Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson’s guitar-building process. The top is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from AAA-grade Eastern curly maple, giving the L-200 Emmylou Harris the resonance and punch expected from a much larger guitar, with a perfect balance of sound and playability. The body of the L-200 Emmylou Harris was the inspiration for Gibson’s new CJ-165 line-a design that is smaller and thinner than the SJ-200, yet braced to produce the powerfully balanced, natural sound so closely associated with it. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge-instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck, Gibson Acoustic’s rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the L-200. The L-200’s graduated crown inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn’t require the use of fillers. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The fingerboard of Gibson’s L-200 Emmylou Harris is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson’s team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Graduated Crown Inlays The rosette on the L-200 Emmylou Harris is a double-ring rosette, with the main ring consisting of seven-ply binding, and the second ring three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the L-200. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. As with all of Gibson Acoustic’s pickguards, the coloring, inlay, and binding are all done by hand.Ī rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. The tortoise pickguard for the L-200 Emmylou Harris is Gibson’s standard jumbo-style shape, with a beautiful cream floral and vine design and 10 mother of pearl dots. Over the years, it has also been called a “thistle” because of the group of flowering plants with the sharp prickles, though Gibson has preferred to call it a “crown.” Gibson put the first crown peghead logo on an ES-300 back in 1940, and it has graced the headstocks of many legendary Gibson guitars ever since, including today’s L-200 Emmylou Harris. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage, with a special lubricant inside the gear box for smooth and accurate tuning stability. With a gear ratio of 15:1, these Gotoh tuners deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post.
Gibson’s L-200 Emmylou Harris features Gotoh’s pearloid keystone button tuners. Gold Gotoh Pearloid Keystone Button Tuners