gibson factory... add a hundred or so bucks on to the price to get the guitar set up with your favorite technician, I've never needed to do that with Taylor. Value: Considering I got mine for $1400 brand new from an authorized dealer (back around 2003/4) I should have kept it, got the set up done, let it sit and mature for a few years and then sold it for a nice little profit. Manufacturer Support: Never dealt with Gibson. The Wow Factor: If I could find a nice one I would consider purchasing it (perhaps used for 1400 bucks). Overall: I have since purchased a Takamine EF series, a Taylor 600 series and an Alvarez Masterworks all of which offer much better overall tone,value for money and playability.
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