is the Gibson J15 brighter than the J35?

[elasticman]

anyone A/B'ed them both? Also is the neck any different?

I had a J35 that was pretty fantastic. Clearer than a J45 and recorded really well but I'm curious about the J15. (NOT the Studio though)

And the Walnut burst is NICE...

[Nick84]

I owned both a J-35 and a J-15 at the same time and I felt my 35 was the brighter of the two

[elasticman]

Originally Posted by Nick84

I owned both a J-35 and a J-15 at the same time and I felt my 35 was the brighter of the two

and i see by your signature that you cast them both off?

Which one played easier? Or same

[dspoel]

I have a J15 but I think it is too bright. Should try some different strings maybe.

[elasticman]

Originally Posted by dspoel

I have a J15 but I think it is too bright. Should try some different strings maybe.

try Vintage Bronze or Bluegrass

[Sax Player Guy]

In case you haven't seen this comparison video, elasticman, it's definitely worth a look:


https://youtu.be/pLs3g3wbO8I

[Nick84]

The J35 had a chunkier neck than the J15. Both played nicely after a set up. I liked both. The J35 went first (only because someone offered to buy it at a fair price) followed by the J15 which I kept for a little longer. They were both great guitars but I just wanted to try something different and I try not to have more than 4 guitars in the house at once.

Looking back I preferred the J35 only because my fretting hand felt more at home on the neck. You wouldn’t be disappointed with either.

[elasticman]

Originally Posted by Nick84

The J35 had a chunkier neck than the J15. Both played nicely after a set up. I liked both. The J35 went first (only because someone offered to buy it at a fair price) followed by the J15 which I kept for a little longer. They were both great guitars but I just wanted to try something different and I try not to have more than 4 guitars in the house at once.

Looking back I preferred the J35 only because my fretting hand felt more at home on the neck. You wouldn’t be disappointed with either.

haha I have the same rule. 3 hangars on the wall. Can only have 3 guitars. Sometimes that rule has caused me to do stoo-pid things...

[LAGinz]

Originally Posted by elasticman

try Vintage Bronze or Bluegrass

Or Martin Monels!

[Perchman]

So far I’m not a fan of the GHS Vintage Bronze on my J35. To the OP, I went out looking for a J15 and played very good examples but I chose the J35 on the first strum. Like a little brighter J45 but light as a feather and the neck is perfectly chunky. Just seemed “right”. Once I learn how to upload wav files to SoundCloud, I will post some recent recordings with some old Pearse 80/20’s and I smile every time I listen, “that’s my guitar right there!”

[elasticman]

Originally Posted by Perchman

So far I’m not a fan of the GHS Vintage Bronze on my J35. To the OP, I went out looking for a J15 and played very good examples but I chose the J35 on the first strum. Like a little brighter J45 but light as a feather and the neck is perfectly chunky. Just seemed “right”. Once I learn how to upload wav files to SoundCloud, I will post some recent recordings with some old Pearse 80/20’s and I smile every time I listen, “that’s my guitar right there!”

I felt that way too, but stupidly sold it. I LOVED the 35. as you say SUPER light.

Funny, like you I also have a Guild D55. 1977. Westerly.

The J-35 is my favorite of Gibson's slope-shoulder jumbos. I didn't find mine to be especially bright, but there is a clarity to it that the J-45 and J-29 lack. I found that Pyramid Western Folks (roundcores) gave it a better overall EQ balance across the strings than the stock Masterbilt 80/20s. I think Gibson's choice of using those strings exaggerates the brightness a bit.

[zombywoof]

I find both the J35 and the J15 to be brighter sounding, at least for slope shoulder Gibsons. Of the two I found he J15 a bit warmer sounding.