Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

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Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Straight Front
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Left Front
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Straight Back
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Headstock Left Front
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Straight Front
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Left Front
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Straight Back
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Headstock Straight Back
Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Straight Front Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Left Front Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Full Straight Back Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Headstock Left Front Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Straight Front Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Left Front Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Body Straight Back Gibson J-45 True Vintage Acoustic Guitar (with Case), Headstock Straight Back
zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Get the original look, tone, and feel of the 1942 model. See for yourself why this guitar got the nickname "The Workhorse."

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Hand-scalloped top bracing Built out from body center for greater projection
Adirondack red spruce top Crisp, clean tone with great projection
Mahogany back and sides Dry and airy tone; clear, present midrange
Gotoh white button tuners Vintage look; 15:1 gear ratio for precise tuning

In many ways, the Gibson J-45 can be seen as an acoustic parallel to the Les Paul. Both models have earned a reputation for outstanding construction and tone, as well as a long list of devotees among professional musicians. Also like the Les Paul, the J-45 experienced an early golden-era of production which put out some of the most prized instruments in Gibson's history. The Gibson J-45 True Vintage is closely modeled after the classic J-45s of the early '40s and beautifully recreates the classic tone and feel of the originals. Hand-built by the master luthiers at Gibson's Bozeman, Montana facility, the J-45 True Vintage is a stunning recreation of the original J-45 dreadnought.

Learn more about the Gibson J-45 True Vintage with this video:


Original "Workhorse" Construction

Early in its history, the J-45 was given the nickname of the "workhorse" for its rock-solid construction. Gibson designed the J-45 with a rounded shoulder, jumbo body shape which laid the groundwork for the model's full-bodied tone and comfortable feel. The J-45 True Vintage uses the same design to give a playing experience and build quality nearly identical to the originals. Just as it would have in 1942, the J-45 True Vintage features hand-scalloped bracing which contributes to the sturdiness of build and helps focus the tone for outstanding projection and balance. Similarly, the tapered dovetail neck joint -- a staple of classic Gibson acoustic design -- gives a sturdy connection to the neck and… read more body which builds a rich resonances through the entire instrument.

Beautiful Tonewoods Means Beautiful Tones

The J-45 True Vintage uses a exquisite Adirondack red spruce for its top with pattern grade Honduran mahogany for its back and sides. Both woods have been specifically chosen by the craftsmen at Gibson Montana to achieve the same legendary tonal balance as the original J-45s. Like the classic "workhorses" of the early '40s, the J-45 True Vintage sings with rich mids and lows, and projects with bold volume and balance. A single strum can fill a room with resonant tones ideal for folk singer-songwriters, but also excellently suited for blues, country, and contemporary rock styles. The Adirondack red spruce top gives a clean bite to the sound, as does the use of top-quality rosewood on the fingerboard which means the J-45 True Vintage can easily cut through even the loudest mixes.

Vintage-style Hardware and Finish

It wouldn't be right to call this J-45 a True Vintage without a full complement of classic Gibson features and flourishes. The tuners are vintage Gotoh white buttons as found on a wide range of vintage Gibson guitars. The headstock sports an old-school Gibson logo and emblem, and the inlays are elegant, classic dots. The white binding and rosette are in the traditional mold, as is the stunning vintage sunburst finish as would have been found on all early '40s J-45s.

Features:

- Classic J-45 design, tone and style
- Hand-built by master luthiers in Gibson's Montana facility
- Superb tonewoods with Adironack red spruce top and Honduran mahogany back and sides
- Vintage appointments included Gotoh white button tuners, traditional binding, and dot inlays
- Old-school headstock inlay and Gibson logo
- Comfortable rosewood fingerboard and sturdy dovetail neck joint
- Vintage sunburst finish just like original J-45

For a magnificent acoustic guitar which taps into the very best of vintage Gibson style and sound, it doesn't get much better than the J-45 True Vintage. Every element of this guitar has been designed and built by the masters in Bozeman, Montana to capture the magic of an original J-45. The J-45 is generally regarded as Gibson's most popular and widely-played acoustic guitar. With the J-45 True Vintage, it's easy to see why players like Buddy Holly, Brad Paisley, Donovan, and John Hiatt have chosen this as their go-to acoustic guitar. read less

- Body Style: Round Shoulder
- Top Species: Adirondack Red Spruce
- Back and Sides: Mahogany
- Binding: Multi-ply Top and Back
- Bracing: Advanced Vintage Style Red Spruce X-Bracing Bonded with Hide Glue
- Rosette: Multi-ply Single RingHardware
- Bridge: Rosewood Belly Up
- Bridge Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Bridge Pins: White
- Pickguard: Tortoise Teardrop
- Tuners: Nickel Vintage w/Cream ButtonsNeck
- Species: Mahogany
- Profile: Traditional V
- Scale: 24-3/4"
- Angle: 3 Degrees
- Peghead Angle: 17 Degrees
- Peghead Inlay: Gold Logo and Banner Decal
- Nut: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.725"
- Joint: 14th Fret
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Inlays: MOP Dots
- Number of Frets: 20

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

Gibson J45 True Vintage Acoustic

Hand-made by Gibson Acoustic in Bozeman, Montana, the Gibson J45 True Vintage acoustic guitar offers the build, materials, looks, and tone of this legendary guitar as it was the day it was first introduced in 1942.

Nicknamed The Workhorse for its simple, rock-solid construction, the J45 True Vintage stays true to the original in every way, including the same round-shoulder dreadnought body design, a top made from top-grade Adirondack red spruce, custom vintage top bracing, and back and sides constructed from pattern-grade mahogany from Honduras.

Nickel Gotoh White Button Tuners

Gibson's J45 True Vintage features Gotoh's nickel white button tuners. With a gear ratio of 15:1, these nickel Gotoh tuners 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, with a special lubricant inside the gear box for smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Pickguard

The pickguard for the J45 True Vintage 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 True Vintage is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the J45 True Vintage.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Traditional Binding and Classic Dot Inlays

The fingerboard of Gibson's J45 Vintage 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 classic dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)

The top of the J45 True Vintage is made from top-grade Adirondack red spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern grade Honduran mahogany, giving the J45 True Vintage 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.

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 J45 True Vintage 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, all bonded with hot hide glue. This legendary bracing design--exactly as it appeared in the first J45 in 1942--delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. When pushed for more volume, the J45 True Vintage projects a natural compression, which helps it blend nicely with any accompaniment.

Features

- Gibson Logo
- Nickel Gotoh White Button tuners
- Pickguard
- Rosette
- Neck and profile
- Rosewood fingerboard with traditional binding and Classic Dot inlays
- Body tonewoods (back, sides and top)
- Bracing
- Tapered dovetail neck joint
- Radius top
- Nitrocellulose finish
- Body binding

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (12 ratings)
Submitted June 12, 2015 by Edward Baker in Norfolk, VA

"Sweet As A Guernsey's Summer Cream"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I am sincerely privileged to be included in the Zzounds Test Drive Program. I just received from Martin S; the program coordinator, the Gibson J-45 True Vintage# 12434006. This is an amazing instrument that is a delight and a joy to play. It snuggles in your arms while delivering tonal enchantment reminiscent of a quality of luthier magic only spoken of in hushed terms in days long since passed. I will not even try to express in greater detail what a sweetheart this baby is to play. There has been much spoken in the past few days on social media regarding the current leadership at Gibson. Gentleman, if you do not get your act together, the wonderful heritage of such incredible craftsmanship your company has exhibited since it's inception will be lost forever. What a tragedy!Respectfully,Edward S.

Musical Background:

47 years, guitar, keyboards, percussion, electronic mayhem

Musical Style:

eclectic
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