Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips
archtop.com
1951 Gibson J-45
Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to [email protected].
FON#: 9142-8 Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 19/32" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/.93"
Materials and Hardware: Solid quartersawn bookmatched Sitka spruce top; solid bookmatched Honduran mahogany back, sides and neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays; 3-ply top binding, contoured teardrop tortoise pickguard, Kluson single line white button tuners, rosewood bridge with bone saddle, adjustable truss rod.
Notes: Gibson's most popular full sized flat top, the legendary J-45 made its debut in 1942, and remains a perennial best seller in the catalog to this day. Its signature slope shouldered design and clear, rich tone have made it a standby of Nashville players, and good vintage examples have skyrocketed on the collector's market. This veteran player has the iconic features: the thin, x-braced Sitka top with tall, skinny braces, lightweight mahogany body, single soundhole ring, and prewar style teardrop pickguard.
Well maintained over many decades, the guitar boasts a straight Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with fresh, highly polished fretwork, and gleaming Cremona sunburst finish, with just enough lacquer checking to vouch for its originality. Apart from a small spot of touchup near the soundhole, and a few buckle scuffs on the back, the guitar shows light overall playwear otherwise.
At a featherweight 3lb. 15 oz, the instrument is loud as a cannon, and extremely comfortable to hold and play. Of special note is the particularly slim, easy neck profile, ideal for the electric player unwilling to grapple with a clubby old-school neck. The action is smooth and low with a fresh high precision setup, and the guitar plays like butter itself.
The voice is simply cavernous: deep resonant bass, and highs shimmering with natural reverb: a powerful guitar, and powerfully rewarding to play. An oversize rosewood reverse belly bridge was fitted some years ago, and a single grainline crack in the bass side soundly resealed and retouched, all work of high professional caliber.
Clear as a long drink of water, this jumbo guitar a classic country workhorse, equally adept at honky or tonk. A remarkable find from Gibson's Golden Age of postwar guitars. One only, call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge phosphor bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings.
Case: Vintage black Gibson hardshell case with gold plush lining and factory logo badge.
