Gibson

Gibson J-45 (1943)

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Product information

While not many things in life are guaranteed, we guarantee that if you love vintage guitars, any concerns you might have about neck profiles, cracks, finish wear and the like will vanish after one strum of this 1943 Gibson J-45. Made during the storied "Banner" era in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this guitar sports a Mahogany top (instead of the standard Spruce top) and a three-piece poplar neck (with the infamous baseball bat profile). The sound is hypnotic: dry, warm, and balanced, with clarity that it frankly shouldn't have given the Mahogany top. This would be an all-time-great recording guitar for anyone in the songwriter genre. The frequency range is compressed compared to a Spruce-topped J-45, but it sits behind a voice incredibly well and microphones will gobble its midrange right up.

This guitar was last sold by TME sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's. At that time, then-repairman Tom Stapleton replaced the bridge, glued and stabilized two top cracks, and added a rosewood bridge plate pad on top of the original plate. There's heavy finish wear across the surfaces and neck (this thing has been PLAYED); but even considering the wear and big neck, the guitar plays very easily whether you're a strummer or a fingerpicker. Priced with a modern Gibson hard case (Brown, with Purple lining), this is a fantastic guitar for a vintage enthusiast who prioritizes sound over cleanliness.

Materials
Top
Mahogany
Back & Sides
Mahogany
Neck
3PC Poplar
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Bridge
Rosewood
Nut & Saddle
Bone
Tuners
Original
Bracing
Original
Construction
Hide Glue
Finish
Original Lacquer

Neck Specs
Carve
Full Vintage C
Nut Width
1 3/4"
String Spacing
2 3/16"
Scale Length
24 7/8"
Truss Rod
Adjustable
Inlays
MOP Dots
Headstock
Gibson script logo

Other
Case
Modern Gibson Hardshell (Brown w/purple lining)