❌SOLD❌ Gibson J-50 ADJ Slope Shoulder Natural, 1968

The J-45 was launched in 1942, early into WW2 and wartime materiel shortages including Adirondack Spruce, used in aircraft production. The J-50 appeared in 1957 as materiel shortages eased, and was considered an upgrade.

This 1968 Gibson J-50 ADJ is in overall good, original condition and plays well. As is typical of mid to late 1960’s models, the neck is quite narrow, this one being about 1.55 at the nut; modern nut widths are in the 1.75 range. The hardware is original, including the strip-mounted, dual-line Kluson Deluxe tuners with creme plastic buttons. It has the classic, warm tone associated with these Gibson slope-shoulder models, with the ‘natural compression’ provided by the fairly thick pick-guard. A later Gibson black hard shell case, possibly from the 1980’s, is included.

In 1956, both the Gibson J-50 ADJ (for ‘Adjustable Bridge’) and the J-45 ADJ appeared, with a Ceramic adjustable bridge saddle as an option. The saddle was adjusted using special bolts on each end, threaded into inserts installed in the top before the bridge was glued on.

In 1961, the adjustable saddle became standard. For 1963 only, the Rosewood bridge itself was replaced with a plastic part, swiftly discontinued. Both Ceramic and Rosewood saddles were used for these bridges over the years, and the adjustable bridge idea was discontinued in later 1970; both models shifted to square-shoulder (Martin-style) bodies in 1969. Both the J-45 and J-50 models were discontinued in 1982, with the J-45 re-appearing with its original round-shoulder body in 1984. The J-50 has made appearances in the catalog from time to time.

As with a number of other models, the Gibson J-50 ADJ used a Spruce top paired with Mahogany for the sides, back and neck. The fingerboard and bridge were Rosewood – except for 1963 when the bridge was plastic – and until late 1968 into 1969 Central American Rosewood was used, gradually replaced with Indian Rosewood as existing stocks were used up.

The 1968 model year also featured a transition in pickguards. Both the Gibson J-50 ADJ and J-45 ADJ started the year with a relatively thick translucent, faux-tortoise pickguard with an engraved and hand-painted Gibson logo glued to the top, and ended with a screwed-down opaque white pickguard with the Gibson logo.