About James Koontz Expertise Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Amplifiers, Most anything Music related... Also most anything related to security, Fire and access control, as well as CCTV system.
Experience 20 years as a sound engineer, part time luthier, and general all around technical dude for many local bands. One of which was fairly large in the 80's and 90's with multiple recordings, and was the opening act for David Allen Coe, as well as got a nashville recording opportunity. The band disbanded before making it mainstream.
Organizations Loyal Order of the Moose, Boy Scouts,BMI
Publications Highlights for Children, Mystery Magazine,several online Publications, multiple cd's from various artists.
Education/Credentials I have 20 years experience, some electrical college experience. Studied Law, philosophy, and theology.
Awards and Honors well, too many to listm and none worth much more than a paperweight to hold down the ones that are on paper.
Expert: James Koontz Date: 11/2/2007 Subject: CMI Guitars
Question I have a CMI acoustic guitar (A sunburst copy of a Gibson J200) I bought it new in 1978. It is a little heavy in the build and I understand it was made in Japan.
I also understand that these guitars were only made for about 5 years, around 1977-1981 and that CMI stands for Chris Marshall Instruments. My final understanding is that the company was in fact owned by Gibson and that they have 'Air Brushed' out the history of CMI, hence this is all I know.
My two questions are these:
1) What materials were used to make these guitars? (Solid spruce top for example? Back & sides solid or laminated? Neck material? The fret board is rosewood)
2) What might be the value of a CMI J200 in very good condition with same owner from new?
Many thanks, all info much appreciated.
Answer Well, I have to say that actually the CMI your referring to, stood for Chicago Music Instrument Company, and it owned Gibson, not the other way around. Also, There was another CMI, Cleartone Music Instruments, which was a British Company. Both were in fact CMI, and in fact, Selmer was owned by the same company that owned Gibson.. CMI was owned by Selmer UK, which was owned by Chicago Instruments. So therefore, in that aspect, there is a relationship. BUT, that by no means makes a CMI a Gibson, it is nothing short of a Gibson clone. Which is what CMI made in abundance. Their guitars were made to be less expensive versions of the Epiphone models that were coming out at the time. SO basically, Gibson was Top shelf, Epiphone was Middle of the Road, and CMi was Entry level.Of course that was up until 1969. Here is one in a UK classifieds, http://av.uk.freeads.net/Blonde_CMI_Gibson_J_200_Acoustic-158713.htm
He seems to want a bit too much, and is showing pictures of Elvis, and Pete Townsend, who are playing Gibson models, not CMI, but he praying on the young and inexperienced. He wants £295 and that is WAY more than anyone would pay, or should. that is $615 US. That is crazy, at the most it's probably worth about $400. And that is in excellent condition,Plus his has a Fake Gibson Label in it. Which is weird. I don't get it, and would be truly afraid to buy it for that price. That being said, they are wonderful guitars, as most of the 70's imports were..As for them only being made from 77-81, not sure where you got that from, CMI has been around since 1920, and owned Gibson until 1969, Gibson was then purchased by Norlin. At that time, All CMI guitars were not affiliated with Gibson in Any way. Two totally different companies. Through the 70's All CMI guitars were manufactured in Japan, Korea, and China. And no real way to tell which ones were made where, some do say it either on the label, or a stamp, Japan, china or korea, some do not. so, there ya go. I hope that clears some info up. 70's model CMI guitars are import guitars brought in by the Chicago Musical Instrument company.
Hope that helps.. BTW, the wood is Spruce top(solid) and the sides and back are laminate if it's the natural Maple(unless made in Japan, if so, see below), Sunburst allot of times was just done on plywood, so it's hard to tell. Depending on where made, if it is made in Japan, it could even be made with solid maple sides and back, As some of the models coming out from Japan did do that. But no way to tell for sure..
