Who would have thought Gibson would knock it out of the park when celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the iconic J-200 acoustic guitar by issuing a 15" wide body version? Clearly the folks at Bozeman had taken a cue from an iconic musician: singer/songwriter and well-known Gibson J-200 player Emmylou Harris.
The first iteration of what would be known as the SJ-200, or later simply J-200, went into production in 1937. The guitar was 17" across the lower bout, and shared the silhouette of the iconic L-5 arch top. Upon introduction, the SJ-200 was a rosewood body guitar, and would later transition to a maple body. The legacy features that the J-200 and the L-5 both share are the bout width, spruce top, maple back and sides, and multi-piece maple neck. And remember before the 1950's both guitars were acoustic instruments, and many L-5 models shipped without a cutaway. With the popularity of cowboy or hillbilly music on the rise, and with rosewood body flat top Martin instruments selling quite well, Gibson needed a flagship flat top of their own in the line. Why reinvent the wheel when you can simply lean on shapes and sizes already present in the arch top line? Gussied up with visual features, the "King of the Flat Tops" was born, and from 1937 through today, the giant 17" model instrument is easily recognizable and ubiquitously played by the most famous songwriters.
Fast forward to the early '70s, fresh off her work with Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris is embarking on solo career that would not only span decades, but earn her countless accolades. From early folk music, to country rock records, to her collaborations with Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt, and beyond, Emmylou would win CMAs and Grammys numerous times, and also be inducted as a member of both the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Along the way, virtually ever time she performed, a Gibson J-200 would grace the stage with her. In fact, it's difficult to find a photo of her playing without a J-200 in her hands.
Fast forward again to 2012, and we find ourselves 75 years removed from the introduction of the J-200 model. We're at a point where guitar builders are reissuing various model years in exacting detail, and celebrating the anniversary of just about every notable guitar-making event. Also at this time Gibson guitars had already established the Emmylou Harris L-200 signature model, a small body take on the iconic J-200, but a signature model whose silhouette screamed LC-1. Emmylou wanted a smaller iteration of the massive 17" J-200, but to most folks the original L-200 silhouette was just not quite right. Later, basing the L-200 on the Gibson J-165 platform, all of the sudden you had what looked like a J-200, but simply smaller. The 15" body paired with all the J-200 features not only nailed the look of a miniature J-200, it was also one of the finest sounding acoustic guitars Gibson had ever built.
With the Gibson USA Emmylou Harris signature model quietly a tonal knockout, and with the 75th Anniversary of the SJ-200 at hand, Gibson chose to issue their celebratory J-200 as a 15" guitar just like the L-200, as opposed to a historically correct 17" run. Limited to 75 pieces, the Gibson Custom Shop J-200M Trophy 75th Anniversary model features the same iconic woods, pickguard, bridge, and inlays that the 17" model had worn for decades. However, the materials were taken to the extreme with the finest quilted maple bodies and flamiest maple necks Gibson could find, with every surface wrapped in abalone. The small body X-braced J-200M internally featured one scalloped tone bar, an L.R. Baggs Element active pickup, and a flamed maple bridge plate etched "#11 Emmy Lou." The bridge plates for these parlor-sized guitars are laser-cut, and then etched with the model name so that the appropriate plate is glued to the correct top at correct moment during manufacturing. Later in 2018, Gibson ran a limited edition batch of J-200 Parlor guitars, again with the "#11 Emmy Lou" etched bridge plates found inside.
Whether paying homage to Emmylou's incredible signature model or not, the 15" J-200M is a real thing of beauty. Clearly it looks phenomenal, but more importantly, just like the L-200 Signature, the J-200M is one of the most fantastic sounding Gibson's we've heard in a while. The smaller body means less air to move, and a smaller top that is easier to get vibrating. Large 17" J-200s sound great, but they take some effort to wield and get up to volume, plus being mostly maple, the big ones are quite bass heavy and bright, lacking mid-range. The smaller J-200M is immediately more comfortable to play, and noticeably more intimate and dynamic tonally. It still has a nice round bass note, with clear treble, but the smaller build offers much more in the way of mid-range with warmer frequencies present. It's clear and articulate, great for fingerstyle or flat picking. It also builds volume well, sounding similarly excellent when pushed as when asked to sing quietly. Our example has quite a slinky feel about it, and we find ourselves exploring the entire fingerboard, listening for every nuance and overtone this stellar model has to offer. We can't suggest these small-body J-200 / L-200 models enough. If you like the Emmylou concept, but don't want a signature model, or prefer a higher end Custom Shop build, the J-200M Trophy is a hands down winner. There are not a ton out there, but if you see one in the wild, spend time with it!
