gibson cl series
mctu...@iserv.net
Does anyone have any opinions/information regarding Gibson's CL line? I hear
that they're quite nice for the price.
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steveYetter
Hi,
I played a cl-20 that was great at Sylvan Music, Santa Cruz, Ca.
I generally like the vintage reissues like Advanced Jumbo, etc.
But the cl-series guitars I've played seemed really nice too.
I saw the Jason Ingram Band locally last weekend, and he used a
cl-something that was strikingly beautiful under stage lights.
Natural finished flame maple b/s. Looked like a so-called "jazz"
guitar, but flat-topped. Definately a high number cl-series cutaway
& curvey jumbo.
I'm a Gibson fan, so take me with a grain o' salt! I love my
Gospel flat-top and Les Paul Jr. for their necks/playability. Love
whumpy Hummingbird/J-45 sounds too. CL's are in the hunt IMHO.
Good hunting,
steve yetter
"Life is totally boring without the guitar." -Joe Diorio (JJG 2/98)
Hojo2X
MC Turner asks: >Does anyone have any opinions/information regarding Gibson's
CL line? I hear >that they're quite nice for the price.
MC Turner, I have to tell you that the CL 40 that I played in Seattle last fall
was the best-sounding new factory-built guitar I have ever laid my hands on.
It was astonishing. But the CL-10 I played this morning in Anchorage, while
not quite a clunker, was hardly worth getting up and dancing around the room
for.
The Gibson CL-10 is Gibson's answer to the Martin D-1 and the Tacoma DM-10.
Solid top, and at least some laminates in the body, priced to be a mid-range
instrument and a good value. But the CL-40 I played was like a damn Collings,
but for only $1,700 with a hard case (discounted.) It was a steal, and if I
had needed another guitar I would have bought it, even though I don't much care
for dreadnoughts. But that was the same weekend I bought my archtop from Mark
Stanley, so I could hardly justify acquiring two fine guitars in one weekend.
The CL series is a major step forward for Gibson, especially if they can keep
the consistency good. Try to go a step or two higher than the CL-10, though.
Wade Hampton Miller
gark...@usgs.gov
In article <19980314025...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
I agree. I believe that the CL-20 has laminate back and sides, and is
a lot lighter than the CL-30. The CL-30 has more traditional bracing and
is made of tone woods other than rosewood. From what I remember of the
descriptions on Gibson's web site, the CL-40 is the rosewood dreadnaught.
Each succesive grade has fancier inlays and binding. I've had my CL-30
since last fall and have really enjoyed it. It's starting to open up nicely.
George Garklavs
Take out the "xxx" to send email.
gark...@usgs.gov
In article <6empjh$7dh$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
garkl...@aol.com wrote:
>
> In article <19980314025...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
> hoj...@aol.com (Hojo2X) wrote:
> >
> > MC Turner asks: >Does anyone have any opinions/information regarding Gibson's
> > CL line? I hear >that they're quite nice for the price.
>
CL-30 thought the CL-20 had laminated sides. I just checked Gibson's
web site. They say that the CL-20 has solid mahogany back and sides, the
CL-30 has solid bubinga back and sides, and the CL-40 has solid
Indian rosewood back and sides. They don't show or discuss the CL-10.
I'm not sure when they introduced the CL-35, but I suspect that it was
after I got the 30. The CL-35 is a cutaway. If you like a really well
appointed guitar, there's the CL-50. Cheers.
George Garklavs
DickSchnei
>They don't show or discuss the CL-10.
According to the Elderly catalog, all of the CL series have solid tops, backs,
and sides. The CL-10 is mahogany.
Dick Schneiders
Hojo2X
Dick writes: ">According to the Elderly catalog, all of the CL series have
solid tops, >backs, >and sides. The CL-10 is mahogany."
Well, according to the Gibson literature I read when looking at the CL-40, the
lower priced instruments in the CL series have laminates in the body, the
proportion of which decreases as the price goes up. I didn't memorize it at
the time, but the impression I walked away with was that the CL-10 was all
laminate with a solid top, the CL-20 was like the D-1 with solid top and back,
& laminate sides, and it wasn't until you got up to the CL-30 that you got into
all solid woods. So I believe Elderly is mistaken there.
Make no mistake about it, though - these CL guitars are currently the guitar to
beat. They are a very fine product, laminates or no laminates.
Wade Hampton Miller
DickSchnei
In article <199803210838...@ladder03.news.aol.com>, hoj...@aol.com
(Hojo2X) writes:
>Well, according to the Gibson literature I read when looking at the CL-40,
>the
>lower priced instruments in the CL series have laminates in the body, the
>proportion of which decreases as the price goes up. I didn't memorize it at
>the time, but the impression I walked away with was that the CL-10 was all
>laminate with a solid top, the CL-20 was like the D-1 with solid top and
>back,
>& laminate sides, and it wasn't until you got up to the CL-30 that you got
>into
>all solid woods. So I believe Elderly is mistaken there.
>
>
Thanks Wade,
This actually makes more sense to me. The Elderly catalog is very clear about
stating that the entire line is all solid woods, but I was a bit surprised at
that since using partial plywood seems to be the rage now in the less expensive
instruments. I hadn't seen any other printed information on these instruments
yet and no doubt the Gibson literature will be correct.
What is the street price of the CL10 and CL20. Elderly shows the list at $1200
and $1400. That still seems to me to be a bit steep for instruments that are
not all solid woods.
I will give Elderly a call and try to get them to clarify this discrepancy.
Dick Schneiders
Teflon Don
I was offered a price of about $875 (before haggling) for the CL-10 with
case from a fairly reputable shop. Their reputation in my eyes just went
down a notch, though, since they told me it was all solid wood---in
contrary to what this thread says and in contrary to common sense and
economics (not to mention the name charge for Gibsons!). It was plain
but attractive, and had a non-invasive pickup installed at factory. I
still like the MArtin DM and D-1's tone better, and they are less
expensive, IMHO.
don
Bill & Pat Taylor
DickSchnei wrote:
> This actually makes more sense to me. The Elderly catalog is very clear about
> stating that the entire line is all solid woods, but I was a bit surprised at
> that since using partial plywood seems to be the rage now in the less expensive
> instruments. I hadn't seen any other printed information on these instruments
> yet and no doubt the Gibson literature will be correct.
>
> and $1400. That still seems to me to be a bit steep for instruments that are
> not all solid woods.
>
>
> Dick Schneiders
I purchased a new (1997) Gibson CL20 from Elderly for $894 including $12
shipping in early January ‘98. Elderly also gave me a price of $755
plus shipping for a new (1997) Gibson CL10. I understand there is a
price increase for 1998 models.
In regard to the question are these models solid or laminated I'm still
not sure I know the correct answer. I contacted several dealers and
Gibson and all told me or at least (I think) implied that they were
solid wood. Various dealers mentioned different select woods, both
mahogany and African Bubinga were mentioned.
I asked Gibson to send me a price list and specs for the CL10 and CL20.
The 1997 list price for the CL10 is $1199 and for the CL20 $1399. I
received a 1997 spec sheet for the CL 10 and CL20 from Gibson that
provides the following:
CL10 STANDARD CL20 STANDARD PLUS
Solid spruce top Solid spruce top
*Arched mahogany back *Arched mahogany back of special select wood
Rosewood fingerboard and bridge Rosewood finger board and bridge
Black body binding Tortoise body binding
Mother of pearl dot markers Abalone snowflake position markers
Nickel tuners Matching headstock veneer with mother of pearl
Gibson headstock logo
Natural lacquer semi-gloss finish Natural gloss lacquer finish
25 1/2" scale 25 1/2" scale
Factory installed transducer Factory installed transducer
*Specially laminated utilizing solid woods. The CL20 will be offered
with a variety of select woods, chosen for their beauty and sound.
These woods may include: Chechen, Machiche, Bubinga, and Tslan.
I also received another 1997 catalog from Gibson with the following:
CL20 STANDARD PLUS. A best-selling guitar that bears all the features
of the most expensive, handmade acoustic, yet at an affordable price.
This model offers a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and
Gibson's Advance Bracing Pattern, giving it a strong projection and warm
tone. Like all the guitars in the line, this one features Gibson's thin
and light, fast-action neck, making it most enjoyable to play. A
rosewood fingerboard and bridge, abalone snowflake position markers and
nickel tuners give this guitar a polished appearance. A complementary
factory-installed transducer makes this package an incredible buy.
Like the Gibson web site this publication did not mention the CL10 which
I was told was a promotional model.
Based on the above it appears that Gibson's sales staff is trying to
confuse and based on what I have read and been told they seem to have
done a good job.
Bill Taylor
Camden, NY
Hojo2X
Bill Taylor graciously copied out much of the Gibson promotional literature
about the CL series. Here is what I gleaned from it: when Gibson, or any other
guitar manufacturer, uses the phrase "solid spruce top" followed by the phrase
"select mahogany back and sides" it means that the "select" wood is laminated.
It does NOT mean they are using some cheapo plywood with some tone-deadening
core wood in the middle. Rather, they are taking very thin sheets of solid
wood and glueing them together in a machine that bends and laminates the sides
at the same time. The backs are in a sheet, but are of similar composition.
Now if you see Ibanez or Hondo using the words "select nato backs and sides" it
might well mean some genuine plywood is being used. But the point I'm trying
to make here is if you have a mention of a "solid" top followed by "select"
back and sides, that inevitably means that the select wood is some type of
laminate.
It's just a euphemism that the music industry has settled on. Once in a blue
moon you'll see ad copy that might describe "carefully selected solid rosewood,
etc.," but if you see the word "select" by itself it's a signal that they are
using laminates.
Doesn't mean they sound bad. My personal belief is that in twenty years all
but the very most expensive handbuilt guitars will have laminated sides, as
these have both structural and tonal advantages over solid sides. (Many high
end classical guitar builders have been using laminated sides for the past
fifteen years or so.)
Hope that helps.
Wade Hampton Miller
gark...@usgs.gov
In article <199803211132...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
dicks...@aol.com (DickSchnei) wrote:
>
> In article <199803210838...@ladder03.news.aol.com>, hoj...@aol.com
> (Hojo2X) writes:
>
> >Well, according to the Gibson literature I read when looking at the CL-40,
> >the
> >lower priced instruments in the CL series have laminates in the body, the
> >proportion of which decreases as the price goes up. I didn't memorize it at
> >the time, but the impression I walked away with was that the CL-10 was all
> >laminate with a solid top, the CL-20 was like the D-1 with solid top and
> >back,
> >& laminate sides, and it wasn't until you got up to the CL-30 that you got
> >into
> >all solid woods. So I believe Elderly is mistaken there.
> >
> >
>
> Thanks Wade,
>
> stating that the entire line is all solid woods, but I was a bit surprised at
> that since using partial plywood seems to be the rage now in the less expensive
> instruments. I hadn't seen any other printed information on these instruments
> yet and no doubt the Gibson literature will be correct.
>
> What is the street price of the CL10 and CL20. Elderly shows the list at $1200
> and $1400. That still seems to me to be a bit steep for instruments that are
> not all solid woods.
>
> I will give Elderly a call and try to get them to clarify this discrepancy.
>
> Dick Schneiders
>
I purchased a CL-30 last November for $999. The shop was selling a CL-20 for
the same price. At that time Elderly quoted a price over the phone for the
CL-30 about $1000, and the CL-20 at about $800 (sorry about the "about", but
I didn't keep notes). Another local shop said thay could get a CL-30 for
$1020. The street prices may have gone up slightly this year. I don't know
what the markets are like elsewhere, but in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area it
seems that dealers routinely dicount at about one third off of suggested
retail. I imagine that someone interested in negotiating a larger discount
could do so.