New vs Vintage Gibson Southern Jumbo: 1940's vs 2010's Acoustic Guitar Comparison
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4 жыл бұрынComparing a relatively new Southern Jumbo (Bozeman, 2013) with an old one (Kalamazoo, 1946).
Both guitars have Adirondack Spruce Tops, Mahogany Back and Sides, 24.75" scale lengths, and are strung up with D'addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Strings.
The Southern Jumbo, or "Southerner Jumbo" as it was originally called is a rather peculiar guitar because it's not a Jumbo, it's a slope-shouldered dreadnought. The model was introduced in 1942 for Gibson sales reps to take around to stores in the southern US and use it to sell Gibson guitars! It is essentially a J-45 with a little extra bling; a bound fretboard, parallelogram inlays, a slightly more ornate rosette...
Many prolific artists have been sighted with an SJ including Kris Kristofferson, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams Jr., and Sheryl Crow.
1946 SJ
Strumming 0:01 Flatpicking 3:22 Flatpicking2 5:40 Fingerpicking 8:16 Fingerpicking2 10:57 Capo 13:50
2013 SJ
Strumming 1:43 Flatpicking 4:30 Flatpicking2 7:06 Fingerpicking 9:42 Fingerpicking2 12:37 Capo 15:00
Recorded with Shure KSM32, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, Logic Pro, no additional processing.
If you'd like to pitch in a couple bucks for coffee/beer; you can do so here - paypal.me/ianmeadowsmusic
Ian’s Favorite Guitar Stuff:
1. Nickel Bronze Strings - amzn.to/2qDOwty
2. Phosphor Bronze Strings - amzn.to/2YtzjHS
3. Shubb C1 Capo - amzn.to/2rrAfAs
4. American Stage Cables - amzn.to/2E1dmXj
5. Acoustic Soundhole Tuner - amzn.to/355bPLw
6. String Winder & Cutter - amzn.to/2P1Z5Qe
7. Boss Pedal Tuner - amzn.to/38kuGV1
8. String Winder & Cutter - amzn.to/2PElHpp
9. Snark Headstock Tuner - amzn.to/2YEW4sF
Things Used In This Video:
4k Camera - amzn.to/357AFuo
Shure Condenser Mic - amzn.to/36mQrlv
Microphone Stand - amzn.to/2Ytag7G
Camera Tripod - amzn.to/38mdf6E
My Original Songs - • My Music
@aamapes 4 жыл бұрын
The mellow “old wood” sound of the ‘46 just speaks to my ear...
@mikeyankie9594 4 жыл бұрын
Just imagine how the 2013 will sound in 50 years....
@microdosesmediagroup1271 4 жыл бұрын
Best demo of the SJ I’ve seen/heard by far. Thanks! Well played, recorded and filmed. Cheers.
@mywrkout1 4 жыл бұрын
I like the woody dry sound of the 46 but the overtones in the 13 is captivating! I like them both for their unique sound. Thank you Ian, great video!
@lumediaproductions3087 4 жыл бұрын
Fantastic video! You can clearly hear which one is the old one, even without watching.
@pcbif 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ian for a great comparison. I loved then both, and f anything surprised me, it was how much I liked the 2013 compared to the 1946.
@elementaryprincipal4658 2 жыл бұрын
It seems like the 2013 has a "scooped" range, which is better for singing with; while the 1946 would be better for fingerstyle, etc.
@philippelastours7860 4 жыл бұрын
I love your playing !! Both guitars are amazing and sound awesome... in your hands! I own a southern jumbo 2015 , incredible sound and such a beauty. love Gibson so much but I cannot play it as well as you do . Many thanks for all your Great reviews . Phil
@ianmeadows6351 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words Phil, be well.
@BeeDedicated 3 жыл бұрын
Just bought a '63 today. I love the mellow tone of the 57 year old wood. It's great for acoustic blues, but you really have to hammer down on it to get sparkle.
@davidbickle2097 3 жыл бұрын
The old wood is wonderful to the ear. I play a 2020 SJ and love it also.
@pcbif 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Ian. Awesome quitars and awesome playing. They are subtly different, but I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite. I have the privilege of owning both a 61 and 2015 J45. Sometimes I think I prefer one, and sometime the other. I guess i love them both, but for somewhat different reasons.
@acousticmarco 3 жыл бұрын
Both great.. With every more year of playing the 2013's will open up more & more.. A comparison uf your SJ with a standard J-45 from around that time would be great to compare Adirondack & Sitka.. Cheers
@williamvanvugt9117 2 жыл бұрын
This is a great discussion. But one thing lacking is what the guitar does with/for the player. I have been playing great Martins and Gibsons--old and new--for 50 years. And the great vintage guitars interact with the player more personally: they shake the ribcage and put sound through the entire body, which inspires the player. This is in addition to the sound and response (which in my experience is excelled by the great 30s and 40s Gibsons and Martins.) I wonder if anyone else has this experience. (It's not just collectability that raises the prices of great vintage guitars.)
@donaldlaury7193 2 жыл бұрын
I'm seriously considering one of the 2020+ versions of these (the 1942 Banner SJ). Thanks for this. I could tell a small difference, but not sure which one I liked better. I guess it's good that they both sounded great, especially since there's probably just as much difference between two of the 2013s or especially between two different vintage guitars of the same year/model.
@richardlindquist5936 2 жыл бұрын
This is a great comparison, Thanks! I agree with another poster who commented that the ‘46 seems a little dead. While the intonation sounds good, and there is a nice woodiness to it, the sustain and overtones, especially in the midrange, are not as prominent as the 2013. Of course, this is from my keyboard at the end of the whole process from mic into my speakers, but still it sounds like something is keeping the full range from emerging. It might be my ears, but it sounds like dead strings, or bracing, or bridge, or neck joint, but there’s some splainin to do.
@mcdee56 4 жыл бұрын
Both generations of SJ are sounding mighty tasty, Ian! Their tonal contrast reminds me of the difference between an Eastman E10SSv with an E10SS. Yes?
@dooleyfussle8634 4 жыл бұрын
I like 'em both. They're different but complementary. I have a tobacco burst '72 SJ with the square shoulders and rightside up bridge and it sounds about half way between these two. Sweet spot? The only thing I don't care for is it's heavy. Maybe I should have the braces thinned and scalloped? Wish I could tickle the strings like you. Thanks for the show.
@headbaker44 2 жыл бұрын
Both sound great. I liked the '46 when flat picking. The '13 sounded a little more open when finger picking.
@bastardsonofretkillr 3 жыл бұрын
I own a 2014 Gibson J-15 and it’s a cannon loud woody and articulate I installed super jumbo stainless steel frets and a tiger stripe pickguard
@danyjr 4 жыл бұрын
If there price didn't matter, the vintage any day of the week. Such a warmer, more mature tone. You can tell the top has opened over the last 70 years or so. However the SJ doesn't sound bad at all. Also didn't know Gibson did a Southern Jumbo with the banner headstock in 2010s.
@stevewilliams846 4 жыл бұрын
I've watched your videos so much the first thing I play when I pick my guitar up is your intro strum routine. 2013 SJ for me.
@gregwilson2721 3 жыл бұрын
love the 46, id grab that one every time.
@Whitehawkvisionfilms 3 жыл бұрын
Both sound beautiful! I want the 46' ;-)
@greeremalachi926 2 жыл бұрын
I agree with many here that they both sound great. The "war time" Southerner Jumbo has a cleaner straight across the board even sound while the 2013 has a very close Martin like bassier punch. Most of us acoustic guitarist like that bass on our dreadnoughts. The thinner Adirondack spruce top and the thinner bracing of the 46 that gives it that "unnatural" but clean undampened perfect strum across the strings. Most of us are not used to that "Banner" like Gibson sound and I personally like the cleaner unique Banner tone with that pretty bite. IMO. Thank you.
@koalanectar9382 2 жыл бұрын
Honestly they sound very very similar, but there's definitely a noticable low end "boof" noise more noticable on the 13 on each strum\pick attack. Not necessarily bad or good, but that's just the only difference I'd probably ever actually notice purely on the sound, especially if it were in a full mix. Great comparison video though, I love stuff like this.
@dannywoody5497 4 ай бұрын
Oh the old 46 is a killer the 2013 is pretty fabulous also for a new guitar my hats off to Gibson
@smflyboy 2 жыл бұрын
2013 sounds better to me. Simply put, it almost sounded like the 2013 had new strings and the 1946 didn’t. Both sound great. So cool to be able to even see and hear a 1946 SJ. Thx!
@thecaveofthedead 4 жыл бұрын
They sound very similar. The old one just has an ever so slightly looser feel that I'm sure the 2013 will have in 5-10 years too.
@golds04 3 жыл бұрын
I have a 63. I have never heard an acoustic so clean and distinct in its sound. An old Martin? Beautiful- but totally different vibe. The née sounds metallic. Maybe in 80 years it won’t.
@znmcg 3 жыл бұрын
I had 64 humming bird and bought a 2018 standard southern jumbo. Sold the bird and am keeping the SJ to grow old with
@paulsharp6559 11 ай бұрын
I like the Gibson southern jumbo. Especially the smaller neck. My is a Aug - 2017😎
@shortyjackson5271 Жыл бұрын
Both sound awesome. I believe this was the guitar Hank Williams used.
@enginufuk 2 жыл бұрын
Same as night and day. Both gorgeous, just different.
@Sci-Que 2 жыл бұрын
Both guitars sound great to me. Something tells me there is something unnatural going on in the vintage guitar, such as an inadequate repair. It should sound less dampened. The 2013 sounded better to me. The old wood in the vintage sounded like there was some real magic in there trying to get out and just could not find it's way.
@blakewilkerson9695 Жыл бұрын
I felt the same way. As he played the old guitar I was thinking dang sounds like it’s smothered possibly old strings ? Maybe a bad repair idk
@Bellmore1395 3 ай бұрын
You have bad ears
@trebleclef169 3 ай бұрын
The 46 is fuller sounding to my ear, and has more "headroom". He wasn't strumming very hard at all, and had that mic turned way up in order to capture the audio in these samples.
@Sci-Que 3 ай бұрын
Would have been nice if he had done a soundtrack with each guitar without us knowing which was the vintage and which was the new. @@trebleclef169
@christianvidigalmiranda4229 4 жыл бұрын
Ever I expect a more beautiful sound from an older guitar but this time I was surprised, I liked the newer guitar more.
@Winterfell1066 2 жыл бұрын
I love vintage Gibsons and have several. Both sound good, but the 2013 SJ is better to my ear than the 46. I agree with one of the other posters, the 46 SJ seems a little tight for some reason. Better openness and clarity in the 2013. Love the mojo of the 46 though.
@Contact_Info 3 жыл бұрын
Can't go wrong with either but the 1946 has crisper Woody sound. If I had to choose from discernment made through my phone speakers, I go with the 1946, if that means anything.
@ChrisFreyLive 10 ай бұрын
Both versions sound really great. I wouldn't mind either. For my ear, one does not sound better than the others. They are just different.
@guitarman3396 4 жыл бұрын
I’m inclined to prefer the 2013 model year.
@ianmeadows6351 4 жыл бұрын
Right on! Good to hear, as it belongs to me :)
@carrotsandrunning Жыл бұрын
Maybe its just me, but the difference is practically unnoticeable.
@matthewgraham3539 4 жыл бұрын
Both are great
@ianmeadows6351 4 жыл бұрын
you got that right.
@regularjim3193 3 жыл бұрын
I have a '46, so I'm going to have to go with the '46.
@andrewhumphrey1047 4 жыл бұрын
You should try and get your hands on a Southern Jumbo 12 fret they made a few years ago. Red spruce top. I think I’m going to finally commit to a 2017 j45 12 fret. Man it is sweet. At first I was like “it sounds like a J45” but the more styles I tried, the more I liked it. I was sold when I put it in Open C tuning, then back to standard tuning to try it with a capo. I’ve never heard a guitar sound so pretty with a capo. It sparkled. And when I sang with it, it was never overbearing and felt like it belonged. Very impressed. Gibson makes a special guitar for sure. Always enjoy your reviews Ian and insight Ian. You’ve helped a lot in the journey.
@022100bmlotus 4 жыл бұрын
I just got a 12 fret (adi top) a month ago (couple years old), it lacks a bit of my 1996 J45 thump/twang, but the neck seems easier to play. Maybe in 5 years it'll grow some boom. Regardless, both of them are fantastic neg-news killers.
@andrewhumphrey1047 4 жыл бұрын
@@022100bmlotus Thanks for your reply. The J 45 12 fret that I found has a little more bass than the 14 fret J45 and also cuts out a bare amount of the midrange twang. Almost like a middle ground between a J 35 and J 45. is yours a 12 fret Southern Jumbo? Also, mid 90's j 45s do have a beefier neck, more like a Hummingbird. the Slim taper didn't come out until 2003 or so. and the 12 frets just play so easy
@022100bmlotus 4 жыл бұрын
@@andrewhumphrey1047 My 96 J45 has thick neck, about 1/8 more than my 2018 SJ custom 12 fret (yes). My SJ has an ADI top, Anthem pick up, the older one is Sitka spruce, no pick-up, but I think that 23 years old helps it have more boom. The tune called Christmas by Collective Soul is so baddass to play /hear on both, but... the older one has strong E noting. // Just because its easier to play I usually grab the newer SJ. I would say... similar to a fine sippn whiskey and a good beer. or... brunette w pristine blue eyes, or sandy blonde with brown eyes and other attributes.
@sivadyert 2 жыл бұрын
The vintage one doesn't ring out as well?
@Bdavis1103 4 ай бұрын
geeze that 46 though
@garpng 4 жыл бұрын
Could you test the Sigma Hummingbird (DM SG5) ? It seems good and not expensive....Thanks
@guitarman3396 4 жыл бұрын
garp Could you please fo?
@garpng 4 жыл бұрын
@@guitarman3396 fo?
@CenterThePendulum 4 жыл бұрын
New punchier, vintage more atmospheric and warm. Just like Gibson vs PRS I’d imagine a lot of ears not hearing the distinction will be satisfied by either. Every guitar varies but the best gibsons I’ve ever played have been 40’s.
@Rossdink 4 жыл бұрын
Where do we get 40s Gibson’s that actually play well and sound nice like this, and what do they cost? 10-20k? I had my phone in my pocket and I could tell right away when it was the 40s, sounded crazy good
@CenterThePendulum 4 жыл бұрын
The week before COVID I played one at Carter Vintage that ran about 6k, ‘46 I recall. If you’re focused primarily on sound little things like tuner replacement, heavier scratches, history of refretting can bring the price down. Still expensive but a relative bargain for old growth, nicely aged wood.
@sesa1076 3 жыл бұрын
The old one has more of what I’d think of as J-45 pegs. Wonder when, and why, that changed.
@lukearnoldinstrumentals 3 жыл бұрын
Right? I've honestly always thought they looked much nicer than the style we usually get today
@AnonymousNP 4 жыл бұрын
Honestly i cant tell if i should spend the 7k for a old sj '46-53 or only put half the money for a reissue whats your thought? i already own a old j45's but a southern jumbo has been mine dream guitar, i just dont like the idea of having a 7-9k guitar cause i would almost never wanna play it...
@ianmeadows6351 4 жыл бұрын
I think the only real advantage to buying vintage, is that they hold their value (at least for the time being), and they're cool and vibey. As someone who owns a couple vintage axes, from a practical perspective there's really no reason for having them other then I like them. I am constantly blown away by brand new guitars from Martin and Gibson, not to mention Collings and Bourgeois.... If you find an old one that speaks to you, I say buy it, but otherwise just find a new or slightly used on.
@gregwilson2721 3 жыл бұрын
9k isnt that much money for a great old player guitar.
@robertlindgren8132 10 ай бұрын
I have a 1947 Gibson L4 acoustic guitar.
@dalehamon4295 3 ай бұрын
I’m thinking the newer Gibson is Sitka and the older Gibson is Adirondack
@michaelaiello9525 2 жыл бұрын
The ‘46 for me please!
@williamvanvugt7989 3 жыл бұрын
The 46 has a woodier, dryer, shimmering sound with more overtones. You just can't make old Gibson SJs (though the new one was wonderful). Full disclosure: I just bought a late-40s SJ.
@646oleg 4 жыл бұрын
Maybe Gibson didn't implemented scalloped braising in 1940s guitar. They do sound a lot different.
@AnonymousNP 4 жыл бұрын
Alot of the Gibson's vary in, I know a guy with a 40's sj with scalloped bracing, and another sj same yr without scalloped
@Contact_Info 4 жыл бұрын
@@AnonymousNP are the 1940s SJ forward shifted bracing?
@znmcg 3 жыл бұрын
New sounds better which is strange. I had a similar discovery between a 64 hummingbird and 2018 SJ
@eyes_on_the_track 4 жыл бұрын
Is the ‘46 for sale? I definitely would be interested.
@Bellmore1395 3 ай бұрын
The new one has the same sound, but it sounds like it’s being suffocated and the sound wants to bust out from the entire body of the instrument. It can’t breathe because of the gloss and the wood is not aged
@jamesn5595 3 жыл бұрын
the '46 has a much woodier sound to me. Not as punchy? I like both. The tone comparison reminds me a little of my son's Blues King and my '52 LG2 3/4. Tone.........
@ianmeadows6351 3 жыл бұрын
Tone.... yep!
@richardlindquist5936 2 жыл бұрын
Me like me some Blues King!
@tengthao5046 2 жыл бұрын
Going with the old skoo , sounds like where freedom lives , 2000’s sounds like Justin Bieber
@gouldbergvariations 2 жыл бұрын
Just no comparison really. The oldie has balanced very well through the years. The new one needs to grow up.
@tbeau6663 4 жыл бұрын
And the difference in cost is.......?
@Infinitegrowth-zt1mh 2 жыл бұрын
Not even close. The vintage blows the newer guitar away
@wolfgang4078 3 жыл бұрын
Try the 2013 in 2063 !
@ianmeadows6351 3 жыл бұрын
I cant wait! Ill make a video and post here
@adgg577 2 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately, you can't bottle what the '46 has which is time. The 2013 will sound just as good if not better one day.
@daciuk8 4 жыл бұрын
Sad to say but the new one every time🇬🇧
@ianmeadows6351 4 жыл бұрын
It's not too sad to me Paul! It's a good thing for all of us. We are living in an a golden age of acoustic guitars.
@Thomasringpetersen 3 жыл бұрын
Wood vs metal
@dgarner23 3 жыл бұрын
One of the few cases where new sounds better to my ears.The mellow on the 46 is too mellow imo. Sounds lifeless.
@fleadoggreen9062 3 жыл бұрын
Too close to tell for me
@mohawkbear8768 4 жыл бұрын
Newer one sounds better to my ear
@Mephilis78 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, it makes that brand new Gibson sound like a 150 dollar Epiphone lol
@Winterfell1066 2 жыл бұрын
For the 46, "This machine kills fascists." Woodie Guthrie
@thejason9786 3 жыл бұрын
Sure everyone likes "vintage guitars" for the mojo they offer. In my own non professional player perspective on guitars, I find a guitar 5 to 15 years old sound the best. After that they tend to lose some resonance but at the same time gain collectabiliy status. This video proves my allegation. Clearly the newer one sounds better to my ear.
@51Dss 4 жыл бұрын
the newer one sounded much better than the old one.
@scottwilson7095 Жыл бұрын
I know it's blasphemy but I liked the 2010 better. Let the flogging begin...
@simpleone1989 4 жыл бұрын
Their necks look very wide, almost like a classical guitar.
@guitarman3396 4 жыл бұрын
Simon Tan So?
@simpleone1989 4 жыл бұрын
@@guitarman3396 looks more difficult to play
@AnonymousNP 4 жыл бұрын
@@simpleone1989 1 3/4 width and its not as thick as the banner era, also I contest to that, I have a '46 an I feel like the neck is just as big as the '44
@jimboslice9472 3 жыл бұрын
more old junk
@alphacapo 3 жыл бұрын
Old wood sounding better is a myth. Guitar might change slightly the first five years after that....it ain't changing. Its a myth so collectors feel better about paying through the nose.
@MrFreethinkin 3 жыл бұрын
old wood=wood that was already old when harvested possibly 300+ years old trees. It also grew naturally where today's wood is grown fast, force fed nutrients and water..never really grown naturally and only a few decades old when harvested.
@alphacapo 3 жыл бұрын
@@MrFreethinkin that's called old growth. Sure it's better wood. But By the time you mix and record . And it gets pumped throu your speakers at home. You Can't tell the difference between 500 and 5k guitars. Mic placement. pic attack. Even How hard your fingers are have more effect on sound. Just my opinion tho
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