The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Guitars Etc. => Topic started by: Hornisse on November 16, 2009, 05:49:55 PM

Title: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Hornisse on November 16, 2009, 05:49:55 PM
My wife and I saw John Denver on October 4, 1997 at the Bass Concert Hall here in Austin.  8 days later he was gone.  I bought my wife a songbook shortly thereafter and there was a photo of what looked like a Gibson 18 string acoustic.  Finally found a cool website that discusses his guitars and there were some cool photo's of this rare beast!  The website is http://www.jdgrs.com/ (http://www.jdgrs.com/).  Here is the Gibson.

(http://i35.tinypic.com/r046fr.jpg)
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Basvarken on November 17, 2009, 04:53:15 AM
That must have been a mighty neckdiver!
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Dave W on November 17, 2009, 09:33:32 AM
I wonder how it sounded. The neck would be heavy, but that much string tension would require some hefty construction at the box too. It would take an expert to build it strong enough and still have it sound good.
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: leftybass on November 17, 2009, 09:54:25 AM
I wonder how it sounded. The neck would be heavy, but that much string tension would require some hefty construction at the box too. It would take an expert to build it strong enough and still have it sound good.

I've heard where some acoustic 12-string players tune down a whole step and capo at the 2nd fret to keep the neck tension down. Hmm...
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Dave W on November 17, 2009, 10:19:32 AM
Maybe this could have been designed for lower tuning.
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Highlander on November 17, 2009, 05:15:25 PM
Good Grief...!
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: gearHed289 on November 18, 2009, 10:11:12 AM
What about this? Built for Tom Petersson, later owned by Allen Woody.

(http://guitars101.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/18telli1.jpg?w=500&h=442)
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Dave W on November 18, 2009, 11:18:03 AM
That's a different animal. Building an 18 string acoustic guitar with a soundbox that's light enough to vibrate and yet strong enough to withstand string tension is quite a feat. Not that an 18 string bass isn't a nifty feat, but when you're working with a solid body and a carbon fiber neck, it's much less of a challenge.
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Highlander on November 18, 2009, 01:21:05 PM
Just who jumped the shark, and why were they silly enough to do so in the first place...?

(shades of "mine's bigger than yours..."  :P)

(http://www.modernguitars.com/imagefiles/gibson/summerjam/nielsen5.gif)
yes, there are more pointless examples of extravagance for extravagance's sake, but this is the best known...
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: uwe on November 20, 2009, 09:43:49 AM
I wonder how it sounded. The neck would be heavy, but that much string tension would require some hefty construction at the box too. It would take an expert to build it strong enough and still have it sound good.

Chimey. As a good 12 string should. Nothing like strumming a few simple chords on a 12 string and hearing them ring out.
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Hornisse on December 31, 2009, 03:23:48 PM
Happy Birthday to John Denver who would have been 66 today.
Title: Re: John Denver's 18 String Gibson
Post by: Denis on January 04, 2010, 05:03:20 PM
Happy Birthday to John Denver who would have been 66 today.

His guest appearance on "The Muppet Show" was one of the best episodes ever!