1966 Gibson J-45 - Tobacco Sunburst
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
Mid to late 60s Gibson acoustics are often slagged, and they really shouldn't be. There were some consistency issues in the period, but there are better examples out there, like this one. It is a ringer!
The 1967 Gibson J-45 occupies a specific and meaningful position in the model's long history. Starting in 1968, Gibson made J-45s as square-shouldered dreadnought-shaped guitars with a longer 25.5" scale — and during 1968 and 1969 both slope-shouldered and square-shouldered J-45s were made before the model changeover was complete. A 1967 J-45 is therefore the last full production year of the slope-shoulder design that Gibson had been building since 1942 — the round-shouldered body silhouette and 24.75" scale that define the classic J-45 character, before the model was fundamentally redesigned. For players and collectors who specifically want slope-shoulder construction, 1967 is the last clean year.
The original J-45 design featured a mahogany neck, back, and sides, a spruce top, and a Brazilian rosewood fretboard and bridge — and this 1967 example retains all three of those original material specifications. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard, bridge, and saddle are all original, a detail worth noting explicitly: Gibson was phasing out Brazilian rosewood in this period as CITES-precursor trade pressures and supply constraints pushed the industry toward Indian rosewood, and finding a 1967 J-45 with all three Brazilian rosewood components original and confirmed is not guaranteed. The bone nut is original. The original Kluson 3-on-a-plate tuners are original and functioning correctly.
The 1960s saw the traditionally dark brown or black sunburst become a brighter cherry red color that was prone to fading with sun exposure — this example presents in tobacco sunburst, which Gibson offered on some examples in 1967. The solid spruce top shows small dings visible in the photos; the back and sides show a ding on the bottom upper bout, also visible in the photos. Neither affects playability or structural integrity. The multi-ply white/black top binding is excellent. Solid mahogany back and sides, slim to medium C mahogany neck at .848" at the first fret and .935" at the tenth. Action is set at 3/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. Original tortoiseshell pickguard. Non-original truss rod cover screws noted. At 4 lbs 8.5 oz this is a light, resonant instrument. Non-original modern tweed hardshell case included.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight: 4lbs 8.5oz
Color: Tobacco Sunburst
Finish Original?: yes
Finish Condition: Excellent
Top Material: Solid Spruce
Top Condition: very good, small dings shown in pics
Top Cracks: none
Top Repairs: none
Top Binding: Multi-ply (white/black)
Top Binding Condition: Excellent
Bracing Material: spruce
Bracing Condition: Excellent
Back & Side Material: Solid Mahogany
Back & Side Condition: good, ding on bottom upper bout shown in pics
Back & Side Repairs: none
Back & Side Binding: single-ply
Scale Length: 24.75"
Neck Material: mahogany
Neck Profile: slim to medium C
Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .848"
Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .935"
Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
Neck Condition: Excellent
Neck Repairs: none
Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
Fretboard Condition: Very good
Fretboard Repairs: none
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Fret Condition: Very good
Fret Repairs: none
Fret Count: 20
Nut Material: bone
Nut Repairs: none
Nut Width: 1-9/16"
Bridge Wood: Brazilain rosewood
Bridge Original?: yes
String Spacing At Bridge: 2.0745"
Bridge Condition: Excellent
Bridge Pins: original
Bridge Plate Material: dense plywood/composite
Bridge Plate Condition: very good
Bridge Plate Original?: yes
Saddle Material: Brazilain rosewood
Saddle Original?: yes
Saddle Condition: Excellent
Overall length: 40-1/2"
Body length: 20-1/4"
Lower bout: 16-1/4"
Waist: 10-7/8"
Upper bout: 11-5/8"
Body depth/thickness: 5"
Pickup System: none
Pickup System Original Or Added: n/a
Pickup System Brand And Model: n/a
Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson, 3 on a side
Tuners Original?: yes
Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: n/a
Truss Rod Cover: original, non original screws
Strap Buttons: rear only
Strap Button Added?: no Location: n/a
Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
Pickguard Original?: yes
Case Brand: modern generic tweed HSC
Case Original?: no
Case Condition: very good
Case Smells?: no
Documentation: none
Smells?: none
Accessories Included: none
SHIPPING POLICY:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
Mid to late 60s Gibson acoustics are often slagged, and they really shouldn't be. There were some consistency issues in the period, but there are better examples out there, like this one. It is a ringer!
The 1967 Gibson J-45 occupies a specific and meaningful position in the model's long history. Starting in 1968, Gibson made J-45s as square-shouldered dreadnought-shaped guitars with a longer 25.5" scale — and during 1968 and 1969 both slope-shouldered and square-shouldered J-45s were made before the model changeover was complete. A 1967 J-45 is therefore the last full production year of the slope-shoulder design that Gibson had been building since 1942 — the round-shouldered body silhouette and 24.75" scale that define the classic J-45 character, before the model was fundamentally redesigned. For players and collectors who specifically want slope-shoulder construction, 1967 is the last clean year.
The original J-45 design featured a mahogany neck, back, and sides, a spruce top, and a Brazilian rosewood fretboard and bridge — and this 1967 example retains all three of those original material specifications. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard, bridge, and saddle are all original, a detail worth noting explicitly: Gibson was phasing out Brazilian rosewood in this period as CITES-precursor trade pressures and supply constraints pushed the industry toward Indian rosewood, and finding a 1967 J-45 with all three Brazilian rosewood components original and confirmed is not guaranteed. The bone nut is original. The original Kluson 3-on-a-plate tuners are original and functioning correctly.
The 1960s saw the traditionally dark brown or black sunburst become a brighter cherry red color that was prone to fading with sun exposure — this example presents in tobacco sunburst, which Gibson offered on some examples in 1967. The solid spruce top shows small dings visible in the photos; the back and sides show a ding on the bottom upper bout, also visible in the photos. Neither affects playability or structural integrity. The multi-ply white/black top binding is excellent. Solid mahogany back and sides, slim to medium C mahogany neck at .848" at the first fret and .935" at the tenth. Action is set at 3/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret. Original tortoiseshell pickguard. Non-original truss rod cover screws noted. At 4 lbs 8.5 oz this is a light, resonant instrument. Non-original modern tweed hardshell case included.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight: 4lbs 8.5oz
Color: Tobacco Sunburst
Finish Original?: yes
Finish Condition: Excellent
Top Material: Solid Spruce
Top Condition: very good, small dings shown in pics
Top Cracks: none
Top Repairs: none
Top Binding: Multi-ply (white/black)
Top Binding Condition: Excellent
Bracing Material: spruce
Bracing Condition: Excellent
Back & Side Material: Solid Mahogany
Back & Side Condition: good, ding on bottom upper bout shown in pics
Back & Side Repairs: none
Back & Side Binding: single-ply
Scale Length: 24.75"
Neck Material: mahogany
Neck Profile: slim to medium C
Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .848"
Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .935"
Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
Neck Condition: Excellent
Neck Repairs: none
Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
Fretboard Condition: Very good
Fretboard Repairs: none
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Fret Condition: Very good
Fret Repairs: none
Fret Count: 20
Nut Material: bone
Nut Repairs: none
Nut Width: 1-9/16"
Bridge Wood: Brazilain rosewood
Bridge Original?: yes
String Spacing At Bridge: 2.0745"
Bridge Condition: Excellent
Bridge Pins: original
Bridge Plate Material: dense plywood/composite
Bridge Plate Condition: very good
Bridge Plate Original?: yes
Saddle Material: Brazilain rosewood
Saddle Original?: yes
Saddle Condition: Excellent
Overall length: 40-1/2"
Body length: 20-1/4"
Lower bout: 16-1/4"
Waist: 10-7/8"
Upper bout: 11-5/8"
Body depth/thickness: 5"
Pickup System: none
Pickup System Original Or Added: n/a
Pickup System Brand And Model: n/a
Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson, 3 on a side
Tuners Original?: yes
Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: n/a
Truss Rod Cover: original, non original screws
Strap Buttons: rear only
Strap Button Added?: no Location: n/a
Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
Pickguard Original?: yes
Case Brand: modern generic tweed HSC
Case Original?: no
Case Condition: very good
Case Smells?: no
Documentation: none
Smells?: none
Accessories Included: none
SHIPPING POLICY:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.