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Gibson Acoustic J-45 Standard Left-handed - Vintage Sunburst

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar, Left-handed, with Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Rosewood Fingerboard - Vintage Sunburst
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Gibson Acoustic J-45 Standard Left-handed - Vintage Sunburst
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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 J-45 Standard features all that rich tone, thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and a solid mahogany body. And, for unbelievable onstage tone, it comes loaded with an LR Baggs VTC pickup system. Whether you're a singer/songwriter or an onstage acoustic rocker, the J-45 Standard 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 — day in, day out. The J-45 Standard 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 fingerboard

The Gibson J-45 Standard's fingerboard 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 fingerboard, 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 fingerboard using a special Gibson process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require fillers. What's more, the J-45 Standard's fingerboard boasts a rolled edge that's lightly beveled, which enhances the instrument's smooth playability.

Amazing sound onstage

The Gibson Acoustic J-45 Standard 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 an unobtrusive and removable volume control, mounted just inside the soundhole, the VTC gives your J-45 Standard the amplification you need, with zero compromises for tone or convenience.

Gibson J-45 Standard Features:

  • The classic acoustic workhorse
  • 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: Left-handed
  • Body Shape: Round Shoulder Dreadnought
  • Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • Color: Vintage Sunburst
  • Body Bracing: Hand-scalloped X-bracing
  • Binding: Multi-ply Top, Single-ply Back
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: Slim Taper
  • 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: Black Composite nut
  • Bridge Material: Rosewood, Traditional Belly Up
  • Tuning Machines: Grover Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons
  • Electronics: LR Baggs VTC Under Saddle Pickup
  • Strings: Gibson, .012-.053
  • Case Included: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: RS45VSN19L

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Slope Shoulder Sweetness!

The Gibson J-45 is my first slope shoulder guitar. It has a unique tone that explains why it is used by so many singer/songwriters and artists. I absolutely love it! I have now used it on a couple of gigs. It's amazing how comfortable it felt immediately! I am very satisfied with the J-45 as well as the service and courtesy I always receive from Sweetwater.
Music background: Played in a duo through college. Gigging again at 68!
Rated 5/5

Delicious!

I've been playing my J-45 Standard "Lefty" for a year now, the guitar just keeps getting better and better ( nothing to do with me improving!??! Lol) sounding all the time! Deeper presence, crisper very sweet ring and plays like a dream! IMO the Gibson J-45 Standard is the best axe there is for the money; hands down. Sure, you can pay up ten thousand for a dressed up J-45, but it's still a J-45; just "prettier" like all luthiers have for their flagship instruments, be it a J-45 or Hummingbird, Taylor's 717 & 814 Martin D-28's, 35's, Eppiphone Frontiers (basically a Hummingbird). This is the best acoustic I've played so far, I've played many and own many! The only ones I enjoy close as much are also GIBSON/Eppiphone: Eppi J200 limited, GIBSON SJ-200 and Hummer. (One buzz kill I have to mention, check the strap lock/ input and make sure it's not loose! Montana has had a few slip through with loose electronics at the strap lock but will take care of it very quickly! (Sweetwater definitely will! Don't let this discourage your decision to purchase it, it's a easy fix and GIBSON has already addressed this with their QC so chances are it won't be an issue anymore!
6StringCthulhuBluesBear! So Lake Tahoe!
Music background: Avid guitarist with GAS!
Rated 5/5

Best I've ever had

Just purchased a lefty J-45 standard here at Sweetwater. I happened to catch it on sale, which rarely if ever happens on a Gibson, let alone a lefty. In a nutshell, best sounding acoustic guitar I've ever owned, and I've owned plenty (still do, in fact). Plays like a dream, has the iconic Gibson thud that I've always craved. Sounds great with a pick or finger picked, and sounds great plugged in too. The Workmanship on this instrument is flawless, as close to perfect as you could ever hope to get. It's a work of art, and it's mine, and I couldn't be happier.
Music background: Lite time, part time musician.
Rated 5/5

Beautiful Guitar

Beautiful, this guitar sounds as nice as it looks. Thanks again Kyle.
Rated 5/5

The Workhorse delivers

What can you say about the J-45 that hasn't already been said? I'll give it a try. It's the most comfortable full sized guitar I've ever played. Maybe it's the combination of the sloped shoulders and short scale, but if you usually shy away from dreads you needn't fear this one. Its calling card is versatility: rock, country, blues, singer-songwriter, anything. It strums warm and full but you could fingerpick it for hours and be perfectly content. If you regularly play in drop tunings you may want to consider medium strings but it handles both lights and mediums. It's beautiful to look at and play. There's a reason it's an iconic American classic. Many thanks as always to Colton and the Sweetwater team for friendly and thorough service.
Music background: Living Room Acoustic Hack
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