NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby

Gibsonist · 09-29-2011, 07:08 PM

Hello, everyone!

It's been a while since I've been on here. Sorry about that! I've been real busy with work and pursuing a master's degree... but you probably didn't click on this post to hear about that.

Anyway, my Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby arrived at Guitar Center today! I picked it up as soon as I could, rushed it home, and took pictures for everyone to see.

This guitar is AWESOME! I've been having a lot of fun with it since picking it up, and to be honest, I'm almost going through withdrawal while writing this review. It's a really sweet instrument!

Sound - It's just what you would expect. It's very much a semi-hollow tone, a tad warmer than an ES-335 (probably because of the Mahogany back and sides,) but still maintains its own unique sound. The main thing are the pickups, which are a '57 Classic in the neck and a '57 Classic Plus in the bridge. The sound is very smooth. If you are a fan of P.A.F. style pickups, these are definitely for you. They handle distortion very well, but they shine through cleans.

Headstock - The headstock is rather unique and is a throwback to other Gibson designs. If you're familiar with the L6S (which I am a huge fan of and hope to own one someday,) then this won't be any surprise to you. It has a slimmer taper towards the top when compared to the standard Gibson headstock (see pictures.) On Gibson's website, someone posted that they did this for tuning stability with the Bigsby, but I honestly can't confirm that.

Hardware - Speaking of tuning stability, I haven't had any issues so far! The Midtown comes loaded with Grover tuners and a TonePros® Roller Tune-O-Matic bridge to help keep it in tune. Of course, the most prominent feature on this guitar is the B70 Bigsby vibrato. Not everyone's cup of tea and certainly not as versatile as Fender's Stratocaster tremolo system, the Bigsby offers some very nice tones of its own. If you're a fan of jazz, blues, or surf, you'll enjoy the Bigsby.

Overall Design - While the body is trimmed down, just like Gibson says it is, don't let that fool you into thinking that it's just like an ES-339. It's much bigger than Gibson lets on, almost as large as an ES-335! I took a picture of it next to my Les Paul Special for reference purposes. The neck is a '60s slim taper and the fretboard boasts mirror inlays. A very nice touch!

Finishes - Gibson offers this guitar in two finishes: Ebony and Faded Red. I opted for the Faded Red, but let me assure you, the name of this finish is very misleading! This finish is a high gloss and is very reminiscent of the red finish found on SG Standards. It might be just a tiny bit lighter, but overall, is very close. Gibson's website shows this finish to be rather orange in nature, but that is not the case! This guitar is very red!

Conclusion - Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. These are the type of guitars that Gibson needs to make. While the Midtown Standard with Bigsby is a limited run guitar, I sincerely hope that Gibson will make other iterations of it. Personally, I think a "Midtown Studio" or a "Midtown Deluxe" would sell quite well!

Speaking of a limited run, I heard that there are only 200 of these being made. Can anyone confirm that? If that's the case, I suggest picking one up while they're still available!

EDIT: I keep thinking of details to add!

bgfthntr · 09-30-2011, 08:03 AM

slick guitar! Kind of has a Swing Vibe going on....

Change out the white plastic for black or creme...IMHO

Gibsonist · 09-30-2011, 09:25 AM

I'm not entirely crazy about the white plastic either, but being that it's a limited run guitar, I'm going to keep it all-original. Otherwise, I'd do just as you said. I think black plastic would look best.

I also like the idea of Seymour Duncan P-Rails pickups and the pickup trim with miniature selector switches to change between P90s, single coils, and humbuckers.

tmb1958 · 10-03-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibsonist

I'm not entirely crazy about the white plastic either, but being that it's a limited run guitar, I'm going to keep it all-original. Otherwise, I'd do just as you said. I think black plastic would look best.

I also like the idea of Seymour Duncan P-Rails pickups and the pickup trim with miniature selector switches to change between P90s, single coils, and humbuckers.

well it's not like changing the plastic and knobs is not reversable. i think your idea of black would give that guitar some real kick. just because the guy that designed it has bad taste doesn't mean you have to. happy ngd!

Gibsonist · 10-03-2011, 02:02 PM

Thank you, tmb1958. You have a great point there. Maybe even chrome-topped knobs like on the ES-style Gibsons to match the inlays and the rest of the hardware?

Decisions, decisions...

paruwi · 10-03-2011, 02:19 PM

Congrats !

and thanks for the review

I'm thinking of buying the Ebony one, it would be my first Gibson....

and of course, black plastics

Gibsonist · 10-03-2011, 04:41 PM

You're welcome, paruwi. You won't regret it if you do! Of course, be sure to post some pics. As soon as I can get a hold of a quality camera, I'm going to take some real nice ones of mine, perhaps a video as well.

The Refugee · 10-03-2011, 05:11 PM

Wow that looks nice!

HRC · 10-03-2011, 05:16 PM

Very nice, congrats!

Gibsonist · 10-04-2011, 03:35 PM

Thanks, guys!

I can't wait to get a hold of a better camera to really show off the wood grain on this beauty.

I wonder, should I post it in the 335 threads, or is this one not eligible? :-P

bigsby · 10-04-2011, 07:18 PM

That is one cool looking guitar, congrats!

great review thanks.
I agree, Gibson needs to start making more guitars like these. This model would be excellent with p90's or mini humbuckers as well. Pelham blue would be a nice addition to the colour range as well.

enjoy it!

icantbuyafender · 10-05-2011, 11:23 PM

d00d does it have the 339 small body???

i love the master vol/tone setup.

man this thing is teh TITS

Gibsonist · 10-06-2011, 09:24 AM

icantbuyafender, it's not as small as an ES-339, which is pretty much the same size as a Les Paul. An ES-335 is bigger, so you might say that the Midtown is somewhere in between. Personally, I think it's the perfect size. I'm 5'9", which is a pretty average height, and it molds to my body perfectly.

By the way, did I mention that this thing is BALANCED? It sits on your lap and stays in place with ease.

I don't mean to float my own boat here, but I think this guitar has converted me from a Les Paul guy to a Midtown guy. The tone is fantastic and the feel is amazing. The only thing I don't like about it (and this is purely personal preference) is the 60's slim taper neck profile. If it were up to me, I'd take it with a baseball bat like you see on the R2-R8 Les Pauls. Then again, I can see why Gibson went with the neck they did. It appeals to a very large audience.

You know what would be a nice complement to this? A 335-S. I think they're about the same size.

Thank you, everyone for your comments! Keep 'em coming.

paruwi · 10-17-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibsonist

You're welcome, paruwi. You won't regret it if you do! Of course, be sure to post some pics. As soon as I can get a hold of a quality camera, I'm going to take some real nice ones of mine, perhaps a video as well.

without Bigsby....

Custom....

2Vol / 2Tone

Midtown Custom

Gibsonist · 10-17-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paruwi

without Bigsby....

Custom....

2Vol / 2Tone

Midtown Custom

AAHHHH!!! THAT'S AWESOME! BUY ONE!

We need lots of pics, by the way.

Gibsonist · 10-18-2011, 09:37 PM

As I mentioned in another post, I hope to make it to the MLP meet at the Philly Guitar Show this November. If I can, I'll be sure to bring the Midtown.

All are encouraged to give her a good play.

09-29-2011, 07:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I've been on here. Sorry about that! I've been real busy with work and pursuing a master's degree... but you probably didn't click on this post to hear about that. Anyway, my Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby arrived at Guitar Center today! I picked it up as soon as I could, rushed it home, and took pictures for everyone to see. This guitar is AWESOME! I've been having a lot of fun with it since picking it up, and to be honest, I'm almost going through withdrawal while writing this review. It's a really sweet instrument! Sound - It's just what you would expect. It's very much a semi-hollow tone, a tad warmer than an ES-335 (probably because of the Mahogany back and sides,) but still maintains its own unique sound. The main thing are the pickups, which are a '57 Classic in the neck and a '57 Classic Plus in the bridge. The sound is very smooth. If you are a fan of P.A.F. style pickups, these are definitely for you. They handle distortion very well, but they shine through cleans. Headstock - The headstock is rather unique and is a throwback to other Gibson designs. If you're familiar with the L6S (which I am a huge fan of and hope to own one someday,) then this won't be any surprise to you. It has a slimmer taper towards the top when compared to the standard Gibson headstock (see pictures.) On Gibson's website, someone posted that they did this for tuning stability with the Bigsby, but I honestly can't confirm that. Hardware - Speaking of tuning stability, I haven't had any issues so far! The Midtown comes loaded with Grover tuners and a TonePros® Roller Tune-O-Matic bridge to help keep it in tune. Of course, the most prominent feature on this guitar is the B70 Bigsby vibrato. Not everyone's cup of tea and certainly not as versatile as Fender's Stratocaster tremolo system, the Bigsby offers some very nice tones of its own. If you're a fan of jazz, blues, or surf, you'll enjoy the Bigsby. Overall Design - While the body is trimmed down, just like Gibson says it is, don't let that fool you into thinking that it's just like an ES-339. It's much bigger than Gibson lets on, almost as large as an ES-335! I took a picture of it next to my Les Paul Special for reference purposes. The neck is a '60s slim taper and the fretboard boasts mirror inlays. A very nice touch! Finishes - Gibson offers this guitar in two finishes: Ebony and Faded Red. I opted for the Faded Red, but let me assure you, the name of this finish is very misleading! This finish is a high gloss and is very reminiscent of the red finish found on SG Standards. It might be just a tiny bit lighter, but overall, is very close. Gibson's website shows this finish to be rather orange in nature, but that is not the case! This guitar is very red! Conclusion - Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. These are the type of guitars that Gibson needs to make. While the Midtown Standard with Bigsby is a limited run guitar, I sincerely hope that Gibson will make other iterations of it. Personally, I think a "Midtown Studio" or a "Midtown Deluxe" would sell quite well! Speaking of a limited run, I heard that there are only 200 of these being made. Can anyone confirm that? If that's the case, I suggest picking one up while they're still available! EDIT: I keep thinking of details to add! Stratottack and StompIt like this. __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic. Last edited by Gibsonist; 09-29-2011 at 07:44 PM.

09-30-2011, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
bgfthntr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Foothills of the Adirondacks Posts: 272 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby slick guitar! Kind of has a Swing Vibe going on.... Change out the white plastic for black or creme...IMHO Matt_21 and icantbuyafender like this. __________________ 1961 Airline (by Harmony) Flat Top 1974 Gibson Blue Ridge Custom 1979/1981 Fender Stratocaster 1995 Gibson Les Paul Standard 2003 Larrivee Parlor 2010 Gibson SG Classic

09-30-2011, 09:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby I'm not entirely crazy about the white plastic either, but being that it's a limited run guitar, I'm going to keep it all-original. Otherwise, I'd do just as you said. I think black plastic would look best. I also like the idea of Seymour Duncan P-Rails pickups and the pickup trim with miniature selector switches to change between P90s, single coils, and humbuckers. icantbuyafender likes this. __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

10-03-2011, 02:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Thank you, tmb1958. You have a great point there. Maybe even chrome-topped knobs like on the ES-style Gibsons to match the inlays and the rest of the hardware? Decisions, decisions... __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

10-03-2011, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
paruwi V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,939 Thanks: 174 Thanked 92 Times in 21 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Congrats ! and thanks for the review I'm thinking of buying the Ebony one, it would be my first Gibson.... and of course, black plastics __________________ PeteR I don't have any reason to lie to you - I just do it for fun Epiphone -B.B.King Lucille [06 MiK] -NightHawk RI Cst [10-MiI] -LesPaul Ultra II [08-MiK] -LesPaul Special DC [94-MiK] -LesPaul Ukulele [12-MiI] -DR 200 CE [07-MiC] Gibson -Midtown Custom [11-MiA] BlackHeart -Handsome Devil Combo VOX -ToneLab LE -DA-5

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10-03-2011, 04:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby You're welcome, paruwi. You won't regret it if you do! Of course, be sure to post some pics. As soon as I can get a hold of a quality camera, I'm going to take some real nice ones of mine, perhaps a video as well. __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

10-03-2011, 05:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Refugee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,539 Thanks: 131 Thanked 30 Times in 15 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Wow that looks nice! __________________ #ForNico

10-03-2011, 05:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
HRC Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748 Thanks: 278 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Very nice, congrats! __________________ If You Can't Play 'em, Relic 'em Axaholics Bluesville Junction

10-04-2011, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby Thanks, guys! I can't wait to get a hold of a better camera to really show off the wood grain on this beauty. I wonder, should I post it in the 335 threads, or is this one not eligible? :-P __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

10-04-2011, 07:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
bigsby Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby That is one cool looking guitar, congrats! great review thanks. I agree, Gibson needs to start making more guitars like these. This model would be excellent with p90's or mini humbuckers as well. Pelham blue would be a nice addition to the colour range as well. enjoy it!

10-05-2011, 11:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
icantbuyafender Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South Texas, baby. Posts: 1,839 Thanks: 18 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby d00d does it have the 339 small body??? i love the master vol/tone setup. man this thing is teh TITS __________________ BLACKHEART OR BUST

10-06-2011, 09:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby icantbuyafender, it's not as small as an ES-339, which is pretty much the same size as a Les Paul. An ES-335 is bigger, so you might say that the Midtown is somewhere in between. Personally, I think it's the perfect size. I'm 5'9", which is a pretty average height, and it molds to my body perfectly. By the way, did I mention that this thing is BALANCED? It sits on your lap and stays in place with ease. I don't mean to float my own boat here, but I think this guitar has converted me from a Les Paul guy to a Midtown guy. The tone is fantastic and the feel is amazing. The only thing I don't like about it (and this is purely personal preference) is the 60's slim taper neck profile. If it were up to me, I'd take it with a baseball bat like you see on the R2-R8 Les Pauls. Then again, I can see why Gibson went with the neck they did. It appeals to a very large audience. You know what would be a nice complement to this? A 335-S. I think they're about the same size. Thank you, everyone for your comments! Keep 'em coming. __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

10-18-2011, 09:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
Gibsonist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 278 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: NGD: Gibson Midtown Standard with Bigsby As I mentioned in another post, I hope to make it to the MLP meet at the Philly Guitar Show this November. If I can, I'll be sure to bring the Midtown. All are encouraged to give her a good play. __________________ Avid astronomer, lover of stringed instruments, and Led Zeppelin fanatic.

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