Many feel best 175s ( newer ones) are the ones in like late 80s early 90s with mahogany backs. I used to have a real 62 but the mahogany back ones have a lot more and different kind of resonance but every guitar is unique and needs and like chet atkins said every guitar is unique.
polkzoo I have one of the newer '59 reissues which I like a lot. I'm not sure of the woods used but it plays, feels and sounds great. There's a UA-cam video with it called "Song for Lynn" if you are interested.
Hi! Of the two I think the Carvin sounds the best but only just. My Carvin is now quite old and, being a valve (tube) amp, requires regular service to keep it at its best.The Henriksen is solid state and very reliable. I just switch it on and it works. Also the Henriksen is 100w v. 33w for the Carvin. It does play a lot louder which is useful with powerful drummers and Hammond organ etc.
That might be the best tone I've ever heard from a jazz box. I had a mid 50s 175 that I sold in Nashville for $800 a couple of decades ago. It had P90s in it, and you could hardly sell a Gibson with P90s back then. Today I'd probably get 3 or 4 grand for it. It didn't sound as nice as this though.
Hi! I like the Carvin "Nomad" series and also the Henriksen amps (I use a 112R). Any amp with a good clean tone and some headroom should work well. It pays to experiment until you find the tone you like. Thanks..JD
lancelot wilson: Hi! Lancelot I use D'Addario flatwound "Chromes" on all my electric guitars and same brand EXP 16s on my acoustics. I usually use a .12 top set but sometimes I'll use .13 top on my acoustics if I'm playing live, unamplified for a bit more power.
BEARGUITARJAZZ I haven't tried the half-rounds, I'm really happy with the set-up I have. I've kept it the same for many years now. It feels really comfortable for me.
Gorgeous guitar! I just don’t like the tail piece on the L4… it absolutely doesn’t fit to the rest of the guitar… the early ES175 one would fit perfect. Other than that… the L4 is a lovely guitar 👍😌
I've own one back in the 90's it was a blonde one, yes it is very similar to the es 175 but if you pay very much attention you will notice that the cutaway is much narrower in particular the one I owned, and as a result I couldn't bend my wrist on the upper frets. It was a total disappointment also I hated the gold hardware (just too much of a splendor I'm more into nickel) and the mahogany back which it might look nice in a sunburst model but not really cool on a natural model. I couldn't get used to and, after a couple of months, traded for a 69 es 175 and then went to a '62 175 which I still own. I believe the l4 never had that much of a success because it lacks character, it's not an es 175 although looks like one and it's not an l5 although it has some quality features. It's a compromise...I would totally go either way for an es 175 or a l5 but I respect your point of view because somebody might actually like it.
I adore L4 gibson. Thank you Maestro!
Just Gorgeous! I have one on order for this September. Can't wait....
thank you for this honest view of this dream guitar
JD, I really appreciate all your insightful videos on these archtops. Very well done!!!
stunning guitar !
...👍
Man, Jon, you sold me on this L-4, now I need to hit the Lottery!!! LOL!!!!!
Of all the folks who have showed types and models of guitar, this mans presentation and knowledge exceed the rest. Top Drawer, as they say.
Many feel best 175s ( newer ones) are the ones in like late 80s early 90s with mahogany backs.
I used to have a real 62 but the mahogany back ones have a lot more and different kind of resonance but every guitar
is unique and needs and like chet atkins said every guitar is unique.
polkzoo I have one of the newer '59 reissues which I like a lot. I'm not sure of the woods used but it plays, feels and sounds great. There's a UA-cam video with it called "Song for Lynn" if you are interested.
Hi! The amp in this video is a Carvin Vintage 33. I'm not sure it's still produced but the 50w Nomad looks & sounds very similar.
Hi! Of the two I think the Carvin sounds the best but only just. My Carvin is now quite old and, being a valve (tube) amp, requires regular service to keep it at its best.The Henriksen is solid state and very reliable. I just switch it on and it works. Also the Henriksen is 100w v. 33w for the Carvin. It does play a lot louder which is useful with powerful drummers and Hammond organ etc.
jesus I didn't know Ben Kingsley played guitar
That might be the best tone I've ever heard from a jazz box. I had a mid 50s 175 that I sold in Nashville for $800 a couple of decades ago. It had P90s in it, and you could hardly sell a Gibson with P90s back then. Today I'd probably get 3 or 4 grand for it. It didn't sound as nice as this though.
@slyme1711 As far as I'm aware there is no "stock" thin-line version of this guitar. The closest would be a 1970s ES175T thin-line guitar.
Hi! I like the Carvin "Nomad" series and also the Henriksen amps (I use a 112R). Any amp with a good clean tone and some headroom should work well. It pays to experiment until you find the tone you like. Thanks..JD
did it come as a thinline ?
What amps do you recommend for jazz guitars like the l4? Greetings from the Netherlands! :)
Video by Talented Productions Culver City CA:
What brand guitar strings do you use on your Gibson L4 guitar ?
lancelot wilson: Hi! Lancelot I use D'Addario flatwound "Chromes" on all my electric guitars and same brand EXP 16s on my acoustics. I usually use a .12 top set but sometimes I'll use .13 top on my acoustics if I'm playing live, unamplified for a bit more power.
i enjoy the your videos very much. pardon my nitpicking: pat mə-thee-nee. cheers.
cool
What's your string preference? B
D'addario Chromes, 12-52
Cool, have you tried their half wounds? I use a peerless monarch that came with them! B
PS LOOKING AT A WINE RED USED L4 CES ASKING 2000.00 used?!?!
Thanks for your help, appreciated, B
BEARGUITARJAZZ
I haven't tried the half-rounds, I'm really happy with the set-up I have. I've kept it the same for many years now. It feels really comfortable for me.
Gorgeous guitar! I just don’t like the tail piece on the L4… it absolutely doesn’t fit to the rest of the guitar… the early ES175 one would fit perfect. Other than that… the L4 is a lovely guitar 👍😌
Why you look like Django?
Is the L - 4 as deep as the L - 5 ? B
I just measured them and they're both a little under 3 1/2 inches not including the arch. The L-5 feels shallower because it's bigger but it's not.
Scotty Moore (Elvis) sent me here.
I've own one back in the 90's it was a blonde one, yes it is very similar to the es 175 but if you pay very much attention you will notice that the cutaway is much narrower in particular the one I owned, and as a result I couldn't bend my wrist on the upper frets. It was a total disappointment also I hated the gold hardware (just too much of a splendor I'm more into nickel) and the mahogany back which it might look nice in a sunburst model but not really cool on a natural model. I couldn't get used to and, after a couple of months, traded for a 69 es 175 and then went to a '62 175 which I still own. I believe the l4 never had that much of a success because it lacks character, it's not an es 175 although looks like one and it's not an l5 although it has some quality features. It's a compromise...I would totally go either way for an es 175 or a l5 but I respect your point of view because somebody might actually like it.
:-)
Lots of of people would have killed Pete Townsend if he hadn't composed...Fortunately...
play more......talk LESS, please