Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
Regarded as a workhorse guitar since 1942 when it replaced the natural top J-35, the slope-shouldered Gibson J-45 has been used by countless artists in innumberable performances.
The very earliest Dreadnought guitar models – those made by Martin for the Ditson company before WW1 – used a rounded upper bout or ‘slope shoulder’ body shape. When Martin re-introduced the Dreadnought in 1932, the upper bouts had developed a squared look. Gibson’s 1960 Dreadnought Hummingbird was their first square-shouldered model, but the J-45 models continued to use the ‘Slope Shoulder’ look until late 1968. Modern J-45s have restored the body shape to its traditional form.
This Gibson J-45 was built during 1967 at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Typical of the time, it originally had an adjustable saddle, either ceramic or Rosewood, with a fairly hefty nut and bolt set providing the adjustment mechanism. Also typical in the lives of these instruments, on this guitar the original bridge was removed, and a traditional non-adjustable bridge installed. There are still the two locating bolts under the Mother of Pearl dots, and two smaller bolts on the wings of the bridge. The result is that there’s less weight on the top and it has less damping. This guitar is quite resonant.
The finish is the original nitrocellulose lacquer sunburst, with the mid 1960’s tint to cherry red rather than tobacco brown. It has natural and expected lacquer checking.
The J-45 traditionally pairs a Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides. This provides both a warm tone and top-end sparkle, that works so well accompanying a voice.
- Model: J-45
- Year: Current
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 065521
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 16/10/2018
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 4.3lbs 1.95kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 628.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.57in 40mm
