Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
Built during 1997 and 1998, the Gibson Early J45 was designed by Master Luthier Ren Ferguson as a re-issue of the 1952 to 1954 J-45. The same treatment was seen in the ‘Early Hummingbird’. These models were forerunners to later ‘vintage recreations’ including the Historic, Authentic, Legend, True Vintage and New Vintage lines.
The Gibson Early J45 starts with the classic J-45 recipe – a Sitka Spruce top with Spruce X-bracing paired with Mahogany for the sides, back, body blocks and neck. The fingerboard and bridge are Indian Rosewood, and that’s it for woods. A set of Kluson Deluxe style tuners with oval creme buttons are at the head. This model is built to be light, responsive and resonant, and Ferguson’s team certainly succeeded in this. As with pretty much all J-45’s, the finish is a sunburst executed in Nitrocellulose lacquer. A Fishman pickup system has been added.
Here we’re looking at a Gibson Early J45 dating to August 14 1997 and built at the Gibson Acoustic shop in Bozeman, Montana. At the time, Ren Ferguson had been Master Luthier since 1986 after leading Flatiron Mandolin. Flatiron was purchased by Gibson as an alternative to suing them for trademark infringement. In 2012, Ferguson left Gibson to join Guild in California, and in 2014 was appointed VP of Manufacturing and R&D by Guild’s new parent, Cordoba. He has now returned to Bozeman and started the Ferguson Guitar Company with his son Tim.
This Gibson Early J45 is a seriously good guitar. It has that wonderful warm yet brilliant J-45 tone, and its light weight makes it very responsive. Wear of any type is negligible, and it has just been set up at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop.
The original Gibson branded hard shell case is included.
- Model: Early J-45
- Year: Current
- Finish Vintage Sunburst
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: 92267052, dated to August 14 1997 at Bozeman MT
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 24/06/2021
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 4.444lbs 2.02kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 628.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.706in 43.37mm
