GIBSON

Generation Collection

- JIMMY LESLIE

GIBSON'S NEW GENERATION

Collection is designed for players of all sizes, skill levels and bank accounts that are in the market for a genuine American acoustic built with solid woods in the venerable manufacturer's Bozeman, Montana factory. These four no-frills instruments all share one distinctly outside-the-box feature: the Player Port on the top side above the upper bout. All feature walnut back and sides, a Sitka spruce top, and a striped ebony fretboard as well as Grover tuners, a Tusq nut and saddle, and a slim utile neck. There are two models with electronics (EC) and two without, ranging in size from parlor to jumbo. All are on review here, and all have slightly thinned bodies for comfort. From smallest to largest, they include the G-00 parlor, G-45 round-shouldered dreadnought, G-Writer EC square-shouldered cutaway dreadnought and G-200 EC cutaway jumbo.

The Generation Collection has modest aesthetics. The woods appear unrefined and barely finished in an open-pore matte satin style that appears so natural, the guitar could perhaps have come straight off a workbench. Appointments are minimal, particularly on the diminutive G-00 and compact G-45. The G-Writer EC and the G-200 EC feature black bindings and hip single-bar fretboard inlays. It would also be nice if the headstock logo were inlayed rather than silkscreened.

THE PLAYER PORT