Bob Dylan’s Beautiful Guitar Is The Ultimate Artist Model

Bob Dylan’s beautiful SJ-200 Custom is “worth every penny.”

By Stephen Pate – When I heard Gibson was releasing a Bob Dylan Artists Model guitar, I had to get one. I’m a huge Dylan fan and admired the SJ-200 as the King of the Flattops for decades.

Thanks to commenter Merle who agrees with me the Bob Dylan Gibson SJ-200 Player’s Edition is “worth every penny” adding “Best J200 I’ve ever played.”

A Bob Dylan Gibson SJ-200 Player’s Edition with the best-looking appointments, best tonewoods and legacy construction – there was no question I had to get one.

I got my guitar last Friday.  Yes, I got one of these magnificent Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition guitars and it’s everything I thought it would be and more.

It took me weeks to take the plunge and another 2 weeks to get my guitar.  I simply could not pass up owning a Bob Dylan official Gibson after I heard the sound.

OK, it’s the most expensive guitar I own, but not by a large amount. I have 3 excellent Martin guitars worth close to the Dylan SJ-200 plus a Gibson ES-335 of the same quality.

The Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition plays like a dream. The sound is magnificent, full round and rich.

Do you know how the guy was awed in the video review Amazing Sound From Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition? That’s the jaw-dropping feeling I got and still get playing the Dylan SJ-200.

I love the neck which is easy on my hands. The guitar responds to fingerpicking but really opens up with a pick and gets better the harder you play.

Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition

My wife said “Gone Country have ya?” after the first song I played with the big SJ-200 guitar sound.

The guitar surprised me with a chorus effect playing it through a Fender Eric Clapton Vibro-Champ 5W with a slight tremolo effect. First, it should be the wrong amp but it isn’t. Second, the Dylan SJ-200 was competing with the amp for volume.

The fit and finish of the guitar are impeccable. There is not a mark, imperfection, or finish ripple on the neck or AAA flame maple body.

The Adirondack red spruce top appears to be a one-piece which is rare these days. It’s just gorgeous. The only quibble I have, and it’s a tiny one, is that the braces inside are not sanded super smooth.

Features

Body: Super Jumbo SJ-200
Top: Adirondack red spruce
Bracing: Vintage Style Cut with Hyde Glue
Back and sides: AAA Flamed Maple
Fingerboard and inlay: Rosewood with mother-of-pearl Bella Voce
Headstock and inlay: Mother-of-pearl Gibson and Dylan Eye logo decal
Hardware: Gold Keystone
Scale: 25- 1/2
Bridge: Rosewood 4-Bar inlay Moustache
Finish: Vintage Sunburst
Pickguard: Double guards with Dylan style J-200 laser-engraved design with mother-of-pearl dots
Pickup: L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup system
Certificate of Authenticity

Specifications from Gibson

For another video review of Dylan, SJ-200 guitar see  Gibson Bob Dylan SJ-200 Player’s Edition Review Cool Times 1