Over the years I’ve owned Martins, Taylors and then back to Martins. At my age - 70, I now find that Gibson J-45 is the most comfortable for my old hands. Something about the scale length, string spacing and the neck profile. The warmth of the mahogany tone in the J-45 has become a personal preference. So glad you featured this theme.
Every year I grow older I love my J45 more and more. My gratitude for that instrument and the voice it gives me is impossible to express, but I try with it every time I pick it up.
I have been playing guitar for over 60 years. My acoustics ( I own six as we speak) have always been living entities to me. The only inanimate objects I have ever looked at as having lives of their own. My Son bought me a Fender Telecaster for Christmas 2022 and I just ordered a VOX Headphone Amp. Wish me luck. I am 82 years old.
Had a ‘70’s Martin D28 and a J50, same era, I played the Gibson the whole time 6 nights a week, beat the Martin in every way, sound, playability and intonation. Still have and love it.
I've been a Martin owner for 30 years in which over the years I've owned 10 of them. I walked into my local guitar store last week, they had a new J45 in. For some reason I picked it up, strumed my pick across the strings without even touching the neck to chord it. To my surprise the tone from the strings were perfect. So as usual I started playing some of the songs I perform every week on stage. I guess people laughed as they walked by as I set there with my mouth wide open in awe. Immediately I traded my Martin HD28 I've had for the last 7 years for the J45. Playing is believing! I can't believe all the years I've walked by many J45's and headed straight for the Martin's. That's why they say "you live and learn." Bravo Gibson!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Great show - so looking forward to the Film on the J45. I’ve been a semi professional musician for 25 years and since the early 90’s I used many different guitars but when I bought my Gibson J45 in 2006 I’ve never looked back - it’s been my go-to-workhorse guitar for gigs, songwriting and recording , even had colleagues in music production that wanted to borrow it for sessions. It plays and sounds fantastic. Reluctantly I sold it in 2013 when I had to relocate from my home town in the UK to Sweden due to divorce and I always regretted it, not just because it was a great guitar but because I had a lot of fond memories attached to it . Luckily I had sold it to a friend and in 2014 I was in a position to buy it back and I didn’t hesitate. Since then I feel the guitar has not only helped to write, record and perform some of my best songs, but it is a reliable, familiar friend that has been on a journey with me and seen me through some low points in my life. Perhaps silly to say about an inanimate object but as my luthier once said when describing the nature of how the woods in guitars are effected and manipulated by its environment “oh no guitars are alive...” Many thanks Troy
Celtic Connections is a yearly festival of shows held in Glasgow, Scotland (my home city) showcasing artists playing traditional folk music as well as all sorts of other genres (Americana, World, Blues, etc). Just putting this here for Tony and anyone else who might be interested, there are always so many fantastic artists to discover at the festival.
I was looking into J-45's and came across the G-45 review from Premier Guitar. This eloquent sentence pretty much sums up my view of a J-45. "If a venerable and dusty old barn could sing in soft summer evening light, well, that might just be the voice of a J-45." Beautiful instrument.
Idk how it took me so long to find this show. Was recently gifted a vintage J-45 by my wifes great grandaddy after he asked me to change the strings and to play him a song on it. Used to be my dream guitar until finally owning one.
Here is my J45 story. I am a Martin D35 owner and wanted a D18 to have both tones. Rosewood & Mahogany. Being in a Bluegrass band the rhythm guitar player had a Martin D16RGT also rosewood. With two rosewood guitars the sounds would blend to much and my flatpicking wouldn't pop out. So I'm like I need a D18!!! When I was ready to pull the trigger, the first store I went to was a Gibson rep. Had no Martins in the store. Tried a few Gibson for fun. Actually 3. A Hummingbird, J15 and a J45 Standard. When I played that J45 I was hooked!!! Told my self why not. Instead of having something similar this was a totally different beast. So I bought it then and there. A few years later I found a Taylor GS Mini second hand and now I have one each of the big 3. :)
Here's an upvote for the Huss and Dalton DS. I own a 2006 DS Custom and it has become a go-to guitar for me. This guitar helped launch my guitar geekiness to extraordinary levels. The team at Huss and Dalton have very high standards for their guitars and also care greatly about their customers. Amazing guitars, fantastic people!
It's my dream guitar, and I've wanted to own one for so long. I've been playing guitar for 17 years, and the first guitar I got bought by my parents was a Blueridge J-45 copy. It's only a £300 chinese guitar, but I've broken it in and over the years its tone has mellowed so much. I got a raise at work, and my first thought was that soon I'd be able to justify buy a real J-45. Sometime over the next 12 months I'll treat myself.
She probably built mine. I m form Flint but went to western in the early seventies and we hung out at the factory so much I flunked out of school. Luckily went back and graduated from Um but not before I bought a J 45 down there Kzoo. Loved those days. My dog knocked it over about 25 years ago and broke the neck. I sent it into the factory to repair which at the time was in Nashville. They sent me back a neck which pearl inlay not the dots. Don’t know if that makes it better or worse but I was always told that if it didn’t have that Kalamazoo Mi sticker inside even if it was a Gibson it wasn’t any good!
I shopped for mine for a very long time, but when I found the "one" it was a no brainer. The guitar is so forgiving that you will find it a joy to play giving you sounds you never thought were there.
The first classic iconic acoustic I ever bought was a 2012 J45. It's a gem that I purchased from the rental department from a local guitar store, so it had a lot of play on it when I got it (and I got it for about 40% Canadian retail). It doesn't have the volume of other guitars, but it is such a sweet sounding instrument. It's so balanced and woody (ha - pun intended), and it records really well! It gave me a much better understanding of what a higher-end instrument has to offer. I went guitar shopping in Feburary 2016 after repeatedly binge watching all of your Acoustic Letter guitar reviews, so thank you for the help! I had several ideas in mind when I went shopping, but knew that a certain shop had a former rental J45 for sale, and in the end that guitar beat everything hands-down. I suppose I liked it more because it had 3-4 years of use and wear on it, so it sounded much more mature than the other guitars on the wall. Everything else sounded more compressed or choked in comparison. It was the first time I really remember noticing how much the back of a guitar could move while playing - the J45 just danced, and it still does to this day. I'd always been quite partial to the look of the J45, but heard a lot people speak of them with dismay, so I was hesitant to consider them. Then, with help from your reviews, and after seeing TIm O'Brien and Russ playing 45s on the Transatlantic Sessions, I figured I should take a serious look at one. I mean, if they were good enough for those guys... come on!
What I would add to the list is how well the J-45 records. Not my favorite to sit around the house and play, but for recording, it's exceptional. Cheers!
I have a 1943 Gibson Southern Jumbo Dreadnought that belonged to my dad that his mom (my grandmother) bought new and gave to him when he returned from WWII a week after Christmas in 1945. I haven't found any other Gibson to sound as great as this guitar even though my Number one guitar is a late-80s Gibson Hummingbird made in Montana and my 1970s Gibson Gospel made in Kalamazoo. My old 1943 Gibson Southern Jumbo top is made from Red Spruce.
So here is my J45 comment: I am pretty much a life-long Martin guy, believing that Martin’s just sound better than Gibsons and anyway, Gibsons seem to be so inconsistent. So I stayed away from them for many years. But I have a buddy here in central Vermont that has a vintage guitar shop and I have the opportunity to play a fairly wide range of old Gibsons moving through his shop. And after rethinking my opinions of the slope shouldered dreads, I lucked in on a 1957 National 1155. This guitar (the 1155) is of interest because the body is constructed by Gibson as a J45 body, but then taken in by National who put their own Valco Supreme neck on it. Gibson and National had the same distributor at the time and National did not have a wood shop capable of making a high-end acoustic guitar so they took in the Gibson-supplied bodies and put their own necks on them. These necks are solid bars of magnesium in a mahogany shell (they can almost never warp) and they are adjustable with a kind of hinge where they meet the body. So my guitar is essentially a 1957 Gibson J45, with all the sound advantages that go with that but at a greatly reduced cost (in my case, about $1100). For comparison, a 1957 J45 is in the $4,000 to $6,000 range. And what I found with this guitar, is that a slope-shouldered dread is actually a much better guitar to sing with, because it does not have all those Martin overtones and complexity. It is just a solid guitar with great fundamentals and powerful bass. So I didn’t sell my Martins, but I find this guitar to be a great addition to the family. Sorry for the long post.
No, dude, that's a righteously awesome post! I sincerely Hope Tony puts you on next year's Second Annual Gibson J-45 Tribute Show on Acoustic Tuesday. Cheers!
I bought a Gibson TV J45 and played it for a few weeks and just couldnt bond with it. I was in Denver last week at a music store and was able to play a J45 and a D28 and went back and forth for a couple hours. The D28 felt better to me and was easier to play. I wanted to compare the D18 and D28 before I buy one though.Everyone is different so I guess everyone has a different opinion on this.
Thank you very much Tony. I am a singer and I started Playing Guitar few years ago. My first Guitar was a Taylor CE 110. My second Guitar (my great Love) is a Taylor Mini GS KOA Plus. Now Im dreaming about a j45 Slash. Your channel has been a great inspiration for me and This is just the beggining. Thank you so much ❤️
Here's my 2 cents worth. I've played Bluegrass using a Martin D35 for 45 years. Where are those J45's among Bg pickers? Only Bg artist I've ever seen play a J45 is Earl Scruggs son Randy Lynn. If anyone knows another Bg artist that plays J45, I'm open to that name. In view of this I hadn't seen a single J45 show up at any Bg Festival or jam session til last weeks SW Bg Club jam. Guy brought his new J45 and invited me to play it, WOW!!!! I love this guitar. Whatta jerk I was all these years.
8:02 - I was sitting just watching and then he started talking I swear I thought after the first sentences he was gonna start with the - 'She grew up with the children of the stars In the Hollywood hills and the boulevards'. 😂
Great show again.... thank you. I own a HD-28, but I have a deep lust for the J-45, it's on my someday list. Thought you might have John Walker on the non Gibson J-45 list, I played once at Greg Boyd's, I was blown away and I still think of that guitar.
I was eyeing up a j45 for years. Went to a few shops last year and all sold out. I noticed a southern jumbo (j45 with bling) on the wall in the final shop, with £600 off. It was brand new and actually £100 cheaper than a new j45 listed on the web. I'm a sucker for gibsons with parallelograms and crown headstock inlays. Took it home, new strings and boom.... the loudest j45 sound I've ever heard. Absolute canon.
Tony, the J45 is a great guitar, everyone I have played has been nice. Though almost every Gibson I have owned in the last 20 years needs a good luthier setup as they come out of the factory in marginal condition. Owned (no surprise) L-00, L-1 Custom and a Nick Lucas. Thanks, Gordon
I bought a 2014 J-45 recently. The previous took great care of it and upgraded the nut and saddle to bone. It was on sale at a great price. I love this guitar, glad I grabbed it.
Awesome clips of that guy Russ. Every thursday I back up an irish band. I got a j45 humbucker (maple top, which is extremely uncommon). Its quietish but ive heard one member of the band say its the best guitar hes heard for that music. extremely clear and beautiful sounding
Well-done show. I should know...I sell guitars at the largest music store in my state. Just sold a new J-45 (black 50s model) last week to a 70-something gentleman who had one in his youth. Awesome experience. (A new, sunburst 50s model is now in my future.) Again, great video. Thank you.
Another great show! The J-45 will always hold a special place in my heart. When I was still playing my 1964 Stella (H-929), my best friend had a late 50's J-45 - which he got when his older brother got a brand new 1969 D-28 (for his high school graduation). They let play their guitars, and offered a LOT of great advice. I am glad you included a K-35! I was lucky enough to play a Kevin Kopp at Fuller's Guitar in Houston (it was the L-00 version). Wow! I think the best Gibson guitars are made by Kevin Kopp! Now - you need to review the new Martin D-17SS!
#6. It came in different variants throughout the years (Southern Jumbo, Country Western). Not sure what all the differences are, but if you you don't like something about the J45, one may like one of these other models more.
The J45/Southern Jumbo is Gibson's greatest acoustic guitar, IMO. These fall under the banner of Slope Shouldered Dreadnaughts. A dear friend of mine (sadly no longer with us) had one which was made in 1942, and it is easily the best guitar I've ever played. I speak as someone who once ran a shop selling acoustic guitars, including high-end boutique/vintage acoustics, by such makers as Lowden, Lo Prinzi, Atkin, Lucas, Martin, Arnold, Larrivee, Gurian, Seagull/Simon & Patrick, Walden, Tanglewood, Blueridge. Levin, etc.
I’m lucky to have a very fine Gibson J-45 in my arsenal. Funny thing is: it’s called J-45 Country & Western and comes in natural. It’s one of those made in ‘94 in the 100 years series from the Ferguson Era. Lovely guitar with a dry woody beautiful balanced sound.
The early J-45 was built by Craftsmen that didn't look at their instruments as art, but as tools. Experienced people that built things to last and knew the value of a dollar.
The scale length, a slightly wider nut that sits between 1&11/16ths and 1&3/4s, a tone that is quieter, woodier, more mellow than both Martin and Taylor, and which sits better in the mix (to my ears), are the reasons I've switched to J45s for electrified performances. That sunburst is just a bonus! For strictly acoustic work, I tend to stick with Martin. Love your videos. Keep up the great work, Tony!
Hi Tony, there is one guitarplayer-songwriter that was not mentioned here (I just skipped through the comments, if he is there, I apologize) and that is Donovan, who just turned 70 now. For me he was and still is very influentual. If you listen to songs like Colours, litte tin soldier and many others, you hear a J45 sounding so full and rich, that we were always how they did that. He showed the Beatles how to fingerpick and use alternate chords in India, and his songs remain masterpieces ever since. But he has one problem...he is not an american...so if you just focus on the states, well, your choice, but then you drop someone very importand out, that has been a hero four millions of people, not only in Europe, with a J45 in his hands! Martin
I had a music teacher that had a Gibson that really peaked my interest in playing a guitar. Along with her steel blue eyes and pretty face 😁. I was 9 or 10 years old when she started giving me guitar lessons. I still remember her Gibson Dove and how its beauty fit her own beautiful appearance. She finger picked and was fabulous at it. I still want a Gibson acoustic and the J45 is an icon and would be perfect for me.
Mr. Polecastro, you have every reason to drool over the Pre-War Model J. It is without a doubt the best sounding J-35 style I have ever played. Although it has been 2 years since I played one at Lowe Vintage in Burlington, NC I still dream of that guitar. It finger picked like butter and it strummed like a bell. The tones that bloomed after the fundamental note made it sound like an organ. You really need to get your hands on one. Pre-War’s J and HD models are my personal favorite J-35 and Martin D-28 tributes out there! JR
Nice review; good stuff! I inherited a vintage (~1945 banner head) J-45 from my father-in-law. All mahogany with the truss rod, in great condition. Had it set up with a local luthier, and it is wonderful. Every time I've gone into a shop and played the new J-45s, they don't sound anything close to mine. 75 years of aging of the nitrocellulose lacquer really does make a difference in the tone; I guess that's why Stradivari used it for his instruments. And of course, the Gibson luthiers were no slouches either. This is the only acoustic I own right now because, frankly, I can't find anything new that sounds better for my finger-picking style.
#guitargratitude. My grandfather played gospel bluegrass. I remember Sundays as a kid that he would play in church. I started playing at 14 because I loved Slash. I listenes to Clapton and all the rock greats on my guitar journey thru high school. In my early 20s I explored the world of Jam music with The Band and Grateful Dead. When I was 15 though my papa gave me a D28 that he built himself out of Maple and Walnut. Then when I was in my late 20s I discovered Tony Rice and my life was changed. Now I almost thirty and Bluegrass is 90 percent of what I listen to with the other 10 percent being Christian music. In the End, my grandfather rubbed off on me. I own that D28 he built and D18 that he built as well. The D18 has Cherry wood top, mahogany back and sides. The only other guitar I own is Epiphone pro 1 ultra acoustic/electric. My guitar heros are Tony Rice, Del Mccoury, and Carter Stanely. However my life hero is my Grandfather. He still builds guitars. He has made a little around 20 at this point. I have two of them. My uncle has one of them and my grandfather's old Martin. My grandfather holds on to the others despite my best effort to talk him out of some. Love the show Tony.
I have the epiphone slash j 45. It's only just arrived and been setup for me. I'm blown away by the sound and feel of this instrument. It's like it embodies the spirit of the west. I'm reminded of cowboy movies
Owned one in 1974. Paid 350. Lost it during a money shortage. Sold it to a friend and the neck was broken. (My heart also). It was a once in a lifetime guitar but the kids needed shoes! A Guitar is a luxury and shoes are essential. That’s how my wife explained it anyway.
Will anyone be replacing Noah on the show? I love you Tony but I miss the back and forth bantering you two had every show. Cheers from cartersville, georgia
Lucked out and found one at a Guitar Center someone had dropped on the cable jack input which put a crack in the finish. GC took 1K off the price, I traded in my relatively new Washburn, and opened a charge account to get it. Felt like I'd scored a major victory and was rescuing this guitar. Absolutely love it. I have always wanted it due to Woody Guthrie and my friend, Gary Lucas. I have an Epiphone Masterbuilt which I got because I couldn't afford a J45. I can now play them side by side. The J45 is lighter but louder, and more comfortable. I leave the Epiphone in an open tuning now, but primarily play the J45. When I strum certain chords it sounds like the recordings of songs I instantly recognize.
Back in the day, E Scruggs traded his Gibson Granada banjo to Don Reno for Don's RB150 banjo and Don's J45. THat's how Earl acquired a J45. He used it on countless gigs and recordings. His son liked the J45 and used it as well.
If you are a songwriter or aspire to be one, I would give you the #1 reason to buy a J45. It is not my own, it comes from a mutual friend of Tony and mine: Ren Ferguson (former master builder at Gibson and acoustic legend). Ren has often said of the J45, "Songs come out of them." Now you might say songs come from your mind and that may be so, but you sit down with your J45 (and yes it seems to happen with Martin D28s too), you fiddle around and all of a sudden there is a song. Admittedly, it can happen with any guitar, but historically more songs have come out of a J45s (and yes, D28) than any others. Even songs you associate with the electric guitar often had their start on an acoustic because that particular medium has the power to put you in that special place where the magic "happens".
I really like the J45 Standard VS but i just dont need a pickup system, more like i dont want it. I think it makes the guitar heavier in weight. Glad Martin Standard series do offer ever guitar without electronics.
Interesting, multiple piece is not the same as 'multiplex' (plywood). If it's indeed laminated, you can as well buy a budget laminated maple guitar in order to get this sound. You can only know if you worked on the guitar as a luthier (pull the end pin) , If the maple has (repaired) cracks, it's usually solid.
Michael McEvoy I took a lesson from him too, a couple of years ago. Wonderful couple of hours. He generously handed me his J 45, and suddenly I found myself playing the very tunes I learned from his records on his guitar. True gentleman!
Had a 57 J-50 decade's ago (early 70's) I just inherited my brother's 57 J-45 he bought because he loved mine so much.. Sunburst or not the sound and playability of either made in that era are very hard to outshine, even with 10 yr old strings on it the sound is so much sweeter than my Epiphone PR-350 EB, their answer to the Gibson J's, it's an alright guitar but if it ain't a Gibson it ain't good enough!
When I was a kid I always wanted whatever it was Hank Williams played. It was a Martin D28 and Gibson Southern Jumbo ( fancy j45). The famous film of Hank singing “ Hey good looking” he had a Gibson SJ. All of his recordings were done with the Martin. I guess it’s easy to assume he preferred the Martin but his son Hank JR seems to favor the Gibson. He always plays a southern jumbo on stage I got the Martin. Now all I need is a J45 true vintage model with the banner. I can’t settle for one I gotta have both
IMO the best J-45/J-50-style guitars were the late 1950s and early 1960s Kalamazoo-built Epiphone FT79 Texans. Their longer scale brought them a little closer to D-18 territory and that's a real tonal and "feel" sweet spot for me.
Love the Gibson J45 and have played several of them. Instruments by Collings Guitars are still my preference. Absolutely amazing in so many respects. Like a fine orchestral cello. I do like the J45 just not as much as several Collings models. Also really enjoy playing the rather new edition to the Taylor lineup, the Grand Pacific 517. If you have not done so as of yet, you need to put one of these on your lap and dive in. It does not have the complexity of the J45 nor is it designed to do so with its V class bracing structure that projects the notes in a warm heartfelt straight line rather than complex waving overtones. It is just such great rather unique and fun guitar to play with a great sound. Again, nothing negative here about the J45 as it surely has one hell of a pedigree for so many right reasons. All the best folks. Keep on playing!!
#1. Sorry, but I don’t like burst finishes. I like the color of spruce, and love to watch it turn “golden” as it ages,(been playing for 50+ years). #2. J-45 esque honorable mention: Takamine CRN-TS1... thermal top, slotted headstock, and a 12th fret neck joint that gives the short scale great tone, and volume. And, like the Eastman, and J-45 is actually affordable. The Collings, Bourgeois and Santa Cruz you recommended are not guitars I would take to a gig at a bar full of drinkers... LOL #3. Great show!
I have a J-45 and it is indeed an American Workhorse. I also have fine Huss & Dalton D12 - incredible finish and sound, an over the edge incredible Santa Cruz Guitar Company (SCGC) DH canon that penetrates even in Bluegrass jams with banjos and mandolins, a very pricey custom SCGC H13 which is a work of art, a custom Taylor with sinker redwood top, and a 12-string Breedlove. The most expensive of this collection was 5 times more expensive than the Gibson J-45. BUT - as wonderful the sound of the other more expensive guitars, the go-to for most of my jams is actually the J-45. The scale length, stable tuning, and great projection of the instrument makes it the easiest to play and the one guitar I am not afraid to take outside, and if it gets some dings, who cares it just adds some character. I mainly jam with Bluegrass groups - and I get compliments on the sound of my J-45. Most Bluegrass players as others have noted use Martins or other dreadnoughts - my SCGC is the perfect item for those jams, but to be truthful, the Gibson is easier to play, and keeps up with other loud instruments. The mystic of Martin is a bit over-hyped in my view, I have had a HD-28, D-35, and D-76 - but none of them could match my SCGC DH, and what they lacked was a evenly balanced sound in every range - lots of bass, but imbalanced mid-range and treble compared to the bass. My SCGC has unmatched overtones and sustain, the Martins did not. But like all guitars regardless of brand, you can play 4 or 5 of the same model, and only 1 does the job that hits your tonal space expectation just right. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
The Guild Orpheum 14 fret slope shoulder is a pretty guitar--I've never had the chance to play one, but I have the 12 fret orchestra from this series and love it
Skip, Hop and Wobble - one of my favourite albums of all time - a true classic! I don’t own a J45 - but I recently bought a used Gibson AJ Custom Shop which is the best guitar I’ve ever played by a long way. I’ll never part with it.
As well as Kevin Kopp, John Walker makes a nice short scale slope shoulder dred up there in Montana (his model "Wise River"). Think they both worked at Gibson together.
Michael Mcevoy is correct , Russ’s J 45 is laminated back n sides , my old teacher has known him since the early 70s and he can confirm that as well . Great show !
Interesting comment at the end about triple bound J-45s. I have a 1943 Banner J-45 with a triple bound top but no truss rod. Spec's definitely seemed all over the place!
I just love the history around Gibson.I know they’ve come in for some stick of late re management but it doesn’t seem to have effected the price for those buying or selling.Only been playing for six months and my Yamaha LS6 has been more than adequate.Now I’ve improved and know I’m serious about getting better I’m definitely after a Gibson acoustic.
David Garcia That’s quite a coincidence as my friend has a D15 and it’s the only relatively high end guitar I’ve ever played as well as a Larivee. I loved the playability and warm sound from the mahogany.
Andy Bowen the string choice on the d15 is huge 80/20 bright and articulate but warm 92/8 warmer and harmonics are much nicer and it’s very pleasant Monel-probably my favorite combo of warm and character Very nice for finger style I love mine The price is also very nice and it’s American made with the case and warranty
powbobs i don’t share the same opinion, the value of the 15 series compared to the tiny tiny differences from the other D series guitar is not really worth it Maybe if you like the looks and cosmetics maybe , I went to a local guitar store with a budget of $4000 and the one I liked the most for everything was the d15, but hey everyone likes something different, I like warmth and subtle tight bass, you might like heavy bass and bright trebles but the difference is tiny, tiny, tiny If I want lots of bright highs and lots of low basses I’ll use 80/20 otherwise I’m always using 92/8
I and the banjo player in our group, visited my BIL Jerry Lang to play for my family on 4 July. He commented he'd like to show us something.His 1974 J45 complete with the OEM hardshell case. I never knew he owned a J45 let alone that he bought it for his son to learn to play on. Son shunned playing and BIL still can't play a lick. I offered him all I could for the J45. $1,500.00. He turned me down. I've played guitar for 70 years (1949). I've never seen ONE BG guitar picker ever play a Gibson. Except both Earl and his son Randy Lynn. Attended last months S W BG club jam sessiomn and sa guy brought his 2018 J45. Played it for 2 hours. How could I have badmouthed J45s?
Love the show! I don’t have a Gibson J-45 story but maybe I will one day. I play fingerstyle but I have a soft spot for dreadnaughts (love my Larrivee d-03). Great show and keep up the great content!
I have my mothers j-45 with an adjustable bridge The serial number dates it at roughly 1964 It is hands down the best tone of any six string and I’ve never heard a louder acoustic guitar
i inherited my moms 64 j45 too, red sunburst with flourlette pick guard. she bought in in college for $100 and since im the only son that plays i got it.
Y'all are some lucky folks! My dad had a bunch of amazing guitars at the time he passed away. Vintage d28, vintage j45s, guilds, etc. His new wife sold everything after he passed even though he said some were going to me. There 'wasnt' a will.
Damn Tony! That Santa Cruz is bad ass. I'm a sudo fan of some of the vintage Gibson's but not necessarily the slope D's from any manufacturer. Always favored the 4 go to's - Guild, Gibson, Taylor and Martin. Seems I need to re-think things a bit for the next one. Thanks!
I bought a new Gibson J-50 in 1967 a week before I went overseas, and still have it. My plan was to get a Martin later, when I had more money (my Gibson cost me $195 including case), but I never did. Been playing this one ever since. But I have a question: My J-50 has a rosewood saddle, but I can't find any other J-50 online, in videos, or in real life that has a rosewood saddle. Can anyone shed light on this mystery?
you guys view guitars from a very different perspective to my own. It's interesting to hear these opinions about music and what's good or desirable about a guitar. Your view on various players also intrigues me. I can't listen to "weedly-weedly" on electric guitars, and I equally dislike it on acoustics. I love classical music, but that's "weedly-weedly" with musicality and purpose. A Santa Cruz OM is my holy grail guitar. 🐰🎸🎵🤝✌️
Hi Tony, I would be very curious to see how you would think a Chris Bozung Model J would stack up to all those that you have covered here. To my ear his take on the Gibson acoustic guitars have something very rare and special, and the Gibson-style legacy of acoustics seem to be his focus.
The film makers should get a hold of Amy Mann as she has a great story of how her J-45 was painstakingly rebuilt after it was destroyed in a car accident.
Another "Seldome Scene" (sorry for the pun) guitar among the BG crowd is the Gallagher guitar of Wartrace, Tenn. Doc Watson was enamored of this dreadnoght guitar. Merle Travis said the Gallagher "Rings like a bell". Competed in a guitar contest at Oakdale Park, Hugo, Okla in the 80's, contestant beat me soundly with a Gallagher.
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When my grandpa passed away he left me his ‘57 J45 and it’s just a gem. It’s better than any piece I’ve played in my entire life.
Over the years I’ve owned Martins, Taylors and then back to Martins. At my age - 70, I now find that Gibson J-45 is the most comfortable for my old hands. Something about the scale length, string spacing and the neck profile. The warmth of the mahogany tone in the J-45 has become a personal preference. So glad you featured this theme.
Every year I grow older I love my J45 more and more. My gratitude for that instrument and the voice it gives me is impossible to express, but I try with it every time I pick it up.
Here here. I’m 57 and I am lucky enough to have a script only j45,from 46 or 47. The new ones are good but My old 45 is a step above,for sure.
@@MrRoundwoundI agree, something about that wood getting aged only makes them better. I wonder how yours will sound in 200 years.
I have been playing guitar for over 60 years. My acoustics ( I own six as we speak) have always been living entities to me. The only inanimate objects I have ever looked at as having lives of their own. My Son bought me a Fender Telecaster for Christmas 2022 and I just ordered a VOX Headphone Amp. Wish me luck. I am 82 years old.
Had a ‘70’s Martin D28 and a J50, same era, I played the Gibson the whole time 6 nights a week, beat the Martin in every way, sound, playability and intonation. Still have and love it.
Agree J-50 like a glove vs D-28…have both…🎸🎸
I just bought a Epiphone inspired by Gibson J45 and it’s my favorite guitar by far. Can’t go wrong with a J45
I just picked it up the other day. And yes… it’s fantastic
Me too..Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!
That's a nice guitar. Don't get me wrong but that ain't a J45.
Why not? It's an all solid. Spruce top. Mahogany back and sides. The same size and body shape as the Gibson J45.@@cqlove12
I've been a Martin owner for 30 years in which over the years I've owned 10 of them. I walked into my local guitar store last week, they had a new J45 in. For some reason I picked it up, strumed my pick across the strings without even touching the neck to chord it. To my surprise the tone from the strings were perfect. So as usual I started playing some of the songs I perform every week on stage. I guess people laughed as they walked by as I set there with my mouth wide open in awe. Immediately I traded my Martin HD28 I've had for the last 7 years for the J45. Playing is believing! I can't believe all the years I've walked by many J45's and headed straight for the Martin's. That's why they say "you live and learn." Bravo Gibson!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve had a ‘66 since 1969. It’s seen a lot of roadhouses.
Ive wondered just today on how it feels. My local shop doesn't have em. Only Martins. Now I'll never touch one. Just to be safe.
Hi
Great show - so looking forward to the Film on the J45. I’ve been a semi professional musician for 25 years and since the early 90’s I used many different guitars but when I bought my Gibson J45 in 2006 I’ve never looked back - it’s been my go-to-workhorse guitar for gigs, songwriting and recording , even had colleagues in music production that wanted to borrow it for sessions. It plays and sounds fantastic. Reluctantly I sold it in 2013 when I had to relocate from my home town in the UK to Sweden due to divorce and I always regretted it, not just because it was a great guitar but because I had a lot of fond memories attached to it .
Luckily I had sold it to a friend and in 2014 I was in a position to buy it back and I didn’t hesitate. Since then I feel the guitar has not only helped to write, record and perform some of my best songs, but it is a reliable, familiar friend that has been on a journey with me and seen me through some low points in my life. Perhaps silly to say about an inanimate object but as my luthier once said when describing the nature of how the woods in guitars are effected and manipulated by its environment “oh no guitars are alive...”
Many thanks
Troy
Celtic Connections is a yearly festival of shows held in Glasgow, Scotland (my home city) showcasing artists playing traditional folk music as well as all sorts of other genres (Americana, World, Blues, etc). Just putting this here for Tony and anyone else who might be interested, there are always so many fantastic artists to discover at the festival.
This was Buddy Holly’s favorite guitar to play. Why does no one mention this? That’s my number 1 reason why I would get one.
i heard he chose a nice example
But he wasn't really a guitarplayer was he?
@@jimmyhansen5842 he was a guitar player
I was looking into J-45's and came across the G-45 review from Premier Guitar. This eloquent sentence pretty much sums up my view of a J-45. "If a venerable and dusty old barn could sing in soft summer evening light, well, that might just be the voice of a J-45." Beautiful instrument.
Idk how it took me so long to find this show. Was recently gifted a vintage J-45 by my wifes great grandaddy after he asked me to change the strings and to play him a song on it. Used to be my dream guitar until finally owning one.
My J-45 Big Leaf Maple is just.....the most amazing acoustic guitar I've ever owned. Angels fly out of it.
Here is my J45 story. I am a Martin D35 owner and wanted a D18 to have both tones. Rosewood & Mahogany. Being in a Bluegrass band the rhythm guitar player had a Martin D16RGT also rosewood. With two rosewood guitars the sounds would blend to much and my flatpicking wouldn't pop out. So I'm like I need a D18!!! When I was ready to pull the trigger, the first store I went to was a Gibson rep. Had no Martins in the store. Tried a few Gibson for fun. Actually 3. A Hummingbird, J15 and a J45 Standard. When I played that J45 I was hooked!!! Told my self why not. Instead of having something similar this was a totally different beast. So I bought it then and there. A few years later I found a Taylor GS Mini second hand and now I have one each of the big 3. :)
those 3 are incredible and Im not kidding....
The feel!!! I have had 2 J45s, a 65 and now an 03. They just feel right ...very huggable.
Here's an upvote for the Huss and Dalton DS. I own a 2006 DS Custom and it has become a go-to guitar for me. This guitar helped launch my guitar geekiness to extraordinary levels. The team at Huss and Dalton have very high standards for their guitars and also care greatly about their customers. Amazing guitars, fantastic people!
It's my dream guitar, and I've wanted to own one for so long. I've been playing guitar for 17 years, and the first guitar I got bought by my parents was a Blueridge J-45 copy. It's only a £300 chinese guitar, but I've broken it in and over the years its tone has mellowed so much. I got a raise at work, and my first thought was that soon I'd be able to justify buy a real J-45. Sometime over the next 12 months I'll treat myself.
Wow. Great show. My Mom worked at Gibson in the 50's and 60's in Kalamazoo so this one was special. :-)
She probably built mine. I m form Flint but went to western in the early seventies and we hung out at the factory so much I flunked out of school. Luckily went back and graduated from Um but not before I bought a J 45 down there Kzoo. Loved those days. My dog knocked it over about 25 years ago and broke the neck. I sent it into the factory to repair which at the time was in Nashville. They sent me back a neck which pearl inlay not the dots. Don’t know if that makes it better or worse but I was always told that if it didn’t have that Kalamazoo Mi sticker inside even if it was a Gibson it wasn’t any good!
I shopped for mine for a very long time, but when I found the "one" it was a no brainer. The guitar is so forgiving that you will find it a joy to play giving you sounds you never thought were there.
The first classic iconic acoustic I ever bought was a 2012 J45. It's a gem that I purchased from the rental department from a local guitar store, so it had a lot of play on it when I got it (and I got it for about 40% Canadian retail). It doesn't have the volume of other guitars, but it is such a sweet sounding instrument. It's so balanced and woody (ha - pun intended), and it records really well! It gave me a much better understanding of what a higher-end instrument has to offer.
I went guitar shopping in Feburary 2016 after repeatedly binge watching all of your Acoustic Letter guitar reviews, so thank you for the help! I had several ideas in mind when I went shopping, but knew that a certain shop had a former rental J45 for sale, and in the end that guitar beat everything hands-down. I suppose I liked it more because it had 3-4 years of use and wear on it, so it sounded much more mature than the other guitars on the wall. Everything else sounded more compressed or choked in comparison. It was the first time I really remember noticing how much the back of a guitar could move while playing - the J45 just danced, and it still does to this day.
I'd always been quite partial to the look of the J45, but heard a lot people speak of them with dismay, so I was hesitant to consider them. Then, with help from your reviews, and after seeing TIm O'Brien and Russ playing 45s on the Transatlantic Sessions, I figured I should take a serious look at one. I mean, if they were good enough for those guys... come on!
A little over $2,000 in December 2019? Wow. The price shot up steeply during the pandemic.
I just paid $2,899 for one, so it's gone up a lot more since your comment.
@@f3uibeghardt522 now it’s up to $3K!!!
What hasn't !
What I would add to the list is how well the J-45 records. Not my favorite to sit around the house and play, but for recording, it's exceptional. Cheers!
I’ve always been a Martin guy but I love a J-45😆
Im obsessed with my j45. Its hard to put down and unbeatable to my ears.
I have a 1943 Gibson Southern Jumbo Dreadnought that belonged to my dad that his mom (my grandmother) bought new and gave to him when he returned from WWII a week after Christmas in 1945. I haven't found any other Gibson to sound as great as this guitar even though my Number one guitar is a late-80s Gibson Hummingbird made in Montana and my 1970s Gibson Gospel made in Kalamazoo. My old 1943 Gibson Southern Jumbo top is made from Red Spruce.
So here is my J45 comment:
I am pretty much a life-long Martin guy, believing that Martin’s just sound better than Gibsons and anyway, Gibsons seem to be so inconsistent. So I stayed away from them for many years. But I have a buddy here in central Vermont that has a vintage guitar shop and I have the opportunity to play a fairly wide range of old Gibsons moving through his shop. And after rethinking my opinions of the slope shouldered dreads, I lucked in on a 1957 National 1155. This guitar (the 1155) is of interest because the body is constructed by Gibson as a J45 body, but then taken in by National who put their own Valco Supreme neck on it. Gibson and National had the same distributor at the time and National did not have a wood shop capable of making a high-end acoustic guitar so they took in the Gibson-supplied bodies and put their own necks on them.
These necks are solid bars of magnesium in a mahogany shell (they can almost never warp) and they are adjustable with a kind of hinge where they meet the body. So my guitar is essentially a 1957 Gibson J45, with all the sound advantages that go with that but at a greatly reduced cost (in my case, about $1100). For comparison, a 1957 J45 is in the $4,000 to $6,000 range. And what I found with this guitar, is that a slope-shouldered dread is actually a much better guitar to sing with, because it does not have all those Martin overtones and complexity. It is just a solid guitar with great fundamentals and powerful bass. So I didn’t sell my Martins, but I find this guitar to be a great addition to the family. Sorry for the long post.
No, dude, that's a righteously awesome post! I sincerely Hope Tony puts you on next year's Second Annual Gibson J-45 Tribute Show on Acoustic Tuesday. Cheers!
I bought a Gibson TV J45 and played it for a few weeks and just couldnt bond with it. I was in Denver last week at a music store and was able to play a J45 and a D28 and went back and forth for a couple hours. The D28 felt better to me and was easier to play. I wanted to compare the D18 and D28 before I buy one though.Everyone is different so I guess everyone has a different opinion on this.
Thank you very much Tony. I am a singer and I started Playing Guitar few years ago. My first Guitar was a Taylor CE 110. My second Guitar (my great Love) is a Taylor Mini GS KOA Plus. Now Im dreaming about a j45 Slash. Your channel has been a great inspiration for me and This is just the beggining. Thank you so much ❤️
Here's my 2 cents worth. I've played Bluegrass using a Martin D35 for 45 years. Where are those J45's among Bg pickers? Only Bg
artist I've ever seen play a J45 is Earl Scruggs son Randy Lynn. If anyone knows another Bg artist that plays J45, I'm open to that
name. In view of this I hadn't seen a single J45 show up at any Bg Festival or jam session til last weeks SW Bg Club jam. Guy brought
his new J45 and invited me to play it, WOW!!!! I love this guitar. Whatta jerk I was all these years.
agree with everything except you are no Jerk!! u are a wise man! did u get one? and did he use a new regular J 45?
@@sugarlife485 the J45 Vintage with a "Cooked Top" sounds very close to a pre war Gibson!
8:02 - I was sitting just watching and then he started talking I swear I thought after the first sentences he was gonna start with the -
'She grew up with the children of the stars
In the Hollywood hills and the boulevards'. 😂
Great show again.... thank you. I own a HD-28, but I have a deep lust for the J-45, it's on my someday list. Thought you might have John Walker on the non Gibson J-45 list, I played once at Greg Boyd's, I was blown away and I still think of that guitar.
Pat Cross I just played a Walker and HC it is so musical. I still think about this guitar too
I was eyeing up a j45 for years. Went to a few shops last year and all sold out. I noticed a southern jumbo (j45 with bling) on the wall in the final shop, with £600 off. It was brand new and actually £100 cheaper than a new j45 listed on the web. I'm a sucker for gibsons with parallelograms and crown headstock inlays. Took it home, new strings and boom.... the loudest j45 sound I've ever heard. Absolute canon.
Matthew Casey SJ’s are super beautiful!
Tony, the J45 is a great guitar, everyone I have played has been nice. Though almost every Gibson I have owned in the last 20 years needs a good luthier setup as they come out of the factory in marginal condition. Owned (no surprise) L-00, L-1 Custom and a Nick Lucas.
Thanks,
Gordon
I bought a 2014 J-45 recently. The previous took great care of it and upgraded the nut and saddle to bone. It was on sale at a great price. I love this guitar, glad I grabbed it.
*previous owner*
Thanks Tony! Great episode... from the proud owner of a 1954 Gibson J-50.
Awesome clips of that guy Russ. Every thursday I back up an irish band. I got a j45 humbucker (maple top, which is extremely uncommon). Its quietish but ive heard one member of the band say its the best guitar hes heard for that music. extremely clear and beautiful sounding
Well-done show. I should know...I sell guitars at the largest music store in my state. Just sold a new J-45 (black 50s model) last week to a 70-something gentleman who had one in his youth. Awesome experience. (A new, sunburst 50s model is now in my future.) Again, great video. Thank you.
Another great show! The J-45 will always hold a special place in my heart. When I was still playing my 1964 Stella (H-929), my best friend had a late 50's J-45 - which he got when his older brother got a brand new 1969 D-28 (for his high school graduation). They let play their guitars, and offered a LOT of great advice.
I am glad you included a K-35! I was lucky enough to play a Kevin Kopp at Fuller's Guitar in Houston (it was the L-00 version). Wow! I think the best Gibson guitars are made by Kevin Kopp!
Now - you need to review the new Martin D-17SS!
I really like Morgan Wade's vocals and her song The - Night played on a1960's reissue J-45
I think Dom's '51 J-45 is probably the best guitar out of all our combined inventory. Just something about the sound and look of it..
#6. It came in different variants throughout the years (Southern Jumbo, Country Western). Not sure what all the differences are, but if you you don't like something about the J45, one may like one of these other models more.
The J45/Southern Jumbo is Gibson's greatest acoustic guitar, IMO. These fall under the banner of Slope Shouldered Dreadnaughts. A dear friend of mine (sadly no longer with us) had one which was made in 1942, and it is easily the best guitar I've ever played.
I speak as someone who once ran a shop selling acoustic guitars, including high-end boutique/vintage acoustics, by such makers as Lowden, Lo Prinzi, Atkin, Lucas, Martin, Arnold, Larrivee, Gurian, Seagull/Simon & Patrick, Walden, Tanglewood, Blueridge. Levin, etc.
I’m lucky to have a very fine Gibson J-45 in my arsenal. Funny thing is: it’s called J-45 Country & Western and comes in natural. It’s one of those made in ‘94 in the 100 years series from the Ferguson Era. Lovely guitar with a dry woody beautiful balanced sound.
The early J-45 was built by Craftsmen that didn't look at their instruments as art, but as tools.
Experienced people that built things to last and knew the value of a dollar.
The scale length, a slightly wider nut that sits between 1&11/16ths and 1&3/4s, a tone that is quieter, woodier, more mellow than both Martin and Taylor, and which sits better in the mix (to my ears), are the reasons I've switched to J45s for electrified performances. That sunburst is just a bonus! For strictly acoustic work, I tend to stick with Martin. Love your videos. Keep up the great work, Tony!
Hi Tony,
there is one guitarplayer-songwriter that was not mentioned here (I just skipped through the comments, if he is there, I apologize) and that is Donovan, who just turned 70 now. For me he was and still is very influentual. If you listen to songs like Colours, litte tin soldier and many others, you hear a J45 sounding so full and rich, that we were always how they did that. He showed the Beatles how to fingerpick and use alternate chords in India, and his songs remain masterpieces ever since.
But he has one problem...he is not an american...so if you just focus on the states, well, your choice, but then you drop someone very importand out, that has been a hero four millions of people, not only in Europe, with a J45 in his hands!
Martin
I had a music teacher that had a Gibson that really peaked my interest in playing a guitar. Along with her steel blue eyes and pretty face 😁. I was 9 or 10 years old when she started giving me guitar lessons. I still remember her Gibson Dove and how its beauty fit her own beautiful appearance. She finger picked and was fabulous at it. I still want a Gibson acoustic and the J45 is an icon and would be perfect for me.
Mr. Polecastro, you have every reason to drool over the Pre-War Model J. It is without a doubt the best sounding J-35 style I have ever played. Although it has been 2 years since I played one at Lowe Vintage in Burlington, NC I still dream of that guitar. It finger picked like butter and it strummed like a bell. The tones that bloomed after the fundamental note made it sound like an organ. You really need to get your hands on one. Pre-War’s J and HD models are my personal favorite J-35 and Martin D-28 tributes out there!
JR
Nice review; good stuff!
I inherited a vintage (~1945 banner head) J-45 from my father-in-law. All mahogany with the truss rod, in great condition. Had it set up with a local luthier, and it is wonderful. Every time I've gone into a shop and played the new J-45s, they don't sound anything close to mine. 75 years of aging of the nitrocellulose lacquer really does make a difference in the tone; I guess that's why Stradivari used it for his instruments. And of course, the Gibson luthiers were no slouches either.
This is the only acoustic I own right now because, frankly, I can't find anything new that sounds better for my finger-picking style.
#guitargratitude. My grandfather played gospel bluegrass. I remember Sundays as a kid that he would play in church. I started playing at 14 because I loved Slash. I listenes to Clapton and all the rock greats on my guitar journey thru high school. In my early 20s I explored the world of Jam music with The Band and Grateful Dead. When I was 15 though my papa gave me a D28 that he built himself out of Maple and Walnut. Then when I was in my late 20s I discovered Tony Rice and my life was changed. Now I almost thirty and Bluegrass is 90 percent of what I listen to with the other 10 percent being Christian music. In the End, my grandfather rubbed off on me. I own that D28 he built and D18 that he built as well. The D18 has Cherry wood top, mahogany back and sides. The only other guitar I own is Epiphone pro 1 ultra acoustic/electric. My guitar heros are Tony Rice, Del Mccoury, and Carter Stanely. However my life hero is my Grandfather. He still builds guitars. He has made a little around 20 at this point. I have two of them. My uncle has one of them and my grandfather's old Martin. My grandfather holds on to the others despite my best effort to talk him out of some. Love the show Tony.
I have the epiphone slash j 45. It's only just arrived and been setup for me. I'm blown away by the sound and feel of this instrument. It's like it embodies the spirit of the west. I'm reminded of cowboy movies
Owned one in 1974. Paid 350. Lost it during a money shortage. Sold it to a friend and the neck was broken. (My heart also). It was a once in a lifetime guitar but the kids needed shoes! A Guitar is a luxury and shoes are essential. That’s how my wife explained it anyway.
Deep cut sweater choice with the Blackhawks' winter classic practice jersey there, Tony. Good work.
Will anyone be replacing Noah on the show? I love you Tony but I miss the back and forth bantering you two had every show. Cheers from cartersville, georgia
Levi!!!
It will indeed be revealed at some point :) But it's not me! - Levi
@@tacguitar Well Levi you are missed as well brother. This show is hands down the best on TH-cam. Keep up the good work guys.
Lucked out and found one at a Guitar Center someone had dropped on the cable jack input which put a crack in the finish. GC took 1K off the price, I traded in my relatively new Washburn, and opened a charge account to get it. Felt like I'd scored a major victory and was rescuing this guitar. Absolutely love it. I have always wanted it due to Woody Guthrie and my friend, Gary Lucas. I have an Epiphone Masterbuilt which I got because I couldn't afford a J45. I can now play them side by side. The J45 is lighter but louder, and more comfortable. I leave the Epiphone in an open tuning now, but primarily play the J45. When I strum certain chords it sounds like the recordings of songs I instantly recognize.
Back in the day, E Scruggs traded his Gibson Granada banjo to Don Reno for Don's RB150 banjo and Don's J45. THat's how Earl acquired a J45. He used it
on countless gigs and recordings. His son liked the J45 and used it as well.
The J45 pickguard is always STUNNING LOOKING
I still have the 1964 J50 that my parents bought for me.
If you are a songwriter or aspire to be one, I would give you the #1 reason to buy a J45. It is not my own, it comes from a mutual friend of Tony and mine: Ren Ferguson (former master builder at Gibson and acoustic legend). Ren has often said of the J45, "Songs come out of them." Now you might say songs come from your mind and that may be so, but you sit down with your J45 (and yes it seems to happen with Martin D28s too), you fiddle around and all of a sudden there is a song. Admittedly, it can happen with any guitar, but historically more songs have come out of a J45s (and yes, D28) than any others. Even songs you associate with the electric guitar often had their start on an acoustic because that particular medium has the power to put you in that special place where the magic "happens".
I really like the J45 Standard VS but i just dont need a pickup system, more like i dont want it. I think it makes the guitar heavier in weight. Glad Martin Standard series do offer ever guitar without electronics.
Love the show Tony and you’re a stellar player, bad posture and all in that one vid with the Collings. 😂
Russ B’s J 45 has laminated back and sides . I learned this from Russ himself when I took a class with him.
Interesting, multiple piece is not the same as 'multiplex' (plywood). If it's indeed laminated, you can as well buy a budget laminated maple guitar in order to get this sound.
You can only know if you worked on the guitar as a luthier (pull the end pin) , If the maple has (repaired) cracks, it's usually solid.
Michael McEvoy I took a lesson from him too, a couple of years ago. Wonderful couple of hours. He generously handed me his J 45, and suddenly I found myself playing the very tunes I learned from his records on his guitar. True gentleman!
Had a 57 J-50 decade's ago (early 70's) I just inherited my brother's 57 J-45 he bought because he loved mine so much.. Sunburst or not the sound and playability of either made in that era are very hard to outshine, even with 10 yr old strings on it the sound is so much sweeter than my Epiphone PR-350 EB, their answer to the Gibson J's, it's an alright guitar but if it ain't a Gibson it ain't good enough!
I just bought a guild 240 Memoir and it is my favorite guitar. Very awesome
When I was a kid I always wanted whatever it was Hank Williams played. It was a Martin D28 and Gibson Southern Jumbo ( fancy j45). The famous film of Hank singing “ Hey good looking” he had a Gibson SJ. All of his recordings were done with the Martin. I guess it’s easy to assume he preferred the Martin but his son Hank JR seems to favor the Gibson. He always plays a southern jumbo on stage
I got the Martin. Now all I need is a J45 true vintage model with the banner. I can’t settle for one I gotta have both
IMO the best J-45/J-50-style guitars were the late 1950s and early 1960s Kalamazoo-built Epiphone FT79 Texans. Their longer scale brought them a little closer to D-18 territory and that's a real tonal and "feel" sweet spot for me.
Love the Gibson J45 and have played several of them. Instruments by Collings Guitars are still my preference. Absolutely amazing in so many respects. Like a fine orchestral cello. I do like the J45 just not as much as several Collings models.
Also really enjoy playing the rather new edition to the Taylor lineup, the Grand Pacific 517. If you have not done so as of yet, you need to put one of these on your lap and dive in. It does not have the complexity of the J45 nor is it designed to do so with its V class bracing structure that projects the notes in a warm heartfelt straight line rather than complex waving overtones. It is just such great rather unique and fun guitar to play with a great sound. Again, nothing negative here about the J45 as it surely has one hell of a pedigree for so many right reasons. All the best folks. Keep on playing!!
#1. Sorry, but I don’t like burst finishes. I like the color of spruce, and love to watch it turn “golden” as it ages,(been playing for 50+ years).
#2. J-45 esque honorable mention: Takamine CRN-TS1... thermal top, slotted headstock, and a 12th fret neck joint that gives the short scale great tone, and volume. And, like the Eastman, and J-45 is actually affordable. The Collings, Bourgeois and Santa Cruz you recommended are not guitars I would take to a gig at a bar full of drinkers... LOL
#3. Great show!
I have a J-45 and it is indeed an American Workhorse. I also have fine Huss & Dalton D12 - incredible finish and sound, an over the edge incredible Santa Cruz Guitar Company (SCGC) DH canon that penetrates even in Bluegrass jams with banjos and mandolins, a very pricey custom SCGC H13 which is a work of art, a custom Taylor with sinker redwood top, and a 12-string Breedlove. The most expensive of this collection was 5 times more expensive than the Gibson J-45. BUT - as wonderful the sound of the other more expensive guitars, the go-to for most of my jams is actually the J-45. The scale length, stable tuning, and great projection of the instrument makes it the easiest to play and the one guitar I am not afraid to take outside, and if it gets some dings, who cares it just adds some character. I mainly jam with Bluegrass groups - and I get compliments on the sound of my J-45. Most Bluegrass players as others have noted use Martins or other dreadnoughts - my SCGC is the perfect item for those jams, but to be truthful, the Gibson is easier to play, and keeps up with other loud instruments. The mystic of Martin is a bit over-hyped in my view, I have had a HD-28, D-35, and D-76 - but none of them could match my SCGC DH, and what they lacked was a evenly balanced sound in every range - lots of bass, but imbalanced mid-range and treble compared to the bass. My SCGC has unmatched overtones and sustain, the Martins did not. But like all guitars regardless of brand, you can play 4 or 5 of the same model, and only 1 does the job that hits your tonal space expectation just right. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
The Guild Orpheum 14 fret slope shoulder is a pretty guitar--I've never had the chance to play one, but I have the 12 fret orchestra from this series and love it
I’m a MARTIN guy but, I picked
Up a mint J-45 2019 model and now a J-45 studio so now I’m a Gibtin or Marson guy
Gibton? Wtf?
The Ants are My friends Gibtin, not Gibton, there’s a difference you know!
ME: I’m going to go buy one now
MY WALLET: Do you want to EAT?!?!
ME: Hrmm... no, I need guitar!!!😎
Right there with ya! Yeah, I want one, too, after this show. But next on my list is the Larrivee OM-40R. Just gotta get it.
Does this video include the J45 Studio, or is that a totally different beast?
Skip, Hop and Wobble - one of my favourite albums of all time - a true classic!
I don’t own a J45 - but I recently bought a used Gibson AJ Custom Shop which is the best guitar I’ve ever played by a long way. I’ll never part with it.
I inherited a great Gibson sunburst acoustic guitar. It has eggshell tuner knobs. No serial number. If you know anything let me know! Thankyou!😊😊😊😊😊
As well as Kevin Kopp, John Walker makes a nice short scale slope shoulder dred up there in Montana (his model "Wise River"). Think they both worked at Gibson together.
Michael Mcevoy is correct , Russ’s J 45 is laminated back n sides , my old teacher has known him since the early 70s and he can confirm that as well . Great show !
Interesting comment at the end about triple bound J-45s. I have a 1943 Banner J-45 with a triple bound top but no truss rod. Spec's definitely seemed all over the place!
Great Video! I just bought a J-45.
I just love the history around Gibson.I know they’ve come in for some stick of late re management but it doesn’t seem to have effected the price for those buying or selling.Only been playing for six months and my Yamaha LS6 has been more than adequate.Now I’ve improved and know I’m serious about getting better I’m definitely after a Gibson acoustic.
You should consider the Martin d15, it’s probably the best guitar Martin makes
David Garcia That’s quite a coincidence as my friend has a D15 and it’s the only relatively high end guitar I’ve ever played as well as a Larivee. I loved the playability and warm sound from the mahogany.
Andy Bowen the string choice on the d15 is huge
80/20 bright and articulate but warm
92/8 warmer and harmonics are much nicer and it’s very pleasant
Monel-probably my favorite combo of warm and character
Very nice for finger style
I love mine
The price is also very nice and it’s American made with the case and warranty
David Garcia
I love my 15 series Martins, but let’s not go overboard.
My HD-28 and D-18 are in another league
powbobs i don’t share the same opinion, the value of the 15 series compared to the tiny tiny differences from the other D series guitar is not really worth it
Maybe if you like the looks and cosmetics maybe , I went to a local guitar store with a budget of $4000 and the one I liked the most for everything was the d15, but hey everyone likes something different, I like warmth and subtle tight bass, you might like heavy bass and bright trebles but the difference is tiny, tiny, tiny
If I want lots of bright highs and lots of low basses I’ll use 80/20 otherwise I’m always using 92/8
I and the banjo player in our group, visited my BIL Jerry Lang to play for my family on 4 July. He commented he'd like to show us something.His 1974 J45
complete with the OEM hardshell case. I never knew he owned a J45 let alone that he bought it for his son to learn to play on. Son shunned playing and
BIL still can't play a lick. I offered him all I could for the J45. $1,500.00. He turned me down.
I've played guitar for 70 years (1949). I've never seen ONE BG guitar picker ever play a Gibson. Except both Earl and his son Randy Lynn. Attended last
months S W BG club jam sessiomn and sa guy brought his 2018 J45. Played it for 2 hours. How could I have badmouthed J45s?
Tony what do you know about the j45 cherry blend 1960 I think.
Where can I buy a J-45 for $1,600 - $1,800? GC & Sweetwater are selling them for $2,749
The J-45 walnut studio is 1700 bucks brand new.
Love the show! I don’t have a Gibson J-45 story but maybe I will one day. I play fingerstyle but I have a soft spot for dreadnaughts (love my Larrivee d-03). Great show and keep up the great content!
Great episode. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Canada!
2017 Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 45me. Incredible all solid wood jewel.
I love Gibsons well the older ones. But is it SAFE TO INVEST IN GIBSON PRODUCTS JUST YET TONY?
Have you heard the interview with Billy Strings telling the story of his fathers guitar? 🙏🏻
I have my mothers j-45 with an adjustable bridge
The serial number dates it at roughly 1964
It is hands down the best tone of any six string and I’ve never heard a louder acoustic guitar
i inherited my moms 64 j45 too, red sunburst with flourlette pick guard. she bought in in college for $100 and since im the only son that plays i got it.
Y'all are some lucky folks!
My dad had a bunch of amazing guitars at the time he passed away. Vintage d28, vintage j45s, guilds, etc. His new wife sold everything after he passed even though he said some were going to me. There 'wasnt' a will.
Damn Tony! That Santa Cruz is bad ass. I'm a sudo fan of some of the vintage Gibson's but not necessarily the slope D's from any manufacturer. Always favored the 4 go to's - Guild, Gibson, Taylor and Martin. Seems I need to re-think things a bit for the next one. Thanks!
A question..Having small hands would a person have problems playing the J45..Does it have a wide nick
For me it does. Hence I collect Taylor GS Minis, but a J45 might be next.
I bought a new Gibson J-50 in 1967 a week before I went overseas, and still have it. My plan was to get a Martin later, when I had more money (my Gibson cost me $195 including case), but I never did. Been playing this one ever since. But I have a question: My J-50 has a rosewood saddle, but I can't find any other J-50 online, in videos, or in real life that has a rosewood saddle. Can anyone shed light on this mystery?
Do you know where the video is from 36:00?? Amazing!
you guys view guitars from a very different perspective to my own. It's interesting to hear these opinions about music and what's good or desirable about a guitar. Your view on various players also intrigues me. I can't listen to "weedly-weedly" on electric guitars, and I equally dislike it on acoustics. I love classical music, but that's "weedly-weedly" with musicality and purpose.
A Santa Cruz OM is my holy grail guitar. 🐰🎸🎵🤝✌️
I couldn't afford a j45 but I did trade my electric for the new g45 studio acoustic and I love it
Hi Tony, I would be very curious to see how you would think a Chris Bozung Model J would stack up to all those that you have covered here. To my ear his take on the Gibson acoustic guitars have something very rare and special, and the Gibson-style legacy of acoustics seem to be his focus.
The film makers should get a hold of Amy Mann as she has a great story of how her J-45 was painstakingly rebuilt after it was destroyed in a car accident.
Loved this video and love my J-45 and my J-35 and my 1968 LGO that I X braced.
I guess you know I love Gibson acoustics!
Another "Seldome Scene" (sorry for the pun) guitar among the BG crowd is the Gallagher guitar of Wartrace, Tenn. Doc Watson was enamored of this
dreadnoght guitar. Merle Travis said the Gallagher "Rings like a bell". Competed in a guitar contest at Oakdale Park, Hugo, Okla in the 80's, contestant
beat me soundly with a Gallagher.
Love a Gibson guitar! The best one of them all is the J45!
Thank you for making this video
I was really looking forward to hearing that 42' J45 in the Doc, but it was muted and you chatted thru it!