Year: 2024
Builder: Gibson
Series: Modern Acoustic
Model: J-45 Standard
Serial Number: 21734126
Color: Cherry
Top: Sitka Spruce
Body: Mahogany
Body Binding: White
Cutaway: none
Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Rosette: White/Black/White Ring
Pickguard: Tortoise Teardrop
Bridge: Rosewood
Saddle: Tusq
Fretboard: Rosewood
Fretboard Binding: None
Fretboard Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
Neck: Mahogany
Nut: Tusq
Headstock: Gibson Open Book
Headstock Inlay: Pearl Gibson Logo
Tuners: Grover Rotomatic
Tuner Buttons: Nickel
Pickup: LR Baggs VTC
Case: Gibson Hardshell Case
Body Size/Shape: J-45
Frets: 20
Frets to Body: 14
Nut Width: 1.725"
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Strings: D'Addario EJ16 (.012-.053)
The Gibson J-45 is one of the most iconic acoustic guitars of all-time, and may be the most recorded acoustic guitar in history. Its combination of spruce top and mahogany back and sides give it a very balanced sound, well suited for almost any style of music. It is equally adept at strumming, flatpicking, and fingerpicking, and its short scale length makes it very easy to play.
I've always wanted a J-45, but for some reason I never owned one prior to this. I've owned a handful of other Gibson acoustics, though, and have always been a big fan of Gibson's somewhat warmer/rounder tone compared to Martins and Taylor (both of which I also love the sound of). To me, a Gibson is the perfect strumming guitar—there's just something really satisfying about hearing chords ring out on a Gibson.
Perhaps the biggest reason I hadn't previously owned a J-45 was due to my approach to acoustic guitars when I was focused on fingerstyle playing. I tended to prefer a combination of smaller body size (for comfort), cedar tops (for warmth and overtones), and longer scale lengths (to better handle the alternate/dropped tunings I was using). As a larger bodied, full-depth round-shouldered dreadnought with a spruce top and a short scale, the J-45 was pretty much the opposite of what I preferred for that style.
But for strumming and flatpicking in a singer-songwriter style, the J-45 is heavenly. I remember seeing one of my favorite acoustic duos, Lowen & Navarro, in concert in the early 90's and being impressed with the sound of Dan Navarro's sunburst J-45, and ever since that point the J-45 became my holy grail singer-songwriter guitar. My musical path would take me in a different direction, however, and other guitar were better suited for me at the time.
Now that I play strictly for fun, I can indulge in some of the guitars that I always admired and wanted, but could never quite justify before for one reason or another. This J-45 and my Gibson ES-335 are two of those "bucket list" guitars, and they've more than exceeded my expectations.
One feature I really like about my J-45 is the bearclaw top. I can't remember seeing another J-45 (especially not a
cherry J-45) with as much bearclaw figuring. It makes mine very unique and easily identifiable!
