I have a J-15 and honestly, it is the best sounding acoustic guitar I have ever played for the money. I tried it next to a J45 and could not tell the difference. Punches way above its weight! As stated below, I am sure in time it will age well.
I bought the J15 a week ago. It may look plain but it packs some serious punch 👊 and it's very dynamic. I suspect it might become a classic. If you're thinking about getting one, get one. You will love it. Everyone loves it.
still enjoying you J15 ??? i'm wanting to get one ... ... but i dont know if i should wait a bit more (or sell my kidney) to buy a J45 !!! lol ... for what i hear from demos on internet J15 it sounds me better than J45 for my taste !!! thanks from Portugal
@@u2acrobata I bought a j-15 after playing a southern jumbo and a j-45 studio in mahogany, of those three the j-15 was best sounding and loudest. My 15 is still better than most of the j-45 I’ve played but I did play one 45 that was absolutely amazing, would stand up to any guitar. You really need to play the guitar first if you can because there is a lot of variation and sometimes you pick one up that will sing to you, that’s the one to get no matter what model or make.
They both sound great! I just bought the J-15 yesterday! I always thought for sure I'd end up with a Martin, but I loved this one. After years of playing friends and husbands guitars - I finally have my own guitar. :)
Have you been happy with your J15. Like you, I have been considering the 210, 314ce, D-18 and short scale Gibbys. Just not sure. I do not like the new V brace thing that Taylor did that kills the base.
My J-45 has been my primary gigging guitar for the last seventeen years, and it sounds amazing. That said, I have played a couple of J-15's and wouldn't hesitate to gig with one. As a matter of fact, it would make more sense for bar gigs, since it's cheaper and would be easier to replace if something happened. I believe that in fifteen or twenty years the J-15 will age into an amazing instrument, also.
I bought a new J15 yesterday. I haven't bought a new guitar in 7 years and was looking to get exactly what I wanted. The J15 is elegant and sounds wonderful through every string, up and down the neck. It outshined the others, IMO, and for the price it is a great value. It is a player's axe, yet still beautiful. I made the right choice.
I intended to go look at Martins and Taylors at Guitar center. I picked up a J-45 on a lark and was blown away by the tone and the most comfortable neck I've played. I compared a J-15 and J-35 at another store and took the J-15 home. Though not as lush sounding as the 45, the 15 fits the styles I play better. The 15 is about a grand less too.
I pretty much had the same experience, trying out Martins and Taylors, I just couldn't make up my mind, then I grabbed a J45 and instantly fell in love. it has much more of a mellower 'scooped' sound than Martins and Taylors, less edgy high mids. I suspect Martins and Taylors cut through the mix better than the J45, but the J45 leaves a nice acoustic space open for the vocals to sit in-between the rich bases and sparkling highs of the J45 (IMHO).
I have four Gibson acoustics: Two B-25's from the sixties. Neither guitar has the same qualities but, they have similarities. I have a '65' J-45, it is deep and warm. Also, I purchased a new J-35. It as well is deep and warm but, the forward AJ bracing gives it clearer highs, then the 45. None of tones are bad, just different and that is what I am hearing from this review from Tony. These guitars have similarities and differences. They are both great guitars and the comparison is the equivalent of: Apples and Oranges--they are both good for you and they both taste great. Both of these guitars are great and both have similar and different qualities. It comes down to how you play and what type of sound you are looking for in an instrument. My self, I will be purchasing the J-15, since I already have a 45, it will give the differences that I can use on stage and in the studio. My long-winded point is, that it does not have to be either or-for me it will be both. I love both of the sounds and I feel that the J-15, will hold its own in the long run of the test of time. There is a lot more guitar inside of both of these guitars that has yet to service.. Buy them both!
I've tried the J15, J35, J45. All had their own tone, but always ended up with the J15. By personal preference, i ended up buying the J15, not because of the price but of it's performance. Great guitar! If anyone needs a Gibson, go out and try them, certain models will surprise you. Excellent video by the way!
J15 is a beast!! J45 is quieter, “warmer” for sure, but the J15 Rips loud, soft, has dynamics. Also, with retro Nobel strings the J15 takes on quite a character that’s hard to match. Gibson messes you with it’s early low price point, and now the J15 is nearly $2k. My cousin tours and writes with a J45 Standard, and when I just caught up with them at a concert I brought my J15 to jam around with before the show. All the guys in the band lit up over the J15 and my cousins lead player started immediately writing progressions on it, and asked to borrow it haha I said buy one!
@@soofitnsexy The 45 is louder and has a wider spectrum, simply because mahogany is more resonant. The 45 has more low presence and a mid-highs bump. That's why the 15 is more mid focused and more "flat" sounding. But please don't misunderstand the 45's bigger presence, the 45 is everything but dark! You can hear the louder highs of the 45 even through your iphone speaker!
@@acousticwalnut walnut carries more bass than mahogany. It’s closer to maple, but with a bit more warmth. One of the absolute BEST tone woods period to be used on an acoustic. The J45 has a specific quieter sound! Which is great for a lot of situations, but Gibson messed up a bit at first making the J15. It was so inexpensive to make because of the North American sourcing that they viewed it as an entry level guitar. But quickly, folks realized you could get a J45 (dimensions, bracing etc) but with wayyyyy more guts, and emotion. If you think about it, a maple neck on an Gibson acoustic starts at the Dove, reserved for very high end guitars. A Taylor with the same build specs of the J15 is a custom ship, $5000 guitar.
@@jonnydevore3089 Here in Europe J15 burst and J45 are very similar pricing. 100/200€ difference. J15 is a bit cheaper because of different pickup and mechanics. But the price difference is so little that it isn't something you should consider. About the bass: Walnut has tighter and deeper bass, while the mahogany has more "boom". J45 sounds fatter, J15 sounds more "americana".
I just tried both of these this week. The J15 is a very nice guitar. It actually played pretty well with no setup and I liked it.The J45 is a different animal in person. More resonant with deeper bass and much louder. I think the 15 is a great guitar for the money.
Just aquired a j-15 and using gibson master built 80/20 12-53 strings and holding close to my body while strumming hard it makes my moustache vibrate to where I have to stop a scratch it!!!! Never had a guitar do that... In 43 years of playing.... This is the best guitar experience and joy I've felt just strumming and holding out expressive single notes that has made me realize that big money doesn't always buy content! Very happy with mine!!
I own a J15 and while I still love a j45 I have fallen in love with my j15. I use it often in a live situation and it's rich mids cut beautifully in a full band setting. It also records very nicely. It's got it's own vibe which I love. Both of these guitars are great.
Im going to try one soon.I think you're right about the mids.Not quite as scooped as the J45 and probably makes it more cutting in a session.Maybe the right Gibson for a Martin player..
The J-15 is such a sleeper guitar. Used they are going for around $1,300. I have one, and was looking for a J-45; also have a Martin HD28-V. I gotta say, I prefer the J-15. Very balanced. Focused, but not bright. More full than the Martin, but the Martin is great… also $2,000 more. Compared to J-45s, the J-15 wins, hands down. I live right by Sweetwater, and I’ve played them all. From the Studio to the “Banner” era bad boy, and they are all boomy, far too dark for my taste, and most have a thick neck. The J-15 slim taper is perfect. With a hard shell case included. Doesn’t get any better… should be selling used for $2,000 or more… easily.
To my ears the J-45 has the brightness of the J-15 but with added depth which gives a more mature sound. I like them both, but I know I'd want to go home with the J-45 :)
I think my J15 is a bless from God. I acquired it originally for practice while serving my previous church's Praise Team. Later I found this particular one was so good. I honestly thought it could match or even outperform a good J45 or Martin D28. Used it on stage for several years. I am not sure if every J15 was like mine. Its sound was so fine. It had mislead my team members who had mistaken that the AV team had been playing some amazing records while I was doing random solo in the background during the rehearsals. It also startled the technicians from various Guitar Centers every time I brought it in. I also received compliments from the congregation or even visiting pastors. In my current church after moving, I have turned mainly back into playing electric guitar with Gibson Les Paul Standard because there are two other acoustic guitarists here with no more seasoned electric guitarist. I still some time have the desire to bring that J15 back on stage.
I just played both. Both play like butter, with the shorter scale and the perfect neck (for me). J45 sounds like honey, J15 like cane sugar; for warmth and tonal richness you cannot beat the J45 but the J15 is certainly a winner. Much easier to play and control tone than my Martins, which are louder and chimier, but I swear I just fell in love with the J45. Its tonal richness and range is amazing. Don't believe the "fashion statement" put down. But I may be biased because I grew up with a J45 in the house. I wonder if anyone has the Blueridge BG140. I have the BR-160 and it hjas everything my old HD28 has.
The j-45 has all the versatility in the world. It's a hitter from country to blues to folk to acoustic rock and more. The mahogany fits it so well and with Gibson's exploration of different tone woods such as granadillo and English walnut you have a slew of j-45's where just about anyone can find one to deploy. We have standards, customs and limited editions with different tonewoods, as well as a slew of reissues or inspired by vintage j-45 models. But still, the j-45 isnt always In everyone's budget. In comes the j-15 or even the j-29 for some. The j15 gives you vintage slope shouldered body shape and size with a simple but beautiful look. The walnut on the j15 not only offers a wider range of people to own a true american made gibson acoustic and the iconic slope shoulder body, but with the tone wood being walnut it could even be another guitar for the already j45 owner while offering new sounds. I'm all for American guitar companies using more readily available woods to get the cost down so anyone can own a real deal american made guitar. The J-15s I've played have been outstanding. The feel is much like a j45 given it is a slope shoulder dreadnought, but the walnut gives it a different voice and a beautiful voice it is. I hope makers like Gibson and martin continue with these new cost efficient acoustics that still feel, look and sound 1,000 times better than anything being thrown together overseas.
Played them both again today. The J 15 takes less work to get the volume and it has shimmering upper mids. The 45 is more straightforward and the notes are very singular and punchy but you have to dig in a little harder to get the volume. My guess is that a 45 when fully broken in will
Excellent comparison. Thank you for the wonderful video. It is so difficult to hear the so little difference it is unreal. Definitely my choice would be to save the difference of $1000 and buy the J-15.
At the music store I played them both, I like the, J-45, appearance, better. Each played nice and sounded great. I liked the, J-45, overall more, but not a 1000 bucks more. I went home with the J-15. After 3 months, this one is a keeper.
I love your guitar reviews, especially the side by side comparisons, they are the best. I bought the J15 two years ago and absolutely love it. Got it on Black Friday at 15% off list, best guitar I have by far.
I played both back to back at Samash just today and I will say the tale of the tape is far different than live in person I much prefer the j15 the walnut is sweet and warm paired with the clarity of spruce top and maple neck it rocks for $1499.
Has anyone considered Eastman guitars?I bought a second hand E8D for £540 (sterling British pounds)and sounds like a very expensive Martin/Gibson hybrid guitar,well worth checking out.
YEAH A FOOTBALL!!!.Ralphys answer to santa clause in the movie the Christmas story is how I would explain this comparison,You may get caught up in the beautiful sound of the J15 but you will end up settling and most likely wanting after you purchase one..The walnut steals the tight focused notes that the J45 is famous for.. The highs are not as crisp, it adds a boxy sound to the mids and the lows are more bloomy.We are getting into D18 territory here.
I have both. They were good, not great, with stock features. Swapped out nut and saddle for bone. Took off the J-45 "flubber" pick guard. After all the customizing, the J-15 is my #1
I've played them both and although I could afford the J45, I went with the J15. The price was right and in a blindfold test I doubt that most could tell the difference without it being a lucky guess. I also own a Martin DRS2 and a Martin 000X1AE and I still like the J15 better than the Martins.
All depend of you do with. If you're looking for a strummer, I definitely oriented you to the J-15, but if you want a swiss knife, go with the J-45, a true value. I personnaly kept the J-15 to strum on stage and for fingerpicking, I prefer the OM model
I personally like the mahogany over the walnut. I do have a J15, but my mahogany is a Martin. All mahogany, front, neck, everything. i think I just prefer the warmer sound of it. The J15 is a great bang for the buck tho.
J45 is a little warmer but i like the J15...I wasn't watching the video and I knew which one was which...the1E sting is a little flat on the J15.....all of your reviews are excellent straight and to the point..no over talking...and then great playing.....
J-45 sounds to me like, a tiger that's growling with its teeth showing, and J-15 is like a leopard curring low. They both are like beasts and sound awesome. J-45 is already a classic but I wonder how J-15 will do from here.
I played a J-15 yesterday at GC. It had walnut back and sides. It sounded way to thin compared to other guitars with rosewood. It had superb action, but the sound made me not take it home.. Ended up with Martin. What else?
I can hear more bass in the J-45 but it is not worth the money for me for that little difference. In a perfect world of course I would go J-45, but the J-15 I will be very happy with! Love the midrange that the J-15 brings to the table and it pulled me away from similar priced Taylors.
Here in Puerto Rico we dont have too many quality guitar store the only one is the guitar boutique and they only sale martins and Taylors but not gibson
I actually own both; at first I bought a 2016 J15 and recentrly I bought a J45 50's ebony from 2023 and I both like them very much. I just bought the J45 because I'm greedy and suffering from GAS and wanted the "original" 🙂 But to be honest I also very much like my Martin D18 and my Yamaha FGX5 which sounds quite similar to the J45.
I got to play both of these beautiful guitars at guitar center, and you can't hear 100% of difference on video. there is a pretty big sound difference between these two when playing they both sound awesome but it depends on what you are looking for.
Thanks for the great comparison! Is there in difference in the quality of the construction? I know the have different materials but are they put together with the same quality of their higher end models?
The old saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind after watching this video. Without a doubt, the J45 sounded like the more musical, professional of the 2. That said, the J15 was pretty darn good at the price point.
I have got the J-15. I like the "composite" maple-walnut neck and the fact that this guitar is made of "local" wood and no endangered tree species was used to make this fine instrument feels somehow good too. The price difference between the J-15 and J-45 (natural version, which is cheaper than the sunburst version presented here) is just 200 EUR here in Europe, yet for this money I have got the L.R. Baggs Anthem SL (contains the Element pickup + internal mic) and replaced the simple undersaddle Element pickup that comes with the J-15. I have also cut a new nut and a saddle from the vintage (unbleached) bone - it goes color-wise very nicely together with the creamy binding and sounds good too. Still some money was left for nice bone pins to replace the plastic ones. Finally I exposed my J-15 to several days of ToneRite treatment. I am very happy with the result.
In a band the 15, solo singer songwriter the 45. This is the most similar I've heard of these compared though. The biggest difference was the 15 was slightly out of tune or poor intonation on some of the chords.
Let the strings on both get a week old and the J-15 will just sound better because it's brighter. Most folks don't change strings every day or after each sesssion. But but the J-45 looks a lot better.....
One of each for me?But seriously, these sound very different. I like both quite a bit. The warmer/softer toned J45 speaks to me the most when I think of sitting about strumming, but the J15 would cut through other players better, in all likelihood.Different tools to do different jobs.
The J15 is definitely warmer, more balanced across the tonal spectrum when flat picked. The J45 treble sounds ice picky by comparison. J15's are a steal!
mahogany brings out fuller tone and the cord definition is clearer, I wonder if the 15 had rosewood Fretb & Bridge with bone nut & saddle which might bring out more of the walnut tone? just saying!
In the words of Andy Griffith, "Whoo Boy! That's some mighty fine pickin'!" I wanted to hear some good picking with the J15 and all the other reviews were bashing. Did not sell me on the guitar. Hearing the sweet noise you brought out in the J15 sold me. Thanks Tony!
I have a J-45. I can always hear the difference, even on TH-cam. But that doesn't make it better than any other guitar, just distinctive. I also have a cheaper Martin that plays just as great & sounds even better/louder on the low notes. I guess it depends on what sound you want to make.
DX-1. Sounds/plays awesome. My dad plays too & has a D-18 & a Hummingbird. I'd say the D-18 is better, but you can sure tell they're made by the same folks.
You can't hear the real timbre of the guitar on TH-cam and once you plug them in, they sound identical if the pickup is the same. Nothing sounds like a J-45 even the more expensive ones. Mahogany! So much for being nice guys - no embedding allowed.
So the J-15 is a Studio with Walnut back and sides and the J-45 is a Standard with Mahogany back and sides which I think is an unfair comparison, can you do a J-15 Standard vs a J-45 Standard comparison ?
It's really tough to make an actual comparison. Gibsons are very inconsistent these days. I've played J-45's that sounded terrible, J-15's that sounded awesome, and vice-versa. It really depends on the actual guitar you've got in your hands.
I might add to this that it may not be a quality control/inconsistency issue, but simply a matter of strings. I bought my J-15 in Feb. 2018. I loved the tone of the guitar and chose it over the 3 J45s I played that day. I loved the presence in the mids, and the dry thump on the low end. So I bought it. As the strings wore out, it lost the punch and had that dead-string-sound, as do all guitars. So I decided to try some D'Addario PB strings I had on hand. I hated the tone. So I bought some Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 strings. Still didn't like the tone. Tried some Martin PBs, Elixir Polywebs both PB and 80/20s. None of them really recaptured the tone and easy resonance I remembered from the store, so I went ahead and ordered some Gibson MB 80/20 strings that came on it from the factory and it sang just like it did when I bought it. It seems that the J-15 is made for those strings. Of course, that's just my experience, but I can say with confidence that the strings can and do make a noticeable difference in the tone and feel of my guitar. Maybe another person would prefer the tone of some, or any of those other strings I had on there, but for me the factory strings sound far superior, and there's a noticeable distinction between fresh and old strings as well. All that just to say, a guitar can sound awesome or dull, overly bright or overly warm, crisp and dry or muddled and tinny, and a simple change of strings may be all the difference.
for the money there are way better sounding acoustics.. i think people buy J-45 because its a Gibson, and lots of famous people (kinda) play them/wear them its a fashion statement and a status symbol.
Is the J45 worth the extra $700? Im looking for a higher quality acoustic guitar within the 1500-2000 range and wondering if I should just keep my money.
+Calvin D If you like the walnut guitar, buy the walnut guitar...If you like the mahogany guitar, buy the mahogany guitar...It's the difference in the cost of the materials that make the difference in the price...
That was my experience playing a couple different ones as well. I bought a Martin HD-28 and had bank account depression remorse, and I tried to justify spending a little less on a used J-45. But I couldn't do it. It didn't compare. Yet, I see so much love for them online. I've always wanted one until I played it. The J-15 doesn't look as cool, but the one I played sounded better.
I am not sure why you are equating their financials with their quality of craftsmanship. Bozeman, MT plant consistently puts out high quality instruments that get overwhelming positive reviews. I think their financial woes are due to a lack of business acumen not lack of consistent quality. The problem Gibson has is that they've priced themselves out of most casual players' budgets. The J-15 was closer to reality for most people when it was introduced at $1500. They're now hovering around $2K and Gibson is losing customers who might have been interested...and that's the lesson that Gibson doesn't seem to learn from. But their guitars are hit or miss? That hasn't been my experience at all, and I don't think it's correct to say that their quality control is poor just because their financials are in bad shape. Most "bad" sounding Gibsons can be brought to life with a simple set-up and a fresh set of strings.
Are the archtops coming out of Bozeman? (I honestly don't know the answer, I'm not baiting you) We are talking about Gibson Acoustics, all of which come from the Montana plant, and from all reports, Bozeman turns out consistently high quality guitars.
J-45 is a warm, woody tone. its meant to not be too loud so you can strum hard without drowning out your band or friends. i absolutely love its mellow tone, not every guitar player wants a D-28 in your face cannon shouting thru the mic drowning out the band. A mellow song with backing vocals requires a mellow guitar that fits in the mix rather than overpowers it. Johnny Cash had one and he strummed like a madman on his j-50 and never overpowered his band. For his D-28, he had to dial it back a bit.
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I have a J-15 and honestly, it is the best sounding acoustic guitar I have ever played for the money. I tried it next to a J45 and could not tell the difference. Punches way above its weight! As stated below, I am sure in time it will age well.
I thought the j15 sounded brighter until that final strumming section. The j45 on the final strumming had more high end present
I bought the J15 a week ago. It may look plain but it packs some serious punch 👊 and it's very dynamic. I suspect it might become a classic.
If you're thinking about getting one, get one. You will love it. Everyone loves it.
Bought a J15 with the burst, best guitar i've ever owned
still enjoying you J15 ??? i'm wanting to get one ...
... but i dont know if i should wait a bit more (or sell my kidney) to buy a J45 !!! lol ...
for what i hear from demos on internet J15 it sounds me better than J45 for my taste !!!
thanks from Portugal
@@u2acrobata I bought a j-15 after playing a southern jumbo and a j-45 studio in mahogany, of those three the j-15 was best sounding and loudest. My 15 is still better than most of the j-45 I’ve played but I did play one 45 that was absolutely amazing, would stand up to any guitar. You really need to play the guitar first if you can because there is a lot of variation and sometimes you pick one up that will sing to you, that’s the one to get no matter what model or make.
They both sound great! I just bought the J-15 yesterday! I always thought for sure I'd end up with a Martin, but I loved this one. After years of playing friends and husbands guitars - I finally have my own guitar. :)
Hell yeah!
I have had a j15 for 3 or 4 years now. Best gutar I own.
I've played both and I personally think the J15 sounds the best. I'm actually returning my Taylor 210e to pick up a J15
Have you been happy with your J15. Like you, I have been considering the 210, 314ce, D-18 and short scale Gibbys. Just not sure. I do not like the new V brace thing that Taylor did that kills the base.
My J-45 has been my primary gigging guitar for the last seventeen years, and it sounds amazing. That said, I have played a couple of J-15's and wouldn't hesitate to gig with one. As a matter of fact, it would make more sense for bar gigs, since it's cheaper and would be easier to replace if something happened. I believe that in fifteen or twenty years the J-15 will age into an amazing instrument, also.
I bought a new J15 yesterday. I haven't bought a new guitar in 7 years and was looking to get exactly what I wanted. The J15 is elegant and sounds wonderful through every string, up and down the neck. It outshined the others, IMO, and for the price it is a great value. It is a player's axe, yet still beautiful. I made the right choice.
I displease the crown Is it still holding up pretty good? I bought one yesterday. Just wondering if you’ve had any problems
I intended to go look at Martins and Taylors at Guitar center. I picked up a J-45 on a lark and was blown away by the tone and the most comfortable neck I've played. I compared a J-15 and J-35 at another store and took the J-15 home. Though not as lush sounding as the 45, the 15 fits the styles I play better. The 15 is about a grand less too.
I pretty much had the same experience, trying out Martins and Taylors, I just couldn't make up my mind, then I grabbed a J45 and instantly fell in love. it has much more of a mellower 'scooped' sound than Martins and Taylors, less edgy high mids. I suspect Martins and Taylors cut through the mix better than the J45, but the J45 leaves a nice acoustic space open for the vocals to sit in-between the rich bases and sparkling highs of the J45 (IMHO).
I have four Gibson acoustics: Two B-25's from the sixties. Neither guitar has the same qualities but, they have similarities. I have a '65' J-45, it is deep and warm. Also, I purchased a new J-35. It as well is deep and warm but, the forward AJ bracing gives it clearer highs, then the 45. None of tones are bad, just different and that is what I am hearing from this review from Tony. These guitars have similarities and differences. They are both great guitars and the comparison is the equivalent of: Apples and Oranges--they are both good for you and they both taste great. Both of these guitars are great and both have similar and different qualities. It comes down to how you play and what type of sound you are looking for in an instrument. My self, I will be purchasing the J-15, since I already have a 45, it will give the differences that I can use on stage and in the studio. My long-winded point is, that it does not have to be either or-for me it will be both. I love both of the sounds and I feel that the J-15, will hold its own in the long run of the test of time. There is a lot more guitar inside of both of these guitars that has yet to service.. Buy them both!
I've tried the J15, J35, J45. All had their own tone, but always ended up with the J15. By personal preference, i ended up buying the J15, not because of the price but of it's performance. Great guitar! If anyone needs a Gibson, go out and try them, certain models will surprise you. Excellent video by the way!
J15 is a beast!! J45 is quieter, “warmer” for sure, but the J15 Rips loud, soft, has dynamics. Also, with retro Nobel strings the J15 takes on quite a character that’s hard to match. Gibson messes you with it’s early low price point, and now the J15 is nearly $2k. My cousin tours and writes with a J45 Standard, and when I just caught up with them at a concert I brought my J15 to jam around with before the show. All the guys in the band lit up over the J15 and my cousins lead player started immediately writing progressions on it, and asked to borrow it haha I said buy one!
Nobel? Monel
We have to be clear: J45 is way brighter.
J15 is probably the darkest sounding and mid-focused dread made by Gibson.
exact opposite I find the 15 bright and thin...the 45 has a wider spectrum of sound!
@@soofitnsexy The 45 is louder and has a wider spectrum, simply because mahogany is more resonant. The 45 has more low presence and a mid-highs bump. That's why the 15 is more mid focused and more "flat" sounding. But please don't misunderstand the 45's bigger presence, the 45 is everything but dark! You can hear the louder highs of the 45 even through your iphone speaker!
@@soofitnsexy check out also this video th-cam.com/video/vL8vTDMFxGg/w-d-xo.html
@@acousticwalnut walnut carries more bass than mahogany. It’s closer to maple, but with a bit more warmth. One of the absolute BEST tone woods period to be used on an acoustic. The J45 has a specific quieter sound! Which is great for a lot of situations, but Gibson messed up a bit at first making the J15. It was so inexpensive to make because of the North American sourcing that they viewed it as an entry level guitar. But quickly, folks realized you could get a J45 (dimensions, bracing etc) but with wayyyyy more guts, and emotion. If you think about it, a maple neck on an Gibson acoustic starts at the Dove, reserved for very high end guitars. A Taylor with the same build specs of the J15 is a custom ship, $5000 guitar.
@@jonnydevore3089 Here in Europe J15 burst and J45 are very similar pricing. 100/200€ difference. J15 is a bit cheaper because of different pickup and mechanics. But the price difference is so little that it isn't something you should consider.
About the bass: Walnut has tighter and deeper bass, while the mahogany has more "boom". J45 sounds fatter, J15 sounds more "americana".
I just tried both of these this week. The J15 is a very nice guitar. It actually played pretty well with no setup and I liked it.The J45 is a different animal in person. More resonant with deeper bass and much louder. I think the 15 is a great guitar for the money.
I tried both just yesterday. In my case, J15 sound volume was mach louder then j45. But j45 was deeper.
For the money....
For the money. Always find that phrase insulting.
Just aquired a j-15 and using gibson master built 80/20 12-53 strings and holding close to my body while strumming hard it makes my moustache vibrate to where I have to stop a scratch it!!!! Never had a guitar do that... In 43 years of playing.... This is the best guitar experience and joy I've felt just strumming and holding out expressive single notes that has made me realize that big money doesn't always buy content! Very happy with mine!!
Love the mustache bit 😅
The J15 sounds brighter, and the J45 sounds warmer and fuller. I personally like the '45, but the '15 is a great guitar!
Fuller? What does that really mean?
The J-15 is awesome, and i´ll go with that, it´s kind of more my sound it has a more kind of kick in it :D
@acousticletter I recently picked up a Gibson J45 studio. It's a GREAT guitar!!
I own a J15 and while I still love a j45 I have fallen in love with my j15. I use it often in a live situation and it's rich mids cut beautifully in a full band setting. It also records very nicely. It's got it's own vibe which I love. Both of these guitars are great.
Im going to try one soon.I think you're right about the mids.Not quite as scooped as the J45 and probably makes it more cutting in a session.Maybe the right Gibson for a Martin player..
The J-15 is such a sleeper guitar. Used they are going for around $1,300. I have one, and was looking for a J-45; also have a Martin HD28-V. I gotta say, I prefer the J-15. Very balanced. Focused, but not bright. More full than the Martin, but the Martin is great… also $2,000 more. Compared to J-45s, the J-15 wins, hands down. I live right by Sweetwater, and I’ve played them all. From the Studio to the “Banner” era bad boy, and they are all boomy, far too dark for my taste, and most have a thick neck. The J-15 slim taper is perfect. With a hard shell case included. Doesn’t get any better… should be selling used for $2,000 or more… easily.
To my ears the J-45 has the brightness of the J-15 but with added depth which gives a more mature sound. I like them both, but I know I'd want to go home with the J-45 :)
They are both fantastic guitars! I would be happy with either...just wish Gibson wouldn't raise prices every year!
Hello, I have j15 so much power perfect for acoustic shows. What the blues fingerpicking at 2:26 please? Thanks
I think my J15 is a bless from God. I acquired it originally for practice while serving my previous church's Praise Team. Later I found this particular one was so good. I honestly thought it could match or even outperform a good J45 or Martin D28. Used it on stage for several years. I am not sure if every J15 was like mine. Its sound was so fine. It had mislead my team members who had mistaken that the AV team had been playing some amazing records while I was doing random solo in the background during the rehearsals. It also startled the technicians from various Guitar Centers every time I brought it in. I also received compliments from the congregation or even visiting pastors. In my current church after moving, I have turned mainly back into playing electric guitar with Gibson Les Paul Standard because there are two other acoustic guitarists here with no more seasoned electric guitarist. I still some time have the desire to bring that J15 back on stage.
I just played both. Both play like butter, with the shorter scale and the perfect neck (for me). J45 sounds like honey, J15 like cane sugar; for warmth and tonal richness you cannot beat the J45 but the J15 is certainly a winner. Much easier to play and control tone than my Martins, which are louder and chimier, but I swear I just fell in love with the J45. Its tonal richness and range is amazing. Don't believe the "fashion statement" put down. But I may be biased because I grew up with a J45 in the house. I wonder if anyone has the Blueridge BG140. I have the BR-160 and it hjas everything my old HD28 has.
The j-45 has all the versatility in the world. It's a hitter from country to blues to folk to acoustic rock and more. The mahogany fits it so well and with Gibson's exploration of different tone woods such as granadillo and English walnut you have a slew of j-45's where just about anyone can find one to deploy. We have standards, customs and limited editions with different tonewoods, as well as a slew of reissues or inspired by vintage j-45 models. But still, the j-45 isnt always In everyone's budget. In comes the j-15 or even the j-29 for some. The j15 gives you vintage slope shouldered body shape and size with a simple but beautiful look. The walnut on the j15 not only offers a wider range of people to own a true american made gibson acoustic and the iconic slope shoulder body, but with the tone wood being walnut it could even be another guitar for the already j45 owner while offering new sounds. I'm all for American guitar companies using more readily available woods to get the cost down so anyone can own a real deal american made guitar. The J-15s I've played have been outstanding. The feel is much like a j45 given it is a slope shoulder dreadnought, but the walnut gives it a different voice and a beautiful voice it is. I hope makers like Gibson and martin continue with these new cost efficient acoustics that still feel, look and sound 1,000 times better than anything being thrown together overseas.
The J45 sounds great. Nice and clear.
Played them both again today. The J 15 takes less work to get the volume and it has shimmering upper mids. The 45 is more straightforward and the notes are very singular and punchy but you have to dig in a little harder to get the volume. My guess is that a 45 when fully broken in will
Excellent comparison. Thank you for the wonderful video. It is so difficult to hear the so little difference it is unreal. Definitely my choice would be to save the difference of $1000 and buy the J-15.
They both sound lovely...its all in the fingers lads!
I actually like the j15 more. Just my type of sound ha
Me too.
At the music store I played them both, I like the, J-45, appearance, better. Each played nice and sounded great. I liked the, J-45, overall more, but not a 1000 bucks more. I went home with the J-15. After 3 months, this one is a keeper.
I love your guitar reviews, especially the side by side comparisons, they are the best. I bought the J15 two years ago and absolutely love it. Got it on Black Friday at 15% off list, best guitar I have by far.
I played both back to back at Samash just today and I will say the tale of the tape is far different than live in person I much prefer the j15 the walnut is sweet and warm paired with the clarity of spruce top and maple neck it rocks for $1499.
I like both. The 45 sounds slightly warmer to me while the 15 sounds brighter. I'd be happy with either one!
Walnut is brighter than mahogany, that's why the J15 is brighter
Has anyone considered Eastman guitars?I bought a second hand E8D for £540 (sterling British pounds)and sounds like a very expensive Martin/Gibson hybrid guitar,well worth checking out.
I own 2 top of the line eastmans and they are stunning guitars.
PUKE!....AND FUCK CHINA!!!
there are some differences.. but i still think they are both good enough to my ear..
YEAH A FOOTBALL!!!.Ralphys answer to santa clause in the movie the Christmas story is how I would explain this comparison,You may get caught up in the beautiful sound of the J15 but you will end up settling and most likely wanting after you purchase one..The walnut steals the tight focused notes that the J45 is famous for.. The highs are not as crisp, it adds a boxy sound to the mids and the lows are more bloomy.We are getting into D18 territory here.
I have both. They were good, not great, with stock features. Swapped out nut and saddle for bone. Took off the J-45 "flubber" pick guard. After all the customizing, the J-15 is my #1
J45 seams brighter. More tingy in a good way. Botha sound great.
What song is he playing around 2:30!? Sounds so familiar and I’d love to learn it.
I've played them both and although I could afford the J45, I went with the J15. The price was right and in a blindfold test I doubt that most could tell the difference without it being a lucky guess. I also own a Martin DRS2 and a Martin 000X1AE and I still like the J15 better than the Martins.
All depend of you do with. If you're looking for a strummer, I definitely oriented you to the J-15, but if you want a swiss knife, go with the J-45, a true value. I personnaly kept the J-15 to strum on stage and for fingerpicking, I prefer the OM model
Bought an J 15 two hours ago. Sounds great. J45 is a bit brighter.
I personally like the mahogany over the walnut. I do have a J15, but my mahogany is a Martin. All mahogany, front, neck, everything. i think I just prefer the warmer sound of it. The J15 is a great bang for the buck tho.
I just brought a j15 left hand one nice sound
J45 is a little warmer but i like the J15...I wasn't watching the video and I knew which one was which...the1E sting is a little flat on the J15.....all of your reviews are excellent straight and to the point..no over talking...and then great playing.....
J-45 sounds to me like, a tiger that's growling with its teeth showing, and J-15 is like a leopard curring low. They both are like beasts and sound awesome. J-45 is already a classic but I wonder how J-15 will do from here.
Taehyun Yim The J-15 and the J-45 Standard have the exact same bracing the only difference is the sound of the Walnut & Mahogany back and sides
I would love have the j45 it looks as good as it sounds and it sounds great.
I played a J-15 yesterday at GC. It had walnut back and sides. It sounded way to thin compared to other guitars with rosewood. It had superb action, but the sound made me not take it home.. Ended up with Martin. What else?
I guess you love a lot of bass
They both sound and play amazing but I couldn't justify the £500 price difference. I bought the J-15. The J-45 wins on looks though...
I bought the first year Gibson J-15 2014 they used custom woods that were highly flamed and had the word Custom Shop on the back of the headstock
I can hear more bass in the J-45 but it is not worth the money for me for that little difference. In a perfect world of course I would go J-45, but the J-15 I will be very happy with! Love the midrange that the J-15 brings to the table and it pulled me away from similar priced Taylors.
Here in Puerto Rico we dont have too many quality guitar store the only one is the guitar boutique and they only sale martins and Taylors but not gibson
What's the scale in the open position at around 2:00 anyone please?
Why does the soundhole on the J-45 look larger than on the J-15?
It's the colour of the guitar on j45
Seems like there was a period of time where the dude responsible for sticking on the J45 pickguards was getting it so wrong...
I actually own both; at first I bought a 2016 J15 and recentrly I bought a J45 50's ebony from 2023 and I both like them very much. I just bought the J45 because I'm greedy and suffering from GAS and wanted the "original" 🙂 But to be honest I also very much like my Martin D18 and my Yamaha FGX5 which sounds quite similar to the J45.
The warmth of mahogany sound of J45
i joined up on the website but can't find the tabs for the demos you use in the vids?.
Yes. The J15 sounds good. But the J45 sounds like what everything else gets compared to. It's like a home to come back to. that J45 sound. Thanks Tony
yessss
I got to play both of these beautiful guitars at guitar center, and you can't hear 100% of difference on video. there is a pretty big sound difference between these two when playing they both sound awesome but it depends on what you are looking for.
Thanks for the great comparison! Is there in difference in the quality of the construction? I know the have different materials but are they put together with the same quality of their higher end models?
The price difference is mostly because of different pickup and tuners www.linkpicture.com/q/j15-j45-comparison.jpg
What's a good price for a J15 EC Roseburst?
Great great great compaeison! I must admit that I will have to try one of those J-15s... are they in sunburst as well?
No
Only Solid Sitka Spruce Tops
Sitka spruce can be sunburst too 🙂
The old saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind after watching this video. Without a doubt, the J45 sounded like the more musical, professional of the 2. That said, the J15 was pretty darn good at the price point.
I have got the J-15. I like the "composite" maple-walnut neck and the fact that this guitar is made of "local" wood and no endangered tree species was used to make this fine instrument feels somehow good too. The price difference between the J-15 and J-45 (natural version, which is cheaper than the sunburst version presented here) is just 200 EUR here in Europe, yet for this money I have got the L.R. Baggs Anthem SL (contains the Element pickup + internal mic) and replaced the simple undersaddle Element pickup that comes with the J-15. I have also cut a new nut and a saddle from the vintage (unbleached) bone - it goes color-wise very nicely together with the creamy binding and sounds good too. Still some money was left for nice bone pins to replace the plastic ones. Finally I exposed my J-15 to several days of ToneRite treatment. I am very happy with the result.
In a band the 15, solo singer songwriter the 45. This is the most similar I've heard of these compared though. The biggest difference was the 15 was slightly out of tune or poor intonation on some of the chords.
The J15 is bassier but the J45 has a bit more clarity
Please, what's the song he played at 2:25?
That song is: The Last Steam Train Engine by, John Fahey. Listen to Leo Kottke's version, it is the best.
Let the strings on both get a week old and the J-15 will just sound better because it's brighter. Most folks don't change strings every day or after each sesssion. But but the J-45 looks a lot better.....
One of each for me?But seriously, these sound very different. I like both quite a bit. The warmer/softer toned J45 speaks to me the most when I think of sitting about strumming, but the J15 would cut through other players better, in all likelihood.Different tools to do different jobs.
I own a j15.. if you want a bright tone like a j45 wack 10 or 11 gauge strings on it. The j15 kicks ass
The J-45 sounds a bit deeper. That's because of the mahogany back and sides. The J-15 sounds more articulated due to the walnut back and sides.
The J15 is definitely warmer, more balanced across the tonal spectrum when flat picked. The J45 treble sounds ice picky by comparison. J15's are a steal!
Tony you have excelent videos
about price/quality ofcourse the j15 win but i think the J45 create a beter sound
Seems the J-15 is an upgrade to the J-45 in almost every way. Nice guitar!
Not really.
both good. J45 is a cleaner tone. id take either one
J45 ever so slightly warmer, but I don't think there's so much in it that EQ wouldn't fix... warm up the J15 a little and hey presto, you have a J45.
mahogany brings out fuller tone and the cord definition is clearer, I wonder if the 15 had rosewood Fretb & Bridge with bone nut & saddle which might bring out more of the walnut tone? just saying!
The J-15 sounds "raw" to me, the J-45 more "refined". The J-45 has more character. This is all very subjective, I know. I much prefer the J-45 sound.
My thougjts exactly
In the words of Andy Griffith, "Whoo Boy! That's some mighty fine pickin'!" I wanted to hear some good picking with the J15 and all the other reviews were bashing. Did not sell me on the guitar. Hearing the sweet noise you brought out in the J15 sold me. Thanks Tony!
SO YOU FINALLY FOUND A VID THAT JUSTIFIES YOUR CHEAPER GUITAR..CONGRATS
45の方が伸びやかでニュアンスが聞き取りやすいですね。15は中音域が強い。どちらも良い音ですが。
J45はちょっと暖かく聞こえますが、余分な$ 500を費やさずにJ45とJ15の音を聞く余裕はありませんでした。私はまた、それが少し良く見えると思う
Y U Y U thank you for your opinion.
Love the J-45 full punch. If you could do a review of a Martin OM-21 that would be awesome tony.
I have a J-45. I can always hear the difference, even on TH-cam. But that doesn't make it better than any other guitar, just distinctive. I also have a cheaper Martin that plays just as great & sounds even better/louder on the low notes. I guess it depends on what sound you want to make.
wich "cheaper Martin" do you have? Martin DM?
DX-1. Sounds/plays awesome. My dad plays too & has a D-18 & a Hummingbird. I'd say the D-18 is better, but you can sure tell they're made by the same folks.
You can never go wrong with a J-45. Mine is 10 years old and sounds great!!!
Basically identical sound. Any differences. Could be attributed to different strings on one. Or newer strings
they both sound great even through a video i would go with the j45 because i think it has a little more of a deeper acoustic sound just my opinion
You can't hear the real timbre of the guitar on TH-cam and once you plug them in, they sound identical if the pickup is the same. Nothing sounds like a J-45 even the more expensive ones. Mahogany! So much for being nice guys - no embedding allowed.
So the J-15 is a Studio with Walnut back and sides and the J-45 is a Standard with Mahogany back and sides which I think is an unfair comparison, can you do a J-15 Standard vs a J-45 Standard comparison ?
I thought the J45 sounded a little better...crisper. but honestly, they both sound great.
It's really tough to make an actual comparison. Gibsons are very inconsistent these days. I've played J-45's that sounded terrible, J-15's that sounded awesome, and vice-versa. It really depends on the actual guitar you've got in your hands.
I might add to this that it may not be a quality control/inconsistency issue, but simply a matter of strings. I bought my J-15 in Feb. 2018. I loved the tone of the guitar and chose it over the 3 J45s I played that day. I loved the presence in the mids, and the dry thump on the low end. So I bought it. As the strings wore out, it lost the punch and had that dead-string-sound, as do all guitars. So I decided to try some D'Addario PB strings I had on hand. I hated the tone. So I bought some Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 strings. Still didn't like the tone. Tried some Martin PBs, Elixir Polywebs both PB and 80/20s. None of them really recaptured the tone and easy resonance I remembered from the store, so I went ahead and ordered some Gibson MB 80/20 strings that came on it from the factory and it sang just like it did when I bought it. It seems that the J-15 is made for those strings. Of course, that's just my experience, but I can say with confidence that the strings can and do make a noticeable difference in the tone and feel of my guitar. Maybe another person would prefer the tone of some, or any of those other strings I had on there, but for me the factory strings sound far superior, and there's a noticeable distinction between fresh and old strings as well. All that just to say, a guitar can sound awesome or dull, overly bright or overly warm, crisp and dry or muddled and tinny, and a simple change of strings may be all the difference.
i would have to go with the J-45 in my personal opinion
for the money there are way better sounding acoustics.. i think people buy J-45 because its a Gibson, and lots of famous people (kinda) play them/wear them its a fashion statement and a status symbol.
Is the J45 worth the extra $700? Im looking for a higher quality acoustic guitar within the 1500-2000 range and wondering if I should just keep my money.
+Calvin D If you like the walnut guitar, buy the walnut guitar...If you like the mahogany guitar, buy the mahogany guitar...It's the difference in the cost of the materials that make the difference in the price...
Wow, weird to see all the J-45 love. I thought the J-45 sounded both muffled and tinny at the same time.
Exactly!
That was my experience playing a couple different ones as well. I bought a Martin HD-28 and had bank account depression remorse, and I tried to justify spending a little less on a used J-45. But I couldn't do it. It didn't compare. Yet, I see so much love for them online. I've always wanted one until I played it. The J-15 doesn't look as cool, but the one I played sounded better.
I am not sure why you are equating their financials with their quality of craftsmanship. Bozeman, MT plant consistently puts out high quality instruments that get overwhelming positive reviews. I think their financial woes are due to a lack of business acumen not lack of consistent quality. The problem Gibson has is that they've priced themselves out of most casual players' budgets. The J-15 was closer to reality for most people when it was introduced at $1500. They're now hovering around $2K and Gibson is losing customers who might have been interested...and that's the lesson that Gibson doesn't seem to learn from. But their guitars are hit or miss? That hasn't been my experience at all, and I don't think it's correct to say that their quality control is poor just because their financials are in bad shape. Most "bad" sounding Gibsons can be brought to life with a simple set-up and a fresh set of strings.
Are the archtops coming out of Bozeman? (I honestly don't know the answer, I'm not baiting you) We are talking about Gibson Acoustics, all of which come from the Montana plant, and from all reports, Bozeman turns out consistently high quality guitars.
J-45 is a warm, woody tone. its meant to not be too loud so you can strum hard without drowning out your band or friends. i absolutely love its mellow tone, not every guitar player wants a D-28 in your face cannon shouting thru the mic drowning out the band. A mellow song with backing vocals requires a mellow guitar that fits in the mix rather than overpowers it. Johnny Cash had one and he strummed like a madman on his j-50 and never overpowered his band. For his D-28, he had to dial it back a bit.
love the j15, great video
Both sound great.