Gibson J-45 U9750 (1957)

This great-sounding 1957 Gibson J-45 was acquired from the descendants of its original owner. It retains its early, original adjustable saddle, which imparts a charming, dry sound that's part of this guitar's overall essence. Does swapping to a bone saddle on one of these guitars make it better? No. Does it make it sound different? Yes. What works better for you depends largely on personal style.

Tonally, this is a very warm-sounding J-45. Its voice is hollow and booming, making it a great choice for a singer-songwriter who plays with a mix of bare fingers and a flatpick (it produces impressive fullness and depth of sound without much effort). Digging into it with a heavy flatpick rewards such an approach with a "large" sound, to quote Lyle Lovett. These characteristics, when considered in tandem, make this J-45 a current shop favorite.

Very little has been done to this guitar over the years. The original tuners buttons have been replaced, and a hairline crack along the treble side of the fingerboard tongue has been cleated internally. When we acquired the guitar, its back braces and pickguard were loose. Our shop has reglued those elements and set the guitar up for medium-low action under tension of light gauge strings. A chipboard case is included, though buyers may want to consider a case upgrade if shipping is required.

In short: a lovely old J-45 fit for a player in search of a lifetime guitar.