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Author Message   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 6:10 pm:    I finally got a GB20! I cannot believe this guitar. It is everything I have dreamed about. Purchased from the original owner, bought new in 79 in LA. The guard gassed,but I have the pot/jack/pickup. I do not have a pickguard or mount. Can I use a standard mount? or a similar pickguard? Since I have this baby with no Pickup I wandered if anyone recommended changing the pickup. I also have found a place that will make a replacement pickguard, but I don't have the shape. Could someone who has a GB20 Trace their pickguard??? I will post pics soon. WOW What a guitar!!!!   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 11:44 pm:    Cmangeot~ Congratulations! Do you have all of the GB's you've been searching for? Looking forward to your photos and review.   Petruz Username: Petruz Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 4:01 am:    cmangeot, try contacting callistabb, he has a gb20. if i were you i'd order a custom ebony (or ebonized) pickguard with the same shape as the original. this guitar deserves it! photos please...   Callistabb Username: Callistabb Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 4:59 am:    cmangeot, congrats! I agree it certainly is an amazing guitar. Is yours blond or SB? As Petruz says, I have a GB20 with an original pickguard. I could remove it and place it upside-down on a piece of paper and trace the shape if you want. I could then either scan it or simply send the trace to you by snail mail. Contact me in that case. Again congrats! Even though I have a G20, a blond one, I’m constantly looking for a second one, SB then of course ;-). /Bjorn   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 2-2001 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:20 am:    Cmangeot: Congrats! You're long search has paid off. Can you elaborate on "it is everything I have dreamed about"? What were you looking for and what does the GB20 fulfill for you? The only reference I have for Jazz boxes is my GB10, GB12 and an AF200 that I sold (it just wasn't everything that I dreamt of. ). Curious minds want to know.   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:23 am:    I was in search of a full size archtop with the natural deeper acoustic tone. When playing my GB10, I noticed that I lost the natural volume of the instrument when amplified. The GB20 is LOUD!!! I cant get over how loud and full it sounds. Many folks say that the wood must age a bit before a guitar mellows, i may agree with them. Some may doubt this, and I'm sure I'll get grief for this, but I played a new Gibson Le Grande, and it sounded thinner next to my GB20. I almost bought an Eastman 910, but then I thought, i don't want to be one of those "boutique" players whose expensive guitar overshadows their talent. I have played since I was 5 yrs old,(25 years) and I wanted something I can take out and gig with, and still have a top notch axe. And fate just happened. This guitar was on ebay listed as a GB10. I made a good deal for the guitar, (especially since the seller had all of the parts minus the guard and mount, which he did not divulge in the auction details, otherwise I think it would have sold) It has two small nicks in the top, one that chipped the finish, but smaller than a dime and no wood damage. No binding problems, or any cracks, etc. Simply a wonderful specimen, and it is a 79 just like my GB10. I still need to know from all of you experts whether a standard mount will work for the pickguard. And what is the tiny unshielded wire for on the jack.( a ground I assume) Where does it go? Should I go wood for the pickguard, or restore to stock? Thanks for the accolades!!! Chris   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 11:24 am:    BTW it is a GB20 BS   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 12:10 pm:    Cmangeot... congrats on the GB20. What color is it? Natural finish? Got photos? Can you tell me where you intend to have the pickguard made? I need one for my 1985 am205 and If you don't mind giving me your contact, it looks like I am going to have to get one made because I can't find one to buy here on ICW. Did you get an idea on costs? Do you have the hardware to mount it, or can they help you out with that as well? Obviously no one would want to drill new holes when the original ones are there.   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 12:55 pm:    Here is the link for everyone. They can make almost any pickguard, provided you have the exact shape. http://pickguards.us/priceibanez.html   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 1:54 pm:    Hmm...I don't see anything for the AS200 or 2630 on that pickguard list. Anyway, you might check with this site for help restoring your pot/jack/pickup and pickguard. They are real pros. Good luck. www.archtop.com   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:21 pm:    Here we go the pics are here...   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:25 pm:    It is also a 21 fret guitar, unlike my GB10 which is 22. Is anyone else's GB20 a 21 fret model?   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 9:28 pm:    i am seriously considering a Kent Armstrong hand wound Johnny Smith model to replace the slightly corroded gb humbucker. Plus this one is missing a pole piece. Anyone ever heard one?? Any other suggestions for a replacement pickup? Benedetto maybe?   Guitartim Username: Guitartim Registered: 4-2001 Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 10:32 am:    Cmangeot~ That GB20 is sweet! I have a hand wound Kent Armstrong floating pickup (Johnny Smith style) on a Heritage archtop that sounds lush and sweet, but most importantly, transparent. Kent will wind to your specs too. It is one of the best PAF's for jazz on the market.   Callistabb Username: Callistabb Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 4:23 am:    Wow… That GB20 looks fantastic! As far as I know, the specs for the GB20 never changed. It had 21 frets during its production period. I was watching your guitar on eBay. Didn’t realize that the missing hardware was included in the deal ;-) /Bjorn   Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 10:51 am:    Wow, gorgeous guitar. Congratulations and thank you for posting photos. Is the GB20 a solid top guitar? Pardon my ignorance. If it is, I guess that would help explain the acoustic volume you are getting from it. Anyways, gorgeous guitar and curious to hear your feedback once you've mounted a pickup on it.   Cmangeot Username: Cmangeot Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, August 06, 2007 - 11:07 pm:    An update! I have installed the Kent Armstrong JS floating humbucker in the neck. However the darn thing keeps humming. I wired with a shielded guitar wire, center wire to one post, the braided wire to the other. then I wired them to the post and pot respectively. I have one wire left... the single clear plastic covered. Bjorn tells me that this wire goes into the body, and attaches to the strap pin. I tested this idea by stretching the wire to the outside of the strap pin, and there was still hum. Any Ideas??   Wildfield Username: Wildfield Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Tuesday, August 07, 2007 - 2:54 pm:    Not sure the answer either. I had an AF105 with floating mini humbucker that hummed a lot too. It was grounded to the strings so the hum went away when I touched the strings. I was recently reading an article in Fingerstyle Magazine (I think) written by John Buscarino regarding shielding. The article was a step by step process to shield the entire wiring assembly. He recommended this over grounding the pickups to the strings. You might pickup a copy of Fingerstyle and read the article...or if you do not have access to that magazine, drop me an e-mail and I can scan it for you. Darryl

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