Vintage j-200s

[Paul-A]

When did Gibson switch to laminated back and sides on this model?

[newswede]

I believe 1955, but you'd have to research here:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/gibson6.html#j200

[Iago]

Are the current ones laminated?

[zombywoof]

Yup. I have a 1960 J-200. Gibson went from the solid to laminete maple in 1955. In the early 1950s, Gibson also returned to the adding the second wide angle brace above the soundhole which were on the first SJ-200s. The top bracing was mixture of scallop and arched bracing while the tone bars were hand shaped for each individual instrument (Gibson only made 100 or so of these guitars a year)

[zombywoof]

Forgot - Bozeman does not now nor as far as I know has ever offered a J-200 with maple laminate back and sides. They also have never come out with one with the bracing above the soundhole.

[Paul-A]

How do the early 50s solid maple guitars compare tonally with later 50s laminated examples? anyone ever compared the two side by side?