This is a lifetime purchase and 'personal relationship'. This guitar is going to be with me along with my wife for the rest of my life.

Sound
My Gibson has plenty of volume and is very well balanced throughout the lowend to the highend. I have used both Martin SPs and Elixir strings, (Medium Gauge), with great success. I played quite a few J150s and J200s in attempting to decide on one . . . this one stood out and I bought it on the spot. There are differences in the different Gibsons even though they are the same model. This is truly the best acoustic guitar I have ever played.

Features
What can I say . . . it works as it is supposed to and keeps its tune.

Ease of Use
The guitar can be used to play anything. I am a flat picker and it suits me fine. I can play blues, folk, country, or rock . . . no issues. I do find it better to 'mic it' instead of the internal electrics while recording or playing through an amplifier.

Quality
The 'only' reason I don't give it a '10' is due to agreeing with another reviewer . . . my pickguard is coming up as well.

Value
Relative to other guitars in this price range 'and above' I feel that I got a good deal. This guitar compares 'easily' with any J200 I have played both in tone and in playability. Further, I have found that Gibson is in it's own league with respect to tone. I can… read more play this guitar in the dark in front of the fireplace with my girlfriend and have a very pleasent evening. The Gibsons have a very very 'real' and full tone that you would have to pay at least double to achieve with a Martin and you just can't get with a Taylor.

Manufacturer Support
I have had conversations with Gibson representatives on the phone and they were helpful. Seeing the other reviewer mentioning the pick guard makes me feel that Gibson could be supporting this 'more' than they are/have, therefore, the '7'.

The Wow Factor
I think the Maple wood is extremely nicely done and it looks great! The pick guard is probably the only thing that I would consider changing at all . . . and even if I could, I'm not sure that I would! It's a great looking guitar!

Musical Background:
Active muscian

Musical Style:
A little bit of everything and my own read less