I've got two loaner guitars here for the week.
 
They are going to be offered for sale at a upcoming guitar show and they may not come back. The owner figured this may be my last chance to experience them at my leisure. They are two of his personal favorite examples from a selection of a couple thousand guitars that he has bought/traded/sold over the past 50 years and he wanted me to get a chance to learn what they sound like because there is a good chance they will end up some where half way across the globe in the next few weeks.
 
I like to take photos of his guitars when he lets me have these experiences, so I figured I would post them here for anyone interested in old guitars.
 
They both seem incredibly lively and loud. They are both very, very light weight. They both make a super sweet and harmonious sound.
 
I'm soul searching... the '49 may have to stay here just a little bit longer than we had planned. :-)
 

 

 
hint: right click open image in new tab to view at full resolution. 

Have you applied the small room verb to them yet?
 
That's the real test I'm told.

If the color in the photos are correct, I like the '49 better too.
 

"Colour is everything" ~Alan Parsons
 

Beautiful instruments.

Goodness, my picking hand is sore today from playing so much yesterday and last night.
 
I've been comparing the two old guitars to one of my guitars...
 

 
... and it has reminded me of a lot of ideas about choices. Back when I commissioned this guitar I was playing a lot of Tele and Strat stuff with fat strings so the Martin OM 25-1/2" scale length, and the string tension, felt just right. Lately I've been playing a lot less guitar, and most often playing a 24-3/4" scale Gibson inspired electric guitar with light strings. These Gibson acoustics just feel "right" under my fingers, and it seems like I have to dig in to the OM to get a comparable response out of them.
 
I hope my hand freshens up because the clock is ticking. :-)

There's something about age and playing that makes guitars sing. I love my old Gibson acoustic and have yet to find a modern guitar that has the same sound. That Martin is a really nice instrument and will only improve with time and playing.

Hi John,
 Yes the old ones sure seem different from the new stuff. My friend is of the opinion, and it seems true for the area where I live, that an opportunity to test drive and possibly buy an old guitar like these particularly nice Gibsons is an infrequent occurrence. If something does makes it to display in a local shop it is usually because they were passed over by the brokers and waiting list enthusiasts.
 
 He owns a guitar show down in Orlando and the buyers fly in from all over to take stuff home for sale in their upscale markets.
 
 He's going to bring a few more guitars by in the next few weeks for me to get a chance to have the experience. 
 
 I'm grateful for the opportunity. I am fairly familiar with the gamut of electric guitars but old acoustic guitars is a novelty for me.

I too, have a friend with a big guitar collection. IT's just great to drink coffee and pass guitars around. It also gives you a chance to see if the iconic models live up to their reputation, without selling a kidney. 

Acoustic guitars NEED to be played to "open" up.
Bob Benedetto gave a seminar at the Luthier's Guild annual event some years ago, and spoke at length about it.
The more it vibrates, the better it vibrates.
I'm sure the same applies to a solid body as well, although not near as much; or maybe it IS equally as important.
 
Tom