Home Gibson J-45 (1946)
Gibson

Gibson J-45 (1946)

Vintage

Currently unavailable
DOCUMENTED HONESTLYEvery repair, every change
VETTED ON THE BENCHBefore it's listed
SINCE 1968Still independent
TME is proud to offer this sensational 1946 Gibson J-45, which we acquired from the family of its original owner who purchased it right down the turnpike from us in Worcester, Massachusetts. As the story goes, Dad bought this guitar after returning from WWII and deciding to dedicate more time to music. While he never quite turned pro, he performed regularly around New England as a member of various country and honky-tonk bands ... where this J-45 took up its natural residency as the rhythm guitar. All the hours logged on it have certainly benefitted the tone, which is exceptional. The guitar is wide-open, warm, balanced, and throaty; and its full, C-shaped neck makes it a lot of fun to play. Everyone on the TME staff has enjoyed spending time with this guitar since we've had it, and the common feedback seems to be something like, "This is an instrument that just wants to give you music." Before we acquired the guitar, the original tuning machines had been replaced. And an old back crack (and one side impact crack) had been repaired. (We're told Dad certainly knocked the guitar into a table or two over the years.) Our shop performed the first neck reset the guitar has ever had, re-fretted it, and installed a new bone saddle. We would call the current playability excellent, under tension of medium gauge strings -- and there's room to adjust the setup for many years to come. In all? This is just a lovely sounding old J-45 that seems to ooze songs and inspiration ~ a testament to one musical journey well-traveled and a springboard for another yet to come!

**Online checkout is not available for this guitar. Expedited shipping required. Interested buyers are welcome to contact us for Ground options.
Condition: Vintage. Fully inspected and set up by TME staff before it ships or leaves the showroom.
Top Spruce
Back & Sides Mahogany
Fingerboard Rosewood
Bridge Rosewood
Tuners Kluson (Replaced)
Scale Length 24 7/8"
Nut Width 1 3/4"
String Spacing 2 1/8"
Case Non-original Gibson hardshell

Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.

Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.

Preserving The Past. Played Into The Future.
Whether you're chasing a tone, honoring the history, or building a collection, we seek out the finest vintage instruments and, when needed, perform tasteful restoration to ensure they'll play beautifully for decades to come.
Gibson J-45 (1946)
Sold Out

Pricing

We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.

Glenn Nichols, Repairs & Restorations

Tasteful Restoration

When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.

Accurate Listings

Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.

Shipping

With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.