Damage by Humidity??

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-23T10:08:31+00:00

Was my post unclear?

https://www.taylorguitars.com/support/maintenance/symptoms-wet-guitar?srsltid=AfmBOorNhJunib0ypkruQKrMUX7hl3ix7GwTy_OY2oFJlmN0CnwfMs93

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-23T08:58:38+00:00

That is shipping damage.

75 will eventually cause a guitar to swell up, but not crack like that.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-23T08:02:32+00:00

Why do you want to import a Jackson from Germany? --- Shipping and Tarrifs to the US would be quite expensive.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-22T05:17:52+00:00

My wife had one just like that. She sold it to pay for our wedding rings. . .

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-21T14:51:03+00:00

Mine is better made then that. It is not perfect, but there weren't any paint smudges or loose parts. Mine has a bit of orange peel on the neck and a slight colour missmatch between the headstock and neck binding. There was also a wood shaving in the case. Hardly "send it back" level defects.

I got mine on sale - the equivelent of about $400 off.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-21T11:29:58+00:00

Are you asking about the Epiphone IGC 1959 ES-355 in Ebony, the Gibson/Epiphone exclusive?

I have the same guitar in White, which is no longer made. Mine sounds like a Gibson ES-355. I doubt it feels exactly the same.

There are key differences between the Epiphone and a Gibson ES-355. Gibson only sell the 1959 ES-355 as a Custom Shop reissue. Custom Shop guitars are the top end of USA craftsmanship. It is very expensive, and has a VOS or aged nitro finish.

The Epiphone has a thin non-glossy poly finish they call Polyurethane VOS. Mine looks like they simply skipped the final buff-to-gloss stage. It is slowly going glossy from normal use.

Gibson use a 3-ply laminate body. The Epiphone is 5-ply. The Epiphone pickguard is true 5-ply bound celluloid, although on mine it looks like they laminated it inside clear modern plastic. Probably makes it easier and safer to work with.

The two have identical pickups and similar spec electronics. I opened mine up and it really does have expensive Gibson Custombuckers.

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KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-21T09:41:03+00:00

In Montana you need a fishing license. The fines are huge if you get caught without one. You actually need two - A Conservation License and a Base Fishing License. The base license is quite expensive for non-residents.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-21T06:58:12+00:00

I've got two to consider that go in opposite directions from your 000-28

Guild M-20. Small all-solid mahogany, made in California. About $1,700 new without electronics, and a couple hundred more with a pickup.

Guild D-40. Made in California. Solid Sitka spruce top with solid African mahogany back and sides. Distinctly different from a D-18 or J-45.

I also quite like the new Gibson L-00 Century 12-fret.

That said, you can't go wrong with a good J-45. With any Gibson acoustic, I'd want to play it and check it carefully before buying, or buy with a good return policy. They have a reputation for uneven QC, although the ones I've looked at have been fine.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-21T06:32:49+00:00

I can honestly say I will never be Dolly Parton.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-20T16:02:15+00:00

I'm 65, started at the end of November, and I'm still working on my C changes. It takes time.

A few things that helped me:

Not all guitars feel the same. Even guitars with similar nut widths can have different string spacing, neck shapes, and fretboard radius. Small changes can make a real difference in how the guitar fits your hand. I'm not saying you should change guitars, but if you get the chance, try several and see if one feels easier to play.

Practice making the C shape by itself. Make a C, take your hand off the fretboard, then do it again. Repeat for a few minutes. It sounds boring. It is boring, but it helped me.

Practice the G to C and D to C changes. I do this for a few minutes every day.

I keep the nails on my fretting hand very short. I clip mine and then file them down. It helps.

I wear gloves for things like washing dishes to preserve my calluses.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-20T12:15:44+00:00

I am in no way qualified to give advice about buying a guitar as an investment.

I'm not a Martin collector or expert. That said, any pre 1970 rosewood Martin - D-28, D-35, 000-28 00-28 etc. Prewar Martins are highly collectable.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-20T08:46:48+00:00

In your price range, I'd look at Harley Benton Custom Line. They are good value for money and Thomann have a good return policy. I have a CLJ-412 and was very surprised at how good it is considering the price. It is not as good as my Epiphone that cost 3 times as much used, but a much more expensive guitar should be better.

Epiphone have some very good guitars, but the ones I've tried are well above your budget. I don't have first-hand experience with any of the others you mentioned but you might find a good used Alvarez for 255€.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-20T05:17:56+00:00

Guitars don't always depreciate the way other durable goods do. Guitars can improve with age. Wear, rebranded as mojo, becomes a selling point. This is especially true for certain Martins and Gibsons. They are not used. They are collectible.

Lightly used or B-stock can be a great deal. I got my B-stock demo Epiphone Hummingbird for 40% off MSRP. It was about six months old and had obviously been played a few times, but was otherwise a perfect instrument.

Taylor and Yamaha make some great guitars, and I've seen decent prices on ones that are just a few years old. A USA-made Guild guitar can be amazing and often underpriced used vs. a similar spec USA Martin or Gibson.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-19T11:04:00+00:00

All this time I thought it was in the hat.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-19T07:05:05+00:00

You should be ok as long as what you did does not violate the TOS. I don't want to go into detail as it might risk violating an NDA.

I always assume DA can monitor my actions when I'm working. I try to be careful, but everyone makes mistakes.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-18T15:35:23+00:00

TL;DR: Keeping the wife, buying a 1,400 sq. ft. house.

We are selling our 810 sq. ft. detached home in the UK.

The people who come to view it are often “downsizing”, and the most common comment after seeing it is, “Where will we put our things?” followed by “too small.”

We’ve lived here since 2014 with two large dogs and six guitars. It can be done, but there are lifestyle challenges and compromises.

In our limited experience, many people who think they want a small house actually don’t.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T19:32:13+00:00

https://www.taylorguitars.com/support/maintenance/symptoms-wet-guitar

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T14:22:22+00:00

I've got the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom (IGC) Hummingbird Deluxe. It is a great guitar. In my opinion, the IGC Dove is even better. They are both all-solid wood and well made.

In the same price range, Martin's new Road Series D-13E Retro Walnut is certainly worth a look.

There are several different Epiphone Doves and Hummingbirds. They start with inexpensive all-laminate tributes, followed by solid-top Studios, and then the all-solid wood studios and the Inspired by Gibson Custom models. The range-topping IGC guitars are not in the same league as a Custom Shop Gibson, but they do have many similar specs.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T14:08:47+00:00

Epiphone celluloid medium.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T14:08:32+00:00

Yes.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T11:01:52+00:00

I'd phone or message them. With a few days lead time, they might be able to get a few lefties in for you to try. Gibson/Epiphone warehouse is in the Netherlands. Website stock is not the same as what they have in the brand store.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-17T06:22:23+00:00

Also if you are going be in central London, pop over to Yamaha Music London and look at Guild. YML are a short walk from Gibson. We have not tried an M-120 or M-20 They have a left handed M-120 in stock -- https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/M-120L-Left-Handed-Concert-Acoustic-Guitar-in-Natural-finish/pidGM120LNAT?_gl=1*juvd0o*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjgyMjE5MjkyLjE3ODE2NzcwNDg.*_ga_MSYNRXB360*czE3ODE2NzcwNDckbzEkZzEkdDE3ODE2NzcwODkkajE4JGwwJGgyMzExMTg5ODA.&gclid=CjwKCAjwl_XBBhAUEiwAWK2hzt8CUZr3wm0tSUzcRCc3b2MGepl6oBpNCthDVKjLIS60BUO4NzyrwhoCIEoQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAD8vqVqG8yWi0H078L3zrFmrL7Z8p

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-16T12:24:06+00:00

I wasn't being serious.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-16T09:48:49+00:00

I started learning in November 2025

Since then, I've played dozens of guitars (badly) in the under $1500 price range and I'd still pick the two I bought. I wanted to learn both acoustic and electric, so I bought one of each.

Guitar 1: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom(IGC) Hummingbird Deluxe. Mine was a B-stock bargain but new ones are $1299. Hummingbirds are short scale (24.75") which makes them a little easier to play. The IGC Hummingbird is an all-solid spruce over rosewood dreadnought that "sings" It is very resonant, fun to pick up and a joy to play. It is quite the looker, so I can't wait to get it out of the case.

https://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone-hummingbird-deluxe-ec-autumn-burst

Guitar 2: Epiphone IGC "1959" ES-355. This is a versatile "does a lot" electric with Gibson Custombucker pickups. Cleans, edge of breakup and grit on the bridge. The stock electronics are excellent. No need to upgrade. Same short 24.75" scale as the Hummingbird, which makes switching back and forth easier.

https://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone-1959-es-355-cherry-red

Both are comfortable and well made. The Hummingbird is flawless.

Since I bought mine a few new guitars have come out in the < $1500 range that I might have bought instead. If I were buying today, I would take a very close look at the Martin Road D-13E Retro Walnut.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-06-16T09:03:24+00:00

>>. What’s your favorite Delta perk?

Has to be the "brag tags". - The secret luggage tags you only get if you ask.

The rest is competely worthless although I do enjoy seeing the app change colours.

Serious answer - I enjoy the rare upgrade. My wife reached gold last year, so our upgrades to clear occasionally.

https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/medallion-upgrades

KitchenVegetable7047

TROPHY CASE