Gibson J45 Custom Shop Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

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This guitar pays tribute to the J45, Gibson's best-selling acoustic guitar. The J45 Custom features an L.R. Baggs Element pickup system for a rich full sound.

Few instruments can lay claim to a history of craftsmanship and quality as rich as the J-45's: from its introduction in 1942 through the modern masterworks produced by Gibson today, the J-45 is truly one of the greatest acoustic guitars ever produced. Its legendary reputation for tone, balance, and projection have endeared this masterpiece to countless musicians in every genre and playing style. With the modern Gibson J-45 Custom, every bit of this classic's legacy is captured with care and quality.

Premier Woods and Unmatched Craftsmanship

The J-45 Custom has effectively maintained all the distinctive warmth and expression of the original with an AA-grade sitka spruce top and a pattern-grade Indian rosewood body. The definitive rounded shoulder style of the J-45 maximizes playability with a contoured mahogany neck for extreme comfort. The neck is joined to the body using Gibson's tapered dovetail method, a prime example of a classic luthier technique that just works. This secure style of neck joining enhances the connection between the body and neck of the guitar to achieve an astounding degree of resonance through the entire instrument. This, like so much else on the J-45 Custom, is completed entirely by hand by the master craftsmen in Gibson's Bozeman facility.

Classic Guitar, Modern Innovations

In addition to the staples of the J-45 line, the new Custom model features a series of innovations that make this a classic guitar with a modern edge. The L.R. Baggs read more Element acoustic pickup system uses a virtually invisible under-saddle transducer for robust and dynamic sounding electronics. The gold Grover Rotomatic tuners are precisely designed for minimal slippage and enhanced durability for tuning stability. And to elevate this guitar even further, the luthiers at Gibson have designed a stunning new headstock inlay to go along with the abalone rosette and herringbone binding.

Features:

- Classic J-45 design with modern improvements and stunning elements
- The world's finest tonewoods with AA-grade Sitka spruce top and a pattern-grade Indian rosewood body
- Tapered Dovetail neck joint for an astounding degree of resonance through the entire instrument
- L.R. Baggs Element Acoustic Pickup System for robust tone in a low-profile electronic system
- Gorgeous pearl headstock inlay
- Grover Rotomatic tuners providing the ultimate in tuning stability
- Hallmark round shoulder body type and comfort counter neck for maximum comfort and playabilit

In the earliest era of the J-45 production, the words "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" were proudly inscribed as a declaration of quality on each guitar's headstock. While the modern J-45 Custom lacks this bold insignia, the statement still rings true as a description of Gibson's quality.
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Body
- Body Style: Round Shoulder
- Top Species: Sitka Spruce
- Back and Sides: Indian Rosewood
- Binding: Herringbone Top, Single-ply Back
- Bracing: X-Bracing
- Rosette: Double Ring w/Thin Abalone

Hardware
- Bridge: Ebony Belly Up
- Bridge Pins: White
- Bridge Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Tuners: Gold Grover Rotomatics
- Pickguard: Tortoise Teardrop

Electronics
- Pickups: L.R. Baggs Element

Neck
- Species: Mahogany
- Profile: Comfort Contour Neck
- Scale: 24-3/4 inch
- Angle: 3 Degrees
- Peghead Angle: 17 Degrees
- Peghead Inlay: MOP Logo and Abalone Flowers
- Nut: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.725 inch
- Joint: 14th Fret

Fingerboard
- Species: Ebony
- Inlays: MOP Dots
- Binding: Single-ply
- Number of Frets: 20

Case
- Case Exterior: Black w/Logo
- Case Interior: Blue

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766

Gibson J45 Custom Shop Acoustic-Electric

The legendary Gibson J45 clearly defines the storied legacy of Gibson acoustics. Without question, the J45 is one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in the history of modern music, and the icon of Gibson's round-should dreadnought acoustic line ever since its introduction in 1942. Today, it stands proudly as Gibson's number one-selling acoustic, and in recognition of this distinguished rank Gibson Acoustic presents the J45 Custom acoustic-electric guitar - one of the most elegant and best-sounding versions of this classic model ever produced by Gibson Acoustic's master craftsmen in Bozeman, Montana.

Combining vintage appointments with several modern features, the Gibson J45 Custom delivers the model's renowned tone while adding a new, refined appearance that complements its fundamental design, including a brand new floral and vine abalone pearl headstock inlay designed by Gibson master luthier Ren Ferguson. The Gibson J45 Custom is available in the model's original Vintage Sunburst finish and Antique Natural.

Gibson J45 Custom Acoustic Electric Guitar Features

- Floral and vine abalone pearl headstock inlay designed by master luthier Ren Ferguson
- AA-grade Sitka spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides for full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection
- Low-profile undersaddle L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System
- Grover original Rotomatic tuners deliver precision tuning in a durable housing
- Dovetail neck joint allows the body and neck to be one solid piece of resonating wood

Gibson J45 Custom: Traditional Gibson Logo and New Headstock Inlay Design

The Gibson name has graced the most innovative and revolutionary acoustic guitars of their time, including the Gibson J45 Custom. There is no mistaking the classic block logo, inlaid in beautiful mother of pearl, representing more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal. The headstock also features a new flower and vine abalone pearl inlay designed by Gibson Acoustic's longtime master luthier, Ren Ferguson. The elegance and stunning detail of this new hand-engraved figured design gives the J45 Custom a distinct identity, ensuring its rightful place among the finest Gibson designs of the past.

Gibson J45 Custom: Gold Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with style and performance exactly suited for the Gibson J45 Custom. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Gibson J45 Custom: Pickguard

The pickguard for the J45 Custom is Gibson's standard fire stripe tortoise tear drop shape, exactly as it appeared on the very first J45 in 1942. As with all of Gibson's pickguards, the coloring, inlay, and binding are all done by hand.

Gibson J45 Custom: L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System

The Gibson J45 Custom comes equipped with the popular Element Active Acoustic Pickup System from L.R. Baggs, which features a low-profile undersaddle element - or transducer - that's proven more stable and durable than many standard ribbon-type pickups. Combined with an onboard preamp with an unobtrusive and removable volume control mounted just inside the soundhole, the Element delivers performance not previously attainable from an undersaddle pickup. Its sleek and effective design removes unnecessary internal components to enhance the coupling between the pickup and the guitar and improve the sensitivity of the transducer for a robust, lively and natural acoustic sound with excellent dynamics and delicate high end. The Element works with a standard 9V battery, which is housed inside the guitar in L.R. Bagg's new Battery Bagg.

Gibson J45 Custom: Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint

The dovetail neck joint is one of the oldest - and best - ways of securely joining the neck to the body of a guitar. It is also a complex and expensive neck joint to build, but the result is a tight, locking connection that supports the neck at the proper neck-pitch angle, allowing the body and neck to become one solid piece of resonating wood, with no metal to impede vibration. This process is done entirely by hand, requiring patience and skill.

Gibson J45 Custom: Body Tonewoods

The top of the Gibson J45 Custom is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern-grade Indian rosewood, giving the model the same full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection that earned the original J45 its much-heralded reputation. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities, and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

Gibson J45 Custom: Abalone Rosette

A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the J45 Custom is one of Gibson's finest. It is a double-ring rosette with an abalone-filled middle. The main ring consists of seven-ply binding, and the second ring is three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the Gibson J45 Custom.

Gibson J45 Custom: Bracing

Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instrument's sound projection. The Gibson J45 Custom features a variation of Gibson's X bracing pattern situated behind the soundhole, with a set of tall and thin braces for the back, and scalloped tall and thin braces for the top. This legendary bracing design delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. It also projects a natural compression, which helps the Gibson J45 Custom blend nicely with any accompaniment.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. (3 ratings)
Submitted November 9, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com

"Great acoustic with full sound!!!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This one is definately a keeper. The tone might be to thick live for some but once the lows are turned down it will sound amazing. If you play acoustic alone with just voice it will definitely fill the room with it's full sound.
Sound
This product is awesome! It sound huge with great low end. I did have to bring the lows down a bit on the PA when played with a band.
Features
The volume control being in the hole is somewhat difficult to control due to the fact that we can't see an indicator.
Quality
I did have to get it adjusted because the last three string were not playing when plugged in. Once the bone was slightly sanded and contact was made to the pick ups it sound awesome.
Value
It is on the pricey side but it's still a good investment if you like a somewhat of a custom instrument.
Manufacturer Support
I did have to pay for the issues mentioned because there was no authorized service centers near me and the closest one had a real long wait time to get it done.
The Wow Factor
It looks wonderful and it sound even better. I kind of regret not getting it in the vintage option but it does look great.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Praise and Worship, Rock/Pop
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