Sweetwater Exclusive Gibson Acoustics

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Gibson Acoustic 50s J-45 Original - Ebony

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar, with Mahogany Back/Sides, Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, and LR Baggs VTC Electronics - Ebony
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Item ID: OCRS4550EB
Gibson Acoustic 50s J-45 Original - Ebony
Price:$3,199 and 00 cents
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Gibson Acoustic 50s J-45 Original - Ebony
Backordered - More On The Way! Notify me
Price:$3,199 and 00 cents
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Gibson's Acoustic Workhorse

Gibson's J-45 is one of the best-known acoustic guitars out there. Dubbed "The Workhorse," this round-shoulder dreadnought gives your music full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. The '50s J-45 Original features all that rich tone, thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and a solid mahogany body. And, for a vintage correct look, the multi-ply top and single-ply back binding are slightly antiqued to create a well-seasoned appearance. Whether you're a singer/songwriter or an onstage acoustic rocker, the Gibson Acoustic '50s J-45 Original is for you.

Choice tonewoods for incredible tone

Known as "The Workhorse," the Gibson J-45 body style is among Gibson's most beloved. This particular workhorse features a superb blend of tonewoods, giving you rich, strong sound with well-balanced tonality. The '50s J-45 Original features a solid Sitka spruce top for presence, while premium mahogany adorns its back and sides. Other touches include traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing, a compound dovetail neck joint, and multi-ply top and single-ply back body binding.

Eminently playable neck and fretboard

The Gibson '50s J-45 Original's fretboard comprises high-grade rosewood, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson experts before it enters the Gibson factories. It's a resilient and durable wood, making way for a balanced and stable fretboard, and giving each chord and note enhanced clarity and bite. The dot inlays on the J-45 are made of genuine mother-of-pearl and are added to the fretboard using a special Gibson process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require fillers. What's more, the '50s J-45 Original's fretboard boasts a rolled edge that's lightly beveled, which enhances the instrument's smooth playability.

Amazing sound onstage

The Gibson Acoustic '50s J-45 Original comes with LR Baggs's popular VTC acoustic pickup system, a popular choice among acoustic guitarists at Sweetwater. This system features a low-profile under-saddle transducer that enhances the coupling between the pickup and the guitar for a robust, lively, and natural acoustic sound with excellent dynamics and delicate high end. Combined with an onboard preamplifier with unobtrusive and removable volume control, mounted just inside the soundhole, the VTC gives your '50s J-45 Original the amplification you need, with zero compromises for tone or convenience.

Gibson Acoustic '50s J-45 Original Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • The classic acoustic workhorse, primed for live performance
  • Solid Sitka spruce top offers great projection and tone
  • Solid mahogany back and sides offer warm, round sound
  • LR Baggs VTC electronics transfer every nuance of your tone to your PA or amp
  • Softened fingerboard edge adds increased playing comfort

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Round Shoulder Dreadnought
  • Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • Color: Ebony
  • Body Bracing: Scalloped X-bracing
  • Binding: Multi-ply top/back
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: Rounded
  • Radius: 12"
  • Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Dots
  • Number of Frets: 20, Standard
  • Scale Length: 24.75"
  • Nut Width: 1.725"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Rosewood
  • Tuning Machines: Grover Strap with Cream buttons
  • Electronics: LR Baggs VTC Under Saddle Pickup
  • Strings: Gibson, .012-.053
  • Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: OCRS4550EB

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Reviews

A little more time with J45 Original
I posted one review. But now that I've really spent some time with it.. I absolutely love this guitar. Originally I put some EJ16 12s on it.. tone was great.. I then tried Nickle Bronze strings..even better. Then I found the exact tone I'd been chasing.. Martin Retro Monel 12s... I absolutely cannot let this guitar sit for long. I have got to play it.. I've have a few guitars to..Hummingbird Original, Hummingbird Standard, Southern Jumbo Original, D18 Standard. And a J45 Standard.. they all have their place. But this guitar just has that magical Tone. And incredibly comfortable neck.. If you're researching and just a little leary of taking the plunge. TAKE IT... you'll not regret it..I actually took the batwing 50s pickguard off..Just to make it my own. And customize it..
Music background: Campfire Hero
1950s J45 Original
It has taken me buying a few guitars to find exactly what I wanted. Now, you hear alot of people and read alot about the neck being big and chunky. it is more substantial than the slim taper of the J45 Standard. It feels like the neck of a Hummingbird Original. I don't have large hands. And the neck of this guitar is very comfortable.. Barre Chords etc... I was searching for a certain tone. So with the thicker neck and bone nut and saddle,I found it. And that's with the guitar being tight and new..I immediately took the garbage Gibson Strings off. Use your strings of choice. I'm using EJ16 12-53 Phosphor Bronze. It sounds great. I also have a set of Dadarrio 12s Nickle Bronze on standby.. it's not as mid forward as my J45 Standard. The highs are not as zingy and it's great to sing along with. Even with the non compensated saddle the intonation is great. It came set up with .005 relief and 6/64 on the low E. And 4/64 on the high E...the spec sheet from Gibson stated the action was set at... 5/64 low E. 3/64 high E. I will be setting the action at those settings. Finish was great, and the tuners work well. Although I was leary of the tuners in the beginning though..over all, I got exactly what I was wanting. Black (Ebony) guitar with a Darker/Mellow Tone.. Im glad I chose this guitar..
Music background: Campfire Hero
Outstanding guitar. I've got THE ONE
I've purchased this guitar two months ago and it has since become my main acoustic. Went for ebony finish/color as I already owned another acoustic in sunburst. A big THANK YOU to Adam Szmurlo for making my shopping experience at Sweetwater so enjoyable not only for this one, but for everything I've bought from Sweetwater over the years.

There is a lot of talk on the web about J-45s sounding all over the spectrum. Mine, however, is "the one". It has a very mellow and sweet tone, with rounded beautiful overtones (just the right amount) especially on the high register. The bass is tighter than Martin's but it *growls* if you dig in. Soft and sweet when finger picked, gorgeous punchy "overdriven" sound and growl when strummed hard (somehow reminding me of a nicely overdriven Les Paul). Never muddy.

Now, you really have to love thick neck profiles (the 50's style) as this one has a full D-shape with quite wide shoulders. Even though I have a thick 50s neck on my Les Paul, it still took a bit of getting used to it.

Initially I was concerned that the neck will become sticky while playing considering it was touching my entire palm and the finish is nitrocellulose (I had bad experiences with this combination in the past). Happily to report that that was NOT the case with this guitar. If anything, when my fretting palm sweated, it made the neck even slicker. So big kudos to Gibson for that, well done !

This model comes with bone nut and bone saddle (hooray !!!). Personally, I can't stand having those made out of plastic, especially on a $2,000+ guitar. The bridge pins however, are made out of tusq. It's certainly a personal preference, but I prefer bone instead of tusq. While tusq adds slightly more overtones (which I don't think this guitar needs anyway), it does so at the expense of suppressing its "growl" and diminishing its "punch" and sustain. So I've replaced mine.

The frets seems to have been plek-ed nicely :-) and there were no protruding frets at the edge (very smooth edges). The action was sky high though, and I believe that to be intentional so that the future owner can lower it to his/her satisfaction. For me, the factory setup was close to unplayable therefore I made a new bone saddle and lowered the nut slots to get the action to where I liked it. Every new guitar should have a setup done to match the owner's playing style, so that kind of work was expected.

I mostly play this guitar unplugged but the few occasions I plugged it in, it sounded good to me.

In conclusion, I am thrilled to own this acoustic legend with a phenomenal tone true to its name, and looking forward to many years of joy playing it.
Music background: Been playing for awhile
J-45 1950s
I Love this Gibson. Its easer to play than my Gibson SG. No regrets.
Surprised
I have played Taylor Guitars exclusively for over 20 years, and loved them.
My friend plays an older J45, and I was impressed with the big sound from this guitar.
I purchase one from Sean at Sweetwater thinking I would return it I was unhappy.
It's a keeper. The sound from this guitar was clean and Big!
It will be my go to acoustic now.
Sadley, I have to thin out my other guitars now.
Music background: 55 years on guitar.