Gibson J45 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The J45 has been Gibson's top-selling acoustic guitar for years. Nicknamed "The Workhorse" and first introduced in 1942, Gibson's most popular acoustic is now the icon of its round-shoulder, dreadnought line, world renowned for its full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Subtle changes to the bracing of its predecessor--the J35--made Gibson's J45 one of most technically advanced guitars of its time.

Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners
Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the J45. 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.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The top of the J45 is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern grade Honduras mahogany, giving the J45 its world renowned full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. 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.

Pickguard
The pickguard for the J45 is Gibson's standard plain tortoise tear drop shape, which has been used on the J45 since its introduction in 1942. As with all of Gibson's pickguards, the coloring, inlay, and binding are all done by hand.

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 is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the J45 Standard.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Dot Inlays
The fingerboard of Gibson's J45 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J45's dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl.

L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System
Gibson Acoustic's J-45 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.

Bracing
The J-45 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. When pushed for more volume, the J-45 projects a natural compression, which helps it blend nicely with any accompaniment.

Technical Info

Body
Top Species: AA-grade Sitka Spruce

Back and Sides: Pattern Grade Honduras Mahogany

Fingerboard
Species: Rosewood

Inlays: Dot Inlays

Hardware
Tuners: Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Pickups: L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System