1971 Gibson J-45 J-45 Dark SB
Description
The Gibson J-45 is—despite Martin’s claim—America’s guitar, the signature instrument of the serious player in jams, gigs, hoedowns, hootenannies, parties, and front porches since the 1940’s. The J-45 has a square-shouldered jumbo body (since 1969) with a solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. As of 1974-75, it had a non-adjustable belly-down rosewood bridge similar to the bridge on this guitar. This 1971 J-45 Deluxe model has a 14/20-fret rosewood finger board with pearl dot inlay and a 25.4” scale, a 1 11/16” nut, a black pick guard, and black body binding (not the notoriously self-destructing tortoise binding used on many 1970s Gibsons). And of course it has the huge sound for which vintage Jumbo Gibsons have been famous for decades.
This guitar has serial number 675055 and “Made in USA” legible on the headstock, which probably dates it as 1971—fifty-three years of making music. Cosmetically, the sunburst finish is in good shape, but the top, back, and sides show some of the scratches, dings, and buckle rash one expects on a working guitar; there’s also some of the fine crazing in the finish which is inevitable. The several real flaws that detract from it have been dealt with: the neck has been re-set, and three cracks in the top have been glued and cleated where necessary, and the end in has been replaced. The good news is that for a player it is better than “original”; the bad news is that for a museum or collector it may be less “collectible.”
In other words, it looks like what it is: a great Gibson jumbo guitar in excellent playing condition which needs to be making the hard-driving music for which it was created. The action is set up at 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and of course playing that music for almost five decades has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful. This is a really beautiful guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it hard, well, and often.
The included new hard shell case is obviously not the original Gibson chip board case, but it is in very good shape, inside and out. The hardware all works perfectly (including a key), and the fuzzy black interior fits this guitar like the proverbial glove. It is great protection—and insurance-- for this fine vintage guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this fine Gibson guitar.
This guitar has serial number 675055 and “Made in USA” legible on the headstock, which probably dates it as 1971—fifty-three years of making music. Cosmetically, the sunburst finish is in good shape, but the top, back, and sides show some of the scratches, dings, and buckle rash one expects on a working guitar; there’s also some of the fine crazing in the finish which is inevitable. The several real flaws that detract from it have been dealt with: the neck has been re-set, and three cracks in the top have been glued and cleated where necessary, and the end in has been replaced. The good news is that for a player it is better than “original”; the bad news is that for a museum or collector it may be less “collectible.”
In other words, it looks like what it is: a great Gibson jumbo guitar in excellent playing condition which needs to be making the hard-driving music for which it was created. The action is set up at 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and of course playing that music for almost five decades has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful. This is a really beautiful guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it hard, well, and often.
The included new hard shell case is obviously not the original Gibson chip board case, but it is in very good shape, inside and out. The hardware all works perfectly (including a key), and the fuzzy black interior fits this guitar like the proverbial glove. It is great protection—and insurance-- for this fine vintage guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this fine Gibson guitar.