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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

A great guitar for the easy blues tone. Pickup very responsive..I am surprised and very happy the factory set up was perfect.Well balance tone comfortable to play with the L-00 size. case was a surprise, Dark Brown first time I have seen this from Gibson. Very happy with this purchase from the best online music store zZounds....

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Gibson Montana L-00 Studio (Walnut Burst finish)...pretty much everything I wanted in an acoustic guitar.For context, I play mostly John Mayer type jams, along with some blues/jazz, fingerstyle, pop/R&B and indie rock sounding stuff. For those asking - yes, you can use this guitar for more than just blues/folk!Being a smaller guy myself, I wanted something a little easier to carry around and jam on vs. a dreadnought, with electronics for live gigs and it's just right. Pickup is great and sounds as it should through a system without being overlay bright or tinny. The tone knob sweeps through a fairly good amount of EQ for all situations.For those considering the L-00 Studio vs. the Standard version, I chose this for a couple reasons: 1) cost obviously, and 2) the tonewoods. I've played mahogany guitars for over 15 years so I wanted a change of pace (something like rosewood or similar). The walnut is incredible as it has a nice snappy quality (like maple) and also offers a bit more complex tone comparable rosewood at a cheaper cost. Anyone who is weary about the choice of walnut- there is no need to worry. Tonally it's somewhere in between mahogany and rosewood, for those curious.It goes without saying but this guitar won't sound like a booming dreadnought guitar- for those who crave that bottom low-end you'll want to steer towards the other studio models like the J-15, J-45, Songwriter, etc. However zZounds is right in their description; there is a wild lower-mid growl thing going on for its size. If you get a chance to try this is out in person first, try playing a CM7 chord in the lower register. That's what got me hooked. There's some kind of lower-midrange purr to this guitar.What's the overall guitar's sound? Well, it's Gibson acoustic. Play a chord and all the strings are pretty much balanced on this L-00, no strings really jump out from one another. I think many would agree it's not too bassy, not too bright. If you need something brighter like the "Taylor guitar sound", don't go for this guitar as it's more of a slightly 'muted' tone. Not necessarily dark in my opinion, but not overly bright either. If you're a fan of Gibson acoustics you probably already know this. Sustain is good, not super long like a Martin but not necessarily short and dry either. Neckfeel is great, I can't complain about it. My preferred shape is a V-neck style, but the Advanced Response (pretty much C-style?) neck works well for most I'd say. It's a touch chunky in my opinion, but proportionate to the size of the guitar- mini-chunky let's say. It gets slightly thicker as you go up the neck. I have smaller hands than the average person, but I don't have trouble performing complex jazz chords, or playing with my thumb on the E string.String spacing is also great for my needs- not super spread out but not deathly close either. I do about 50/50 fingerstyle and chord strumming. It's a great all-rounder.Other than that I can't mention anything I don't like; it does everything I need it to do. It's light, compact, and gorgeous. I'd recommend this Gibson L-00 Studio for: smaller people, who desired a more focused sound and want a great catch-all for fingerstyle and/or chord strumming. Who is this guitar NOT for? Those who are used to the dreadnought sound and prefer larger guitar body styles. Otherwise, don't let the name "Studio" fool you because this is one versatile and timeless guitar- I don't see any signs of "cutting costs" here. Quality is A+, intonation and setup is A+ as to be expected. Don't let the hearsay of "Gibson has quality control issues" turn you away...it's precisely the exact opposite. Special thank you to zZounds and the crew! PS Bonus: I was blessed with whomever selected my guitar- I wish I could post a picture but the wood grain on mine is incredible! It's like a flamed-walnut grain and looks world's different compared to all other models I've seen online and in-person.Buy it now, use the installment plan if you need to. It's a fantastic beast. -Dale

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

I bought this guitar about two months ago, and really wanted to play it before I reviewed it. I have a 1966 Gibson B15 that is about the same profile and inspired me check out this studio. Out of the box, it was set up perfect for the average guitar player. Very responsive sound! For me, I immediately put Earthwood .12 strings on and a minor truss rod adjustment. But that’s just to tailor my liking. I read reviews on this sounding dull, I couldn’t disagree more. For a small body guitar this thing is LOUD! The highs are very bright. The lows are rich and deep . I love the rosewood fretboard and the small neck profile, with the ultra smooth finish makes the playability so comfortable. Definitely a fingerpicking guitar. The whole construction of the guitar is simply amazing! My only complaint is the Grover tuners. They are nice but, if you play a lot you will be tuning frequently. So I’ll probably upgrade those in the future to some Schallers. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this studio. Totally worth the money!!