2008 VIP
GeorgeChabot
Conyers, GA

A Beautiful sounding playable guitar

5 star rating

picky about guitars, a classic rocker, listening to blues, looking for durability, Guitar player, love boy toys, classic rocker, willing to pay for quality
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Pros

    Appearance, Hardshell case, Sweet sound, Easy action

Cons
    Worth the price which is high

AUG
16
2008
Gibson Songwriter Deluxe

The Songwriter Deluxe is a handsome instrument with the Dreadnought body style, with the squarish shoulders and wide waist typically characteristic of most Martin guitars, however the Gibson "D" Body sounds VERY different. Whereas the Martin runs to the bass side with less apparent treble response, to my ears the Songwriter Deluxe sounds just right; balanced, with a roaring bass tone and good solid treble registers as well. This is a great guitar for folk, rock, country, or ballads.

The Gibson Songwriter Deluxe is available in both cutaway and non cutaway versions. The body is made from solid Indian Rosewood with a solid Sitka Spruce top. My top has beautiful cross grain highlights, like fiddle back, making it a very handsome instrument.

The neck is of Mahogany;  The body is fully bound with multiple ply binding to protect the edges. Solid wood guitars can crack if banged around and the binding serves a useful protective purpose as well as being decorative.

The Gibson is made in the Gibson Acoustic factory in Bozeman, Montana, which their website explains has the perfect climate for manufacturing fine wooden instruments, neither too hot or too cold. Also, the sight of the snow capped Rockies gives the luthiers (guitar makers) inspiration. Gibson Acoustic guitars are built by musicians, for musicians. No stone is unturned to make sure each instrument meets the demanding standards to bear the 100 year-old name of Gibson.

The fingerboard and bridge are made of the finest ebony, very hard for brilliant sustain. The neck is set into the body with Gibson’s special dovetail joint, making the guitar virtually one piece of wood for transference of the string vibrations to the sound chamber. Special arched and scalloped bracing inside directs the sound to the sound hole making the guitar the acoustic equivalent of a fine audio speaker. I would say the bracing as well as the Indian Rosewood back and sides might be the reason the Gibson has a better treble response than the typical Martin.

Appearance factors are right in tune, also, with spiffy large double parallelogram position markers made of luxurious mother of pearl, as well as the Gibson crown and name logo inset into the headstock. An abalone rosette also surrounds the sound hole. Gold-plated kidney shaped Grover machine heads handle the tuning chores with aplomb.

The neck and headstock are unbound in keeping with the more modest price of the Songwriter Deluxe than some of the big Gibsons which can run 3 - 3 times the price.  The guitar has a Fishman pickup with active four band EQ built in in case you want to plug in. The EQ has + and - 12 dB of boost and cut to give you a highly variable tone for both rhythm and lead licks. There is a phase switch in case you get hum, also. I’ve run mine through my amp and found it had great tone, however I think I’ll plug it direct into a PA system if I do a live performance that needs amplification.

Like most Gibson Acoustics, the Songwriter Deluxe is finished in Antique Natural hand rubbed lacquer. This is the age-old Gibson finish that melds with the wood and makes the tone sweeter year by year. It also yields that beautiful vintage Gibson appearance as it ages.

Playing the Songwriter Deluxe is a delight with its typical 25½” scale length and 1.725” width at nut. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and chording are super accurate and easy to do. The guitar has consistent intonation up the entire scale length, no annoying fret buzz or rumble. Tone is highly satisfying with a good mix of treble and bass response.

I replaced the somewhat dingy factory Gibson Mastertone phosphor bronze strings with a set of Martin .012 round wounds and it sounds even more full and lovely than it did when I bought it.

Like all Gibson Acoustics, the Songwriter Deluxe comes with a premium hard shell case, humidifier, instructions, and a guitar pick. It has the Gold lifetime warranty that you can register by snail mail or by visiting www.gibson.com.



I_thumb_up Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Modern Classic is recommended by GeorgeChabot

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about GeorgeChabot’s Review

 


PattyTherre wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 11:12PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Aug 17, 2008 at 9:17PM:

Awww, shucks. *blush*

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 9:17PM

In response to PattyTherre's comment from Aug 17, 2008 at 9:13PM:

Thank you Patty! I am one of your biggest fans, too! :>

PattyTherre wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 9:13PM

He rides Harleys, he plays guitars, he writes beauty reviews. Is there nothing that this man CAN'T do? ;)

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 7:41PM

In response to AngelaWLaFon's comment from Aug 17, 2008 at 6:43PM:

Thanks for stopping by. At least one of us got there. ;>

AngelaWLaFon wrote on Aug 17, 2008 at 6:43PM

Glad you're playing and writing again:) I was just in Bozeman recently.

LisaCarey wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 10:20PM

If only we had audio reviews. . . you could share the joy of this with us :-)

kid-kansas wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 8:32PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 5:21PM:

As the saying goes..."A brother from a different mother"..That is an honor to me George, Thank you...;)

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 5:21PM

In response to kid-kansas's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 5:17PM:

You are a real brother I never actually met, Ron. :>

kid-kansas wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 5:17PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 4:42PM:

I sure hope you heal back 100% and you can play again like you want, as I can attest to limitations from getting injured, it makes you change a lot about how you do things. ;)

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 4:42PM

In response to kid-kansas's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 4:17PM:

Ron, you always say the nicest things. I have some damage to me now that makes it difficult to play. I think it will get better as time goes by but you sure learn your limitations after a motorcycle accident. :>

kid-kansas wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 4:17PM

I always wanted to learn and then I got all that nerve damage but I do love listening to people play. My brother has a Gibson but not sure which one he has. Very detailed review George, you do that guitar proud with the details you went through....;)

AnnaBanana wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 3:22PM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 2:22PM:

Well, it sure was a great review! I imagine a good guitar is a worthy investment if you know what to do with it, which I suspect you do. Well, I'm going offline for a while now. Catch ya later and it is always nice tohear from you.

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 2:23PM

In response to Fardreamer's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 2:08PM:

Thank you for asking. I am a folk - rock - country type player while I appreciate Montoya and other flamenco guitarists. I saw him at the Fox Theater in Detroit about 25 years ago. He was beyond belief.

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 2:22PM

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 1:52PM:

No, no, Anna. I was doing that kind of tongue in cheek. I get about 30X as many hits on a review on Epinions. In other words if I get 3 hits here, I get 90 there. There is a much livelier bunch there but some real weeds have shown up, too. You might like to try it there. ;>

Fardreamer wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 2:08PM

Hi George. I read the review and the I AM tags, so I know you play mostly rock and other popular genres, but do you enjoy listening to classical guitar at all? Just curious. Good review and great to see you writing again.

AnnaBanana wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 1:52PM

Hi, George! I loved the review! I didn't turn on late last evening and didn't recall seeing this when I signed off yesterday. Every now and then I'll do a review where nobody responds or checks in for hours on it and I don't think we should take things like that too personally -- it certainly is no reflection on the review. I bet you really make that guitar get up and sing!

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 1:21PM

In response to LoveisJoy's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 12:25PM:

You can't go wrong and you might be surprised how well you could pick up the piano, too. :>

LoveisJoy wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 12:25PM

Sounds like a high quality instrument. My stepdaughter has just started guitar lessons and she's very excited. The only instrument I ever played was the clarinet (in grade school). I'd love to take up the piano, but I'm probably too old now. Nice review. :)

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 11:45AM

In response to Meri's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 11:43AM:

They are really the top, as far as I'm concerned also. Why would they sell a diamond cheap, anyway?

Meri wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 11:43AM

Love Gibson guitars; I wouldn't expect anything less from them.

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 10:00AM

In response to Katrena's comment from Aug 16, 2008 at 9:52AM:

Thank you much, Katrena! :>

Katrena wrote on Aug 16, 2008 at 9:52AM

Nice review--very detailed!

5 star rating
"Warm Sound From Cold Country"
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