Review Demo - Gibson J-15 and J-29 Acoustics

Watch more Review Demos: bit.ly/ReviewDemos
Gibson's slope-shouldered dreadnoughts are among the guitar universe's truly great designs. The convergence of curves and understated ornamentation are a study in proportional perfection, with the sort of simplicity and subdued, utilitarian elegance that makes Eames chairs, Coke bottles, and Boeing 707s iconic.
Though the mahogany-and-spruce J-45 is the most famous manifestation of the slope-shouldered profile, the shape has been the foundation for other Gibsons, including the J-35, the natural finished J-50, the 25 ½"-scale Advanced Jumbo, the rare B-45 12-string, and the J-160 made famous by the Beatles. Gibson still produces many of these guitars, but the new J-15 and J-29 are the first new, non-signature-edition variations on the J body style in years-and very cool departures from the J-45's sonic template.
The J-29 is the more traditional-looking of the new pair, but it's a handsome devil. If you've grown accustomed to seeing slope-shouldered Gibsons in the classic J-45 sunburst, you'll marvel at how attractive and visually balanced the profile looks in a natural blonde finish. The dramatically striped grain of the Indian rosewood back and sides beneath that nitrocellulose lacquer looks as deep and three-dimensional as an alpine lake. But it's the fretboard rosewood that's most striking, with a red-to-chocolate fade running the neck's length. The bridge is also rosewood, though it's a simple, almost slight rectangular design, rather than the more substantial "belly-up" bridge associated with Gibson acoustics. The J's austere roots (the first Js were designed and built during the Great Depression) are honored in the simple white/black/white rosette and binding, even if the woods exude an upmarket aura.
The J-29 isn't the first or only rosewood-backed Gibson slope-shoulder. In fact, the company has built rosewood-backed J-45s quite recently. But it's a compelling alternative for any player who loves the slope-shoulder style, but prefers the stronger projection of a rosewood, square-shouldered Gibson or a rival like the Martin D-28.
To read more of the review, visit:

[@thespanielinquisition7167]

Walnut is considered a tonal upgrade on classical guitars, so its nonesense that it "adds less colour to the tone" it just adds a slightly different tone, more clarity, plus the maple neck on the J15 was a premium upgrade on the J45 so theres no compromise to my mind or ears with the J15

[@alejandrolian7101]

Pro trick: you can watch series on Flixzone. I've been using them for watching all kinds of movies recently.

[@garrettcristiano9911]

@Alejandro Lian yea, I have been watching on Flixzone} for since december myself =)

[@maraviyoso8473]

But walnut does NOT add more color. Adding color or not doesn't make a wood more or less expensive.

[@lufiealice6251]

All the demos John does, I don't think I've heard him play the same thing twice. Brilliant player.

[@nsiepmann]

Starting a gear review with Sesame Street? Gotta love Bohlinger.

[@kickpublishing]

J15 is hands down the best acoustic I have owned or played, I have Martins and Taylors costing twice as much, but it has a folksy, honest and harmonic quality to it that I just cant describe, not the easiest neck in the world, but not hard work either, but those black walnut back and sides combined with the sloped shoulder makes the guitar have a nylon string type attack at times and a super smooth wholeness to the tone that means this guitar never sounds like it has separate strings, it just produces one endlessly smooth and organically balanced sound. Go try one, best acoustic Gibson ever made and a future classic. Just strum one chord and you'll be sold.

[@robtho1]

The J-15 demo starts at about 8:05

[@MarkSD]

With a budget of $2500.00 I've been looking to buy a new acoustic for about a year. I tried every brand new and used I could get my hands on. I narrowed my choice to a Martin d-28, Gibson J-45, J-15 or a Taylor 516. All played and sounded great and the decision came down to price. I bought the J-15 and couldn't be happier until I took it for a setup which the tech lowered the A and B string just a hair and changed the pins to bone. Now I'm happier than the previous happier and I got extra bucks to buy other stuff I don't need.

[@gregorycarpenter]

I get the impression that the J-15 crept on you by surprise and worked its magic...This guitar is a dark horse, and it certainly brought me under it's spell...!

[@OTFiddlerVT]

I agree that this review makes too much use of the Baggs pickup and not enough mic. The natural sound of the J-15 is truly wonderful, and I've found that in the 10 days I've had mine, it just keeps getting better every day! I agonized about replacing the stock Gibson 80/20 bronze 12-53s with mediums (13-56) for almost a week, I finally decided to split the difference and put some D'Addario phosphor bronze mediums on the bass side, for a custom light-medium set of 12, 16, 24, 35, 45, 56. (slightly different than D'Addario's J19 "Bluegrass set, which uses a 25 for the G string--standard light is 24 and medium is 26) It's a bit harder to play with this setup, but after a couple of days, I've gotten used to it, and I gotta tell ya, the difference in sheer power is amazing! The extra tension on the top is helping to develop the guitar's tone even more rapidly than with the straight lights. I'll be taking it back to the shop where I bought it to tweak the setup and after that I expect to have a truly GREAT guitar! I've been playing cheap guitars for way too long now, and at 65, I've decided that life really is way to short not to be playing a real Gibson acoustic. My J-15, is powerful, bright yet warming up daily, and a real joy to own and play! And, for a world class guitar, the price point can't be beat! Just lose the piezo in the demos, and let this wonderful instrument speak for itself!

[@pwman]

I don't know how Premier Guitar picked up John, but he is fantastic! Amazingly versatile player and does great reviews...

[@Avalanche1368]

I really like John's reviews He brings a lot of knowledge and some real smooth playing to the table.

[@12Radius]

12 radius is the curve of the fretboard- 3:01 Not how chunky the neck is! Gibson has a 12 radius Martin has a 16 radius fretboard ect.

[@larrymal]

I was about to comment on that as well. It pretty much ruins this review for me to see such a fundamental thing gotten wrong. He might as well have called it a Stratocaster.

[@bigcountryme]

The j29 is the best guitar I have owned! I have owned taylor and martins, which are both great for different reasons. The thing about the j29 is the balance! Nothing annoys about this guitar.

[@jhustler1992]

I played a J-15 and it is such a great guitar with sound and playability. I liked it better than the J-45's, J-35's, and J-29's I played and for the price - J-15 is well worth the money. For the J-45's, I would go vintage.

[@RavnerRavner]

John Bohlinger's reviews & interviews with artists are some of my favorites. He allows the artists to be themselves, doesn't step on their words, and overall very friendly guy. His interview with Doyle is a great example of John's class. Keep up the good work!

[@kingstumble]

I read somewhere that walnut has similar tonal qualities to maple.I think this demo bears that out. Superb review by the way.

[@gregorycarpenter]

What!? Not as lively and responsive!? I don't agree. The J-15 is not as warm, but it is certainly MORE lively and responsive...and louder...and clear as a bell...!

[@garryredmond1949]

Great review, I really like the j29 but think it will be the 15 that will get my coin, what an amazing guitar

[@snowcoveredtracks]

A funky Bouree in e Minor into that fun jazzy blues lick. Kudos, sounds cool.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Wow that intro really sounds like piezo. Ick.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

All that (really good and brilliant!) talk about tone, but for the majority of the video, we are hearing the piezo. I actually thought the J-15 sounded a bit less bright, warmer.

[@billmcdonald3561]

Love the Sesame Street theme!

[@ricktemmen6272]

Nice review 👍 I've owned the J 15 I bought it in the first year of production and it's a great guitar. I still want a J 45 though lol.

[@eddiegeorge4047]

Sesame street FTW !

[@eddiegeorge4047]

John is a very talented player !

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

Eddie George Dude! Remember when you played for the Titans and won the superbowl?? Lol did you get Vidalygo? Haha

[@eddiegeorge4047]

I think you have the wrong idea, bro

[@voxsupreme]

I guess You should have played the guitars without the p/u to start with, no one likes to listen to 10 minutes of the mixed quacky sound ... And You gave us only give us 4-5 seconds of the true GUITAR sound - a Big dissapointment.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Can you guys repost this video and mix it with the Element turned off except when he's demoing the Element specifically? This review is brilliant, but what he can't hear is that we are hearing the Element the whole time so loud we can't even hear the actual guitar.

[@55Cibby]

Just bought a J29 awesome Gibson love the sound and feel of the neck. I bought because I was not happy with a D28 I bought last December. Oh I already have a J15 I record and gig with both Gibsons.

[@hobiecat901]

Very Good Review. Thank you. I think I'm going to play them both tomorrow but from this review, I do like the J-15.

[@brunomarswalangganon4229]

That sesame street blues was great.

[@ExperienceJacob]

I think the J-15 sounds better.

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

Nope. Lol Rosewood FTW

[@kingstumble]

WaRLoKWYATT Rosewood for me too!

[@everettbrown5583]

+Jacob West Agree. And I have both of these guitars. Still not sure between the j-15 and Hummingbird that I also have.

[@gutenbird]

@@WaRLoKWYATT wrong six year later.

[@romysan1]

similar but different ? they both sound pretty good to me. for the money the j 15 almost wins. is this because walnut is not used as much?

[@hungryta1]

Ace Ventura anybody?

[@mauimikey2491]

Yup, Jim Carrey after the gym...

[@antibella1]

Dammit! You had me at Sesame Street! Love it! Great video.

[@marksc1929]

....Toms a really good player/ nice guy..

[@ΔημοσθενηςΔημουλιας]

the j-15 sounds really better

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Please stick to the microphone for the majority of the review next time and leave the guitar unplugged. They all just sound the same, like whatever pickup they have, when plugged in.

[@guitarnutdel5266]

Jesse Watson

[@guitarnutdel5266]

guitarnut Del Totally agree.

[@NaijaBoiTellEm]

+Jesse Watson Agreed. I think that's the L.R. Baggs, no?

[@JesseDylanMusic]

+muscles662988 Yeah. :( Baggs Element, just a straight under-saddle transducer. Sounds okay through a decent sound system, but they're recording it direct, which sounds awful. (Actually it always sounds awful unless you really doctor it, and you're not getting any of the sound of the actual guitar, just the string pressure on the piezo.)

[@NaijaBoiTellEm]

+Jesse Watson That's a shame. I want a J-15 as a secondary guitar but I'd wish it came without electronics so I could just put a K&K Pure Mini in there ha.

[@larrycom]

I wished you hadn't used that ribbon microphone and just stuck to a conventional condenser mic, that most folks have. Otherwise, thanks for your effort.

[@Equality72521sr]

J-15 absolutely blew me away. It even sounded better on its pickup alone then the J-29 in either combination

[@michaelbalance98]

The J-29 sounds more open and has a ton of clarity, (to my ears). I like that on an acoustic. That's my kind of sound

[@bluehazeboy]

Just bought a j15,

[@geoffreyallen888]

Super playing - I've never heard Bourre jazzed like that. Nice guitars - the J15 sounds a little more natural "wood n' wires", the kind of thing that Ry Cooder would make sing, the J29 more "concert". It makes sense the way he says it "More top, less back and sides" on the J15 - it sounds like a physically shallower guitar, drier and slightly "boxy" - the sound leaves faster and all together which some like and so do I. In a funny way, the J15 would be a better "showcase" guitar for your snappier licks if you like brisk playing - imho. I'd like either but I have a J35 which is becoming very peachy indeed. Mahogany with old-style pre J45 bracing, very forward, very quick. It's proper loud without "boom". How many guitars do you want to keep stringing anyway? I also think that nitro ages well and that Gibson have "something" in the tone that is unique to them. If it's good out of the box, it'll get better and it doesn't take long. Maybe the scale length does something too, it definitely changes the "B" string and the "A" - nothing else like it. I'd like either or both of these guitars - who wouldn't? IMO. I agree that auditioning P/ups makes little sense - they all sound much the same. Better to hear the guitars "in the room", it only needs mentioning that they are all electro-ready because the discreet fitting doesn't make it obvious. Unfortunately, the sound quickly does. Be warned - the J29 will come with a hard case, the J15 - dunno. But the hard case with my J35 WEIGHS A TON and I say that as a man that knows about AC 30s and Hi Watt 100 stacks. To the point that I'm looking at replacing it.

[@pgcracka]

J-15 also comes in a heavy hard case.

[@eugenemichael9833]

J15 is Rad. Very Focused

[@reggiehobbs8800]

This guy can play. Gibson should hire him to do clinics.

[@williams7078]

Stairway to Sesame Street... Nice!

[@gutenbird]

That was actually annoying.

[@kevinjboconnor]

is the j15 thin like the newer g45? I really don't like how thin the g45 is and am looking for something bigger but not drastically more expensive.

[@pgcracka]

No. The J-15 is dimensionally identical to a J-45 standard.

[@gregorycarpenter]

The J15 is a much better guitar than the G45. No contest....! You should be comparing the J15 to the J45. I have both and tend to gravitate to the J15.... It's tone has a special bell-like guality.

[@Ajeje21]

stop piezo-ing!!!!!!!!!! :(

[@81Gibson335]

What gauge strings? Med or Lights?

[@mhajas725]

LOL yeah wish I could :)

[@alelollipop1903]

Great playing

[@Ryan-ww6hp]

Do all Gibson acoustics really use hide glue?

[@bastardsonofretkillr]

The neck joint is hide glue that is the main driving force of the guitar

[@manuelosunawong633]

I do not like Fishman sonitone sound. They should install a Lr bagss element in the cheapest model

[@gregorycarpenter]

It does have the LR Baggs. I have a J15 and it has the same pickup as the J45 - LR Baggs Element.

[@manuelosunawong633]

@@gregorycarpenter Did you install it after buying it or does it come like this since factory construction? Because I want to buy the cheapest acoustic Gibson model, but I saw in the specifications that it has a fishman sonitone

[@gregorycarpenter]

Hi Manuel, Whoever said it has the Fishmnan Sonitone is wrong. It comes from the factory with the LR Baggs Element. This video is not what the guitar sounds like live with a good acoustic amp. It sounds natural. Here is the link to Gibson with the specs for the J-15. www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACC3YP77/J-15-Standard-Walnut/Antique-Natural

[@mcafee1971]

Way better lighting on John. No Creepy scary lighting from below .

[@mhajas725]

I couldent choose,,I would have to have one of each :)

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

If you can afford that, get me one and I'll pay you back when I get signed!! haha

[@gutenbird]

The j15 was so much better. In my opinion. But as much as people love the Sesame Street song. It’s just annoying.

[@fastguitars4380]

""""the J15 is not as warm, lively, and responsive, as the J29""""... Thus endeth the review comparison.

[@susangrossman410]

How come these musician types always have the long, flippy hair? They dont think theyll feel "cool" anymore if they cut it? I mean, I know in the end it doesnt matter (but this supports my argument, in a way). Maybe they just feel like themselves w long hair or it falls in line w their self concepts. Just seems like theyre clinging pathetically to youth and rock n roll. Like a rockabilly cat, whos 78 and still sporting the greaser pomp. Haha.

[@pablo9364]

Susan Grossman he looks cool but hey I was more interested in the guitar myself.

[@clawhammer704]

Hybrid mullet cut is what it is. A lot of actors and musicians go with this cut.

[@atlgator1928]

holy cow is this a bad acoustic guitar review. i have no idea what either acoustic guitar sounds like acoustically, and it was 12 minutes in length.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Save your money and buy a J-45 instead. Much better sounding guitar.

[@urcpo2]

+WysteriaGuitar the 15 sounds real good, for the money i want one i have a gibson gospel 1991 mondel it sounds good now..

[@mattia170295]

Well, I've heard j15s sounding better than 45s

[@pgcracka]

Better advice is to test them out in person and buy the one you like best. I tried 3 J45s, a j35 and I liked the J15 better than them all. It's all subjective, of course, but to me, my J15 is the best sounding guitar I've played and I couldn't be happier.

[@TheKnealing]

the fact that he actually took the time to learn that song makes me sad and ashamed for him

[@marshalllowry606]

Pretty poor review

[@multipipi1234]

Bit of a put down on the j15 I felt. 15 much better.