You might mention that the pickup and tone control circuit were designed by Bill Lawrence. Per page 99 of Mitch Holder's great book, "The Jazz Guitar Stylings of Howard Roberts", Mel Bay, 2006, the tone controls are a mid cut and a treble cut. The pickup had 3 ceramic magnets vs the usual one alnico magnet. Gibson used to have the circuit schematic available to download. It was different from the preceding Epiphone model and the Howard Roberts Fusion model that followed this Gibson oval hole guitar.
I worked in the 70's for Norlin which owned Gibson and knew Howard. I owned that very guitar. Thats a premier instrument and in fabulous shape. My parts all corroded very badly. Howard had his own picking style and attack which gave him his own unique sound that I've never heard anyone duplicate. Congrats on getting a great instrument.
I enjoyed your video and your playing (esp 6.50-7), you really made it sing, thanks it was lovely. I've always been facinated by these guitars, many because back in the 1970's they were the most expensive guitars in Gibsons range. For me what I've taken from your video is that playing a great guitar is not going suddenly to turn you into Joe Pass or Howard Roberts. I've owned so many guitars but I guess unless you're at the top then it don't make too much difference. I must have owned over 50 guitars but I reckon there is no Holy Grail unless you put the time in to your playing and setting up your guitar to your personal style. I own loads but judge them all against a Madeira that I set up 25 years ago when I had time to do it right and was engaged. Cheers Boss.
Sounds great! What do you think the differences between this and the Ibanez version? Did you change any of the electronic components? How do you think of this beautiful guitar compared to the current hollow body guitars ? Have you seen the Halifax brand of this same guitar? Thanks. Great channel and materials as always.
I have the Carlo Robelli Howard Roberts version. In the 70s I went to the guitar shop with the money to buy the Howard Roberts Gibson. I played them both the Carlo was better and cost less. That’s what I am playing today and then I saw this video. Very funny. Incredible guitar
I’m about 2 take delivery of an original 1965 US Epiphone HRoberts/choco brown ... so now I gotta sell the Crestwood clone which’s also very nice. Glad ur comment on low frets. Thought I was some kinda heretic discovering & preferring the sound & feel o/t low frets. I enjoy sound also of occasional string slap against the closer fretboard when u dig in a bit ... I dunno/like it. Anyways can’t w8 2 get me greedy mitts on this US Epi HR Custom. 25.5” scale (I like), solid carved arch maple top (I like/expect better acoustic sound ... don’t laugh; Howard designed in the oval sound hole ala early Gibbo archtops 4 better acoustic feel commenting f-holes covered by arms /pick guard), mini-humbucker (I like ... a little thinner sounding), a headstock closer 2 Gibson proportions which I prefer.
@@RichSeversonGuitar I agree. I don't think it's maple - you'd see some of that curly maple effect. I have a beautiful 1968 tobacco sunburst Epi Roberts and the wood grain is like the tight parallel grain like other spruce carved tops I've seen Rich, I hope you do an Epi HR vs Gibson HR comparison some time. I've never had both in hand to do a real comparison. My feeling is that the Epi has a woodier, slightly darker and bell like sound - closer to a Jim Hall tone, than the Gibson's brighter sound.
Just remembered Cry Me a River by Joan Lunden with herb Ellis on guitar that sounds like herb Ellis has guitar. Find a lady that can sing like that and you back her up with that guitar.and you got a winner
Not usually an issue, unless you crank it really loud. Maybe if performing in a huge arena or stadium. But in, say, a standard size theater it's not a problem.
