❌SOLD❌ Gibson J-45 Standard Vintage Sunburst, 2009

The Gibson J-45 Standard was rightly described as a workhorse in the steel string acoustic guitar field after its introduction in 1942. Used by legions of guitarists for countless gigs, recordings and personal playing, the round-shouldered J-45 was one of the two primary ‘Dreadnought’ designs (the other being the square-shouldered Martin D-body) that influenced many later builders. The J-45 delivers a distinctive warm yet bright sound that works very well not just on its own, but with a voice and this has made it a favourite with singer-songwriters.

Dated to January 30 2009 and built at Bozeman Montana under the supervision of Ren Ferguson, this Gibson J-45 Standard is in overall good condition with expected play wear. The original LR Baggs pickup system was removed, and replaced with a passive K&K Pure Mini pickup set. This change is not visible outside the guitar. Fret wear is light. The finish is in good condition with minor play wear, and one finish chip on the back lower bass edge. The top loop of the truss rod cover is missing but the cover stays in place. It plays well,

Like the originals, the Gibson J-45 Standard uses a slope-shouldered Dreadnought or ‘Jumbo’ body design with a Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back, sides and neck, with Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. Currently, the rosewood used is East Indian; until the mid-1960’s, ‘Rosewood’ was sourced from Central South America, usually Brazil. J-45 tops have almost always been Sitka Spruce; Adirondack Spruce was the most common material until 1944. Adirondack Spruce was in heavy demand for aircraft during WW2, to the point of overharvesting. It’s only the last decade or so that it has started to be available in sufficient sizes and quantities and appears mostly on higher-end models. The Gibson logo is now inlaid Mother of Pearl; in the past it has been a metallic gold paint, applied via a silk-screen technique.

At time of writing, Gibson’s description of the current J-45 Standard can be read here.

The original hard shell case, black by TKL, is included.