Gibson Country Western

The Gibson Country Western is a flat-top acoustic guitar model originally manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation between 1956 and 1978. For the first 6 years of its manufacture it was a round-shouldered instrument, which changed to square-shouldered in 1962. Sheryl Crow is a noted modern user of this instrument in its 1962 version, and a modern reissue based on her 1962 instrument has been released under her name.

History
A 1964 Gibson "Country Western" acoustic guitar (left) with a 1964 Southern Jumbo (SJ) (right). Note the square shoulders, "upside down" bridges and 3-point pickguards characteristic of both instruments of this period.
Sheryl Crow with her (1962 or reissue) Country Western guitar

Gibson introduced the Country Western guitar in 1956, as a version of their pre-existing Southern Jumbo but with a natural finish, as opposed to the sunburst finish of the Southern Jumbo (SJ). Like the SJ, it featured a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood bridge and fingerboard, with Gibson's "deluxe" split parallelogram pearl inlays.[1] From 1960 onwards the model was renamed the "SJN" (Southern Jumbo Natural) and/or the "SJN Country Western", however the name "Country Western" reappeared on the instrument label in 1962.

For the first 6 its years of existence, the Country Western – along with its "sister model" SJ – possessed a round- or slope-shouldered design, which changed for both models to the more "modern" square-shouldered design (as debuted on the 1960-introduced Hummingbird) in 1962. In common with other Gibson and their sister line Epiphone instruments of the period, the bridge on the Country Western was of a "belly up" design, which changed to "belly down" in 1969, along with some modifications to the top bracing. In 1970, additional structural reinforcement to the top (the (in)famous double-X bracing) was introduced which, although it contributed to improved structural stability, had a deleterious effect on the tone. Along with the SJ, the Country Western was discontinued in 1978.[2]

The 1960 Gibson catalog listed the (round shouldered) "SJN Country Western" at $179.50 (without case), as compared to $165.00 for the SJ,[3] with the less deluxe J-50 and J-45 priced at $145.00 and $135.00, respectively;[4] at the same time, the most expensive flat-top guitar in the Gibson line, the J-200N (J-200 in natural finish) was priced at $410.00. By 1967, the now square shouldered "SJN Country Western" and the SJ had the same list price of $265.00, with the J-50 and J-45 (which retained their round shoulders through this period) both at $220.00.[5]

Both the 1956–62 (round shouldered) and the subsequent square shouldered version, at least up to 1968, are well regarded by collectors and players. Of the square shouldered version, Whitford, Vinopal & Erlewine write:

By far the most desirable of the square-shouldered SJs [and SJN/Country Westerns] are those from 1962 to 1968, a period in which their bodies were lightly built, with top bracing wide-spread and set forward. The SJ/SJN stayed with the 24 3/4" scale throughout this period, though in 1965 a switch was made to a narrower neck, in keeping with the other Gibsons of the period.[6]

Back in 1977, Tom and Mary Anne Evans in their book "Guitars – from the Renaissance to Rock" had this to say regarding a 1959, round-shouldered example of a Country Western:

Gibson's fourteen-fret-neck Dreadnought guitars of this vintage were among the most successful ever made. With a decade and a half of aging behind them, the best have a delightful sound. Not only are the basses extremely rich, but the balance from string to string, and the carrying power of the treble, are exceptional for a Dreadnought.[7]

Sheryl Crow is a notable user of the square shouldered (1962 era) Country Western, and Gibson has produced a reissue Country Western model bearing her name.[8] A limited run of 85 instruments labelled "The January Limited Edition Country Western" was also produced in 2016.[9]

See also

References
  1. http://vintage-guitars.blogspot.com/2005/11/gibson-country-western.html
  2. Gruhn, George and Carter, Walter. Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars. GPI Books/Miller Freeman, San Francisco, 1991, 352 pp. ISBN 0879301953
  3. 1960 Gibson Guitar and Bass Catalog, p. 32 (via http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com)
  4. 1960 Gibson Guitar and Bass Catalog, p. 33 (via http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com)
  5. 1967 Gibson Price List, p. 8-9 (via http://www.jedistar.com)
  6. Eldon Whitford, David Vinopal & Dan Erlewine: Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars – An Illustrated History & Guide. GPI Books, San Francisco, 1994. ISBN 0879302976
  7. Tom & Mary Anne Evans: Guitars – from the Renaissance to Rock. Paddington Press, New York and London, 1977. ISBN 044822240X
  8. www.gibson.com: Sheryl Crow: Country Western recreated.
  9. www.gibson.com: Acoustic Instruments: 2016: Country Western
  • Article on the Gibson SJ model on the "Vintage Guitar Info" site, including several round shouldered (pre-1962) Country Western examples
  • Additional pictures of Sheryl Crow's 1962 Gibson Country Western, via sherylcrownews.com
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.