The Gibson Jumbos: A Short History, featuring Eric Treleaven

TrueFire courses and all access memberships available here:
Enter promo code "FIVEWATT25" to save 25%

For five watt world short history bundle and HX Stomp presets

T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and tumblers

To make a donation to support the channel click here:

Get regular updates on what's happening at the channel:

Minimalist Musician YouTube Channel with Eric Treleaven:

Or listen to Eric's complete track from the video over on his channel:

Links to the references used:

This topic came to me from one of the member of the friends of five watt group on Patreon. He even leant me a copy of the definitive work on the subject! As is usually the case, I learned a LOT doing the research on this one and honestly the size of the script scared me just a little. But at just under 37 minutes its still shorter than the Les Paul SH and that's over a million views. So chalk one up for pure curiosity. :)

Thanks for all your support in watching the videos and think about joining me on Patreon. I'd really like to ramp up that group this year.

A very special "thank you" to my "super friend" level patrons on Patreon:
Perry M.
Bill S.
Piush D.
Rick B.

All the best,
Keith

*** Five watt world participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by linking to Amazon. In simpler language, this means that whenever you buy something from Amazon from a link on here, I receive a small percentage of its price.

[davidwonpu]

The day I was finally able to walk into Guitar Center, point to the brand new Southern Jumbo on the top shelf and say “I’ll take it” was one of the best days of my life.

[regularjim]

I inherited a Southern Jumbo from my Dad. It was one step above firewood when I got it. Missing and broken braces, broken tuning knobs, a homemade whittled out bridge in the wrong place. it was poorly refinished in Natural polyurethane around 1970. Cowboy frets worn down nearly to the fretboard, and you could have driven a truck under the strings. Best I can tell it's a 1946 model, based on the script logo, no banner, no neck binding, no serial number or FON of any sort.

I had it restored by a highly regarded luthier about three years ago, retaining the original tuners, pick guard, and silk screen logo, new braces, new bone nut and saddle, new rosewood bridge, neck reset, and a new nitrocellulose sunburst finish. He also managed to clean the stains off of the parallelogram inlays to make them bright and shiny again instead the color of nicotine.

I know you're not supposed to refinish old guitars, but in this case, the damage was already done. Now I have an heirloom quality instrument with a new life. I could've bought a new one for less than the luthier bill, I felt responsible for making sure this piece of history was done right.

[pwayne]

My dad gave me his ‘63 j-45 when I turned 16. It’s been my main cannon for my last 30 years. It sounds better every time it gets played. I’m giving it to my son.

[NikkiPottnick]

Just bought my dream guitar tonight, a J-45 TV. Ive been wanting one for 10 years now, and finally felt the time was right as far as money and where I’m at in life. Truly a milestone for me as I never thought I’d see the day I could do this. A lot of hard work.

[frankierays]

Thank you. As a retirement gift I (age 69) recently purchased a new SJ-200 based solely on sound and feel. I did not know much about Gibsons history. I’m loving this guitar more and more every time I play or even look at it. Thanks again!

[kelley]

I am an amateur hobbyist guitar builder. I have studied for years. Sir, this is probably the best video I have seen for Gibson history. Great job.

[williamsanderson]

What a "Jumbo" SH. You captured the storied history and the sonic essence of Gibson flattops perfectly with superb playing examples of guitars most of us will never play, great pictures of vintage guitars and a story that keeps us engaged. Home run!

[lh]

I’m happy to be the owner of a ‘56 J-50 that I rebuilt from terrible condition after many years of play, neglect and abuse. It sounds sooo good.

[johnsee]

Whoops! Didn't expect that simple, elegant, superbly beautiful performance by the Duke! Had to rewind and turn up the volume; a couple a times... Marvelous surprise! 😊

[williamknell]

Duke Levine's piece was gorgeous!
Also, Rick's C&W is beauty.

[ericwarrington]

The amount of detail and stories of lore in this video are really incredible Keith...I'm blown away...I really know very little about these guitars...Its fascinating

[robinleebraun]

Wonderful short history. Can't believe the tones coming from those Gibsons.

[Superjet]

I just bought a Takamine Jumbo a month ago. Been waiting for it for 2 years. I always wanted a Jumbo just because it was BIG. I never knew the history of it, so this is very interesting. Thank you 5 Watt World!

[DaveJacoby]

The missing fact is that "Jumbo" was the name of an elephant that was part of P.T. Barnum's circus. I know this is Five Watt World, not Name Explain, but if we know Dreadnaught is the name of the first battleship, we should know where this name came from as well. Great work.

[powbarabajagal]

Wonderful episode! As a botanist, I wanted to offer a slight correction about the Hummingbird and it’s pickguard design. I always appreciate when designs are modeled on real birds and plants I can recognize. The plant used for the Hummingbird is a garden vine botanically known as Campsis radicans, the Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper. This vine with fern-like leaves has orange-red trumpet flowers that attract hummingbirds. So there are no ‘ferns’ illustrated on the pickguard, it is all Trumpet Vine flowers and leaves, a Hummingbirds’ favorite.

[minimalistmusician]

This one was so engaging! I didn't realize how much I love those Gibson flat tops until now. Thanks again for having me. You're a great human and you tell fantastic stories.

[BizarrePudding]

Wow, you've outdone yourself this time Keith, which is saying something!...This is amazing!!!

I have 3 Gibson acoustics - an mid 50s L50, a '46 LG2 (both bequeathed to me via family ALL of whom played Gibson acoustics beginning the late '30s/early '40s) and a 2004 Songwriter (one of Ren Ferguson's last designs for Gibson) which I got last February for $1700...They are ALL absolutely amazing guitars (though none of them are true Jumbos and the L50 is an archtop)...

I can go on forever about all of this but I'll just say THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video...It might sound crazy to say but I believe that despite their long, storied and highly influential history, Gibson acoustic guitars somehow get the short shrift in some strange way...hopefully this video goes a long way to correcting that...

All the players in this vid sounded exceptional (Molly Tuttle on that J-200 - WHOA!) but thanks in particular for giving Duke Levine some exposure - he deserves to be much wider appreciated, his playing in this vid actually got me a little teary-eyed...(Not criticizing but did your namesake Mr. Richards not get a mention along with his famed Hummingbird?...Maybe he did, I'll keep an eye out when I re-watch)

And finally remember the old adage -
Good ol' boys play Martins
Bad boys play Gibsons
Choirboys play Taylors

Thanks again Keith, this salvaged what has been up till now a thoroughly crappy week!

[MSStateBulldawg]

Keith, I'm a 50 year player and always tune in to listen and learn. I enjoy the detail. You always do your homework. Thanks, 5 Watt World.

[mtacoustic]

In my modest collection of guitars, the Gibson J-185s are my favorites. I have matching 6 & 12 strings in natural built in the Bozeman shop. It helps that the shop is only 150 miles away & I know some of the staff from my college days!

[f.duranleau]

I once played a vintage Gibson Advanced Jumbo from the late '30s and the sound and tone that came out of that guitar was absolutely magnificient, incredible!