Interesting comparison. When simply strumming, it was sort of a wash in my opinion but I'd probably give the nod to the rosewood example. However, when the playing became more complex, involving flatpicking or fingerpicking, the maple example sounded quite a bit better to me as it seemed to offer much more clarity. This allowed me to hear the details of your playing much more clearly. One more thing - when it comes to Gibson guitars I almost always prefer the looks of the sunburst. This time around was no exception.
I will disagree with you. I prefer the sunburn Brazilian rosewood version which has a beautiful large sound with great bass and also very sweet resonant high notes. I have owned for the last 20 years an SJ200 with maple wood and I love it. It’s my favorite acoustic guitar. So, it’s not a question of wood for me. It’s after listening to your comparison that I found the AJ 1936 great. Now, when you compare all these versions of J45, I found that the Deluxe was my favorite. It’s such a clear sound. We can hear each note, each string when you play. Too bad, I’m left handed and the Deluxe doesn’t exist left handed. It is already very expensive right handed. So I got the standard J45 which I like very much… until I find a used left handed Deluxe ! lol Thanks for your demonstrations. Your sound recording is great.
@@acousticmusicnthings Both sounded great. The maple custom shop guitar is not braced the same as the 1936 reissue ADJ and the soundboard on the 1936 model is not as loud for that reason. Maple back and sides make for a louder guitar too.
I suppose that's why you need more than one guitar - Zeppelin sounded better on the AJ Maple. However, I prefer the sound of the 36, overall. A very well done video, brother man 👍. If you ever mentioned your first name, I missed it. Would you mind? By the way, the one you pointed to at the end, Hummingbird, right?
@@acousticmusicnthings Hi David, I am going to guess that to be a J-50? The split parallellograms are throwing me. But, I now see it's a slope shoulder, hence J-50 guess.
You mentioned the 2015 maple has an Adirondack top, but looking into purchasing one I’ve found the specs to be a Sitka top…can you confirm either way?? Thanks
The maple one in the video was a special run when I looked it up, I found specs that said red spruce. I’d call Gibson and give the serial number you’re looking at. They should be able to tell you.
Please do not complain about the neck and the pickup. It is a vintage guitar.. you need slim taper and pick up? Then go for gibson j45 vintage SUNBURST or 50s j45
It is not a vintage guitar, it is a new guitar built to vintage specs. No complaining, just observations. I was not familiar with that neck shape and wanted to make sure others understood these things as well. I think you are assuming this was an actual vintage AJ and I really wish it was.
thank's for that ; the sunburst one has a deeper sound (wonderfull) ; the natural one has more direct ( beautiful )
Interesting comparison. When simply strumming, it was sort of a wash in my opinion but I'd probably give the nod to the rosewood example. However, when the playing became more complex, involving flatpicking or fingerpicking, the maple example sounded quite a bit better to me as it seemed to offer much more clarity. This allowed me to hear the details of your playing much more clearly. One more thing - when it comes to Gibson guitars I almost always prefer the looks of the sunburst. This time around was no exception.
Both of them sound incredibly
Slope jumbo/dreadnought and J-200 are the two most beautiful and harmonious body shapes that ever existed, they're like a golden ratio to my eyes.
I will disagree with you. I prefer the sunburn Brazilian rosewood version which has a beautiful large sound with great bass and also very sweet resonant high notes.
I have owned for the last 20 years an SJ200 with maple wood and I love it. It’s my favorite acoustic guitar. So, it’s not a question of wood for me. It’s after listening to your comparison that I found the AJ 1936 great.
Now, when you compare all these versions of J45, I found that the Deluxe was my favorite. It’s such a clear sound. We can hear each note, each string when you play.
Too bad, I’m left handed and the Deluxe doesn’t exist left handed. It is already very expensive right handed. So I got the standard J45 which I like very much… until I find a used left handed Deluxe ! lol
Thanks for your demonstrations. Your sound recording is great.
It's no surprise that Gibson has figured out how to make maple guitars
I like the clarity of the maple.
Wow both sounds awesome a little darker on the Rosewood and louder clearer on the Maple both excellent
Sounds damn good.
Thanks! Which did you prefer?
@@acousticmusicnthings Both sounded great. The maple custom shop guitar is not braced the same as the 1936 reissue ADJ and the soundboard on the 1936 model is not as loud for that reason. Maple back and sides make for a louder guitar too.
I suppose that's why you need more than one guitar - Zeppelin sounded better on the AJ Maple. However, I prefer the sound of the 36, overall. A very well done video, brother man 👍. If you ever mentioned your first name, I missed it. Would you mind?
By the way, the one you pointed to at the end, Hummingbird, right?
I'm David by the way. I think I've mentioned it before, but I always for get to add it.
I was pointing to the one next to the hummingbird
@@acousticmusicnthings Hi David, I am going to guess that to be a J-50? The split parallellograms are throwing me. But, I now see it's a slope shoulder, hence J-50 guess.
I'll take 'em both.
You mentioned the 2015 maple has an Adirondack top, but looking into purchasing one I’ve found the specs to be a Sitka top…can you confirm either way??
Thanks
The maple one in the video was a special run when I looked it up, I found specs that said red spruce. I’d call Gibson and give the serial number you’re looking at. They should be able to tell you.
Please do not complain about the neck and the pickup. It is a vintage guitar.. you need slim taper and pick up? Then go for gibson j45 vintage SUNBURST or 50s j45
It is not a vintage guitar, it is a new guitar built to vintage specs. No complaining, just observations. I was not familiar with that neck shape and wanted to make sure others understood these things as well. I think you are assuming this was an actual vintage AJ and I really wish it was.
It would be a shame not to compare the maple to the Eastman maple.
Long scale vs short scale maple.... I'll put that one into the queue!