Gibson Review: J 180 EC

History:

Purchase: I bought this guitar for my wife a few years ago. At the time, we were leading worship in churches across the mid-west and south and she needed a better guitar. The purshase was made at Paradise Guitars in Beloit Wisconsin and I think we paid around $1500.00.

What I Like About This Gibson J 180 EC: My wife and son recently flew to our new home in Tucson AZ, leaving me in Wisconsin to spend a few months wrapping up business. The logistics of air travel with our 2 1/2 year old meant that her beloved Gibson would have to stay with me. I finally had my chance to put fingerprints on her guitar and make the strings go dead on a higher quality instrument. I have a $500.00 Fender acoustic, it sounds fine and I don't have a heart attack when some kid knocks it over at a church somewhere. The first thing that strikes me about the Gibson is the beautiful tobacco sunburst finish on this single cut away jumbo. The kneck is inlayed with Mother -of-Pearl (clam shell) star clusters. The gold hardware adds a nice finishing touch. The Fishman Prefix Plus under saddle transducer has more control and a warmer sound than I am used to. I recorded a finger picking part using the compression from a Boss GT-6B straight into my computer for a song this week and the attack is crisp without the brittle sound some systems have. I took the guitar into Jim Butler, a guitar tech in Janesville WI to be set up and gone over and the playability and intonation of the neck went from good to great.

What I Do NOT Like About The Gibson J 180 EC: The only thing I don't like about it, is that I have to give it back. :)

Gibson J 180 EC Quality Rating: The construction is solid. I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb. The inlays are well placed. This is a Montana made Gibson and they got it right! One complaint, the end pin jack, which is the 1/4 inch output for the transducer, keeps working it's way loose.

Review Summary: I would recommend this guitar to anyone looking for great play and sound. All-in-all, I am trying to figure out a way to covet my wifes guitar and still play worship music in churches. God give me grace.

Rating of this Gibson product: 4

This Gibson J 180 EC Acoustic Guitars Review Submitted By: Rev. Mark S. Archambault

Review Date: 2004-08-27