A Rare Gibson Johnny Smith / Super V , with Rich Severson

[@vincentsabatino4480]

Johnny Smith would be proud to hear you play Rich, you obviously have his style mastered as well as your own ! Thanks so much for sharing !

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thank You Vincent

[@zydecobill]

Rich you have a superb touch.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thank you!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks

[@dave234545]

The tone is phenomenal. What a great sound. Thanks for sharing.

[@shecky308]

This is by far one of the best sounding guitars that was ever made...One of the men responsible for its production was J.P.Moats...R.I.P.

[@scooter5005]

This video will never get old

[@donalddeschamps2176]

Beautiful guitar! Sounds great. I got to play Johnny's Gibson and also his D'Angelico guitars when I met him in his Colorado Springs music store in '81. Great guy!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

How Cool!!

[@chaslatorre2890]

Does anyone know where his DA ended up? or his Gibson?

[@stogies3]

@@chaslatorre2890 The Smithsonian,before he passed away they asked him if he would donate one of his guitars and he said yes.Not sure if it was the D’Angelico or the blond Gibson JS.

[@georgeallison6228]

Drips of water! Lol. Wow man...that TONE!!! Another beauty from Rich's vault!

[@teiltje]

Drips of WINE I believe he said. That says more about his other passions apart from playing guitar. Imo it sounds like drips of exquise champagne.

[@NotUrBiz]

I only recently found your channel but have really enjoyed your playing and your stories/instruction.

[@michaelsantiago6887]

Gorgeous tone. Musical and beautifully played.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thank you

[@rlb9011]

It does sound great! Thanks for the History/Eplanation of your Guitar.

[@derbyd10]

What a sweet sound! Even on my phone the sound is gorgeous

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Cool

[@jaytea42]

Neat Guitar Rich, transitional model, indeed sounds amazing!

[@pierremlaurin3581]

Hi Rich, can you tell me why Gibson have stop making jazz archtop, thank you

[@maxwellfan55]

The set up is everything with jazzers.

[@jeteye97]

My father in law had one. It fell into disrepair from improper storage. I had Hoffman Guitars replace the corroded pickup and the delaminated pick guard took almost 18 months to get original Gibson replacement parts. Then my mom in law decided to sell it. We were heartbroken. It came back up for sale about a year before covid and I almost traded my Collings for it, but decided to not give up my bluegrass tone cannon. Someone in the Twin Cities has a fantastic guitar.

[@sclogse1]

Rich's chord melody lesson is excellent. I stick it in the middle of Leon Russell's Masquerade and let it flow into Justine. Makes a great combination.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Very cool!

[@bok2bok333]

Nice....I'm going to check it out.

[@heavenlyguitar5913]

That sounds great!

[@GibsonJazzman]

Great story and playing and a unique guitar, but Gibson was still building and selling Johnny Smiths in 1987. Smiths were still listed in the 1985 catalog. I bought one of the last ones, a blonde Double 25th Anniversary from Johnny himself in late 1987.

[@jda4879]

From his music store in Colorado springs?

[@Mikesarchangels]

I believe all JSmiths were X-braced so if that is parallel then it proabbly wasnt "meant to be" a JS. Great guitar though. I like the fact that they kept the sound board (for the most part) and braces intact. :)

[@j.d.jdthinktankersorg.asa.4237]

Excellent instrument based off his DAngelico's.... dew drop sounds are beautiful 😍 braces would be X if Smith model or DAngelico

[@sclogse1]

Nice to hear Rich's variations on Georgia, which I purchased from Rich a couple months back. A challenge for my potato picking fingers. I've come to realize that to play this kind of chord melody material well, you need to play from a position of strength. I use no pick. That means memorizing and serious repetition after that. There will always be that one position you never seem to really play cleanly. Don't let it kill your timing, tone, or confidence. If it never gets right, drop a note or find another position. Don't settle for a blurry non distinct chord. Always come from strength. Yes dear, I'm almost done..,..

[@papasmamas1]

The Super V is one of the most beautiful guitars ever made.

[@danmarch1540]

Rich; do you still own this guitar, it sounds dreamy. Just a lovely guitar to hear and look at and will sound fabulous 50 years from now

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Yes I do but rarely play it

[@danmarch1540]

Rich Severson may I ask why? What guitar do you play the most?

[@chaslatorre2890]

@@RichSeversonGuitar Any chance you would sell it?

[@pierremlaurin3581]

by the way this Johnny Smith model is simply WOW

[@edcherry9282]

This is great Alessio..( are both those yours??)

[@vintagebikes4215]

Killer sound...LOVE ir

[@pallhe]

beautiful

[@Rightupbass]

The guitar george benson used on “breezin” album.

[@surfgod509]

They should have left the JOHNNY SMITH pickup in the instrument, interesting 🤔 Super 5 I was under the impression that x- brace was what had been used for the Johnny Smith model?

[@greatvanzini]

wow! What a beauty.

[@americanjoe5486]

What sets the Johnny Smith apart is ,,, they have x bracing ,the block at the neck joint extends up to support the end of the finger board ,and it has the floating pickup! Otherwise it's not a Johnny Smith!

[@patfong3113]

Hi Rich. I see in many of your recent videos that you're using a mic to a Quilter amp. What kind of amp is the mic plugged into? With this setup are you getting audio output from both amps in what would be mono rather than stereo? Are you getting a drastically different tone than if you didnt mic with output directly from he Quilter? Love all the reviews you do on the various jazzboxes and of course your playing.

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

The mic goes to a small Beringer mixer as does my overhead talking mic with one feed out to the video software. I am using only the Quilter amp, the old Gibson is it's stand.

[@patfong3113]

Rich, are you using the mic/mixer combo setup strictly for recording purposes for your videos? BTW, the Johnny Smith is awesome. Its wonderful that you have contacts with the old Kalamazoo Gibson folks who know the history better than anyone. Does Heritage make any production archtops in a lefty or are they custom?

[@TonyfromBham]

Rich, have you ever owned a Gibson Super 400 with a single floating pickup? If so, what did you think about it?

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Had a super 400 with a mounted single coil. I thought it would sound better than it did. I sold it a year after I got it

[@TonyfromBham]

@@RichSeversonGuitar Thanks Rich. Your playing is amazing, and you got right back to me. ‘So nice.

[@arthurkluver]

It should have a wooden bridge.lost?

[@johnadams6569]

That's NO Johnny Smith guitar. It is probably a later Super V. It has a contemporary tailpiece that was not used on J.S. guitars. Sweet sounding guitar to be sure.

[@jazzman1954]

I am assuming it’s 25’’ scale not 251/2. Therefore it’s a JS

[@chaslatorre2890]

I have an 83 JS and they had that 'finger' tail piece. Also, check the video of Smith himself playing 'what are u doing the rest' He has the 'finger' on his DA!

[@whimpypatrol5503]

I think I remember trying out a 1978 JS at the Dallas (or maybe Arlington) guitar show about the time frame in question. The guitar felt like 70's Gibson junk at it worst. Not saying it was the same guitar; just saying.

[@bunkerman99]

I read that Gibson when they 1st came out with the JS guitars copied his D'Angelico to make a guitar to suit him.

[@joepalooka2145]

Fantastic guitar. Unfortunately they have become extremely expensive and only for people who have lots of extra cash.

[@chrispickins9181]

Nice ga-50!

[@RichSeversonGuitar]

Thanks I don't use it much but it's fun to have

[@mondodave]

I think the Johnny's are X-braced...

[@bok2bok333]

I agree....floating pickup allowed it. The big thing is the end of the neck connecting to the soundboard high notes really sing. I have a 1964 JS. 🙂✌️😷