 |
Gibson has painstakingly reproduced this knockout vintage acoustic down to the minute details. |
The Gibson Legends version of the J-45 acoustic guitar handles music from the blues to bluegrass, to folk, to pop, and everything in between. The Gibson J-45 is one of the most played and cherished acoustic guitars in history. This J-45 remake is hand crafted by Gibson luthiers using techniques from the J-45 guitar's heyday. The Legend J-45 boasts an Adirondack spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides to produce unmatched mellow, full-bodied tone.
Did you ever have one of the "what if" conversations? Like, "what if I won the lottery" kind of things. Some 3 years ago the luthiers at Gibson's acoustic guitar plant in Bozeman, Montana had one of those conversations. It went sort of like this: "What if we could go back in time and build a brand new guitar exactly the way they were built back then".
Well, nothing gets the juices flowing like a challenge like that, so the quest was on: find the best sounding, original, mint condition Gibson acoustic guitar from the "vintage years," and build a limited number of guitars today employing the same materials, the same types of tools, same specs, you name it. The plan was to build a new vintage guitar!
After a long search, a mint, 1942 Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar was located. Owned by renowned acoustic guitar expert and author Eldon Whitford, the guitar was perfect. It was historically significant, as 1942 was the first year of production for the J-45 guitar. The fact that the J-45 is the number one selling acoustic guitar in Gibson's history didn't hurt either! Mr. Whitford was kind enough to loan the guitar to Gibson for a painstakingly thorough examination. The guitar went through both X-ray and CAT scans to accurately determine the bracing patterns and wood thickness. The glue and finish were chemically analyzed. To make a long story short, Gibson learned everything about that guitar. The result? The Gibson Legend Series 1942 J-45 Acoustic Guitar.
Let's start with the body of the J-45 reissue guitar. The Gibson round shoulder body shape is believed by many players to be the best sounding Gibson acoustic guitar ever made. The gently rounded upper bout keeps the highs clean and precise, while the deep lower bout ensures that famous Gibson bottom end. The body is constructed of solid, premium grade Honduran mahogany. The top is solid Adirondack spruce. Both the top and back are gently radiused to provide tension to the wood. This makes the wood vibrate (like a tuned drumhead), and as a result, projection and definition are greatly enhanced.
The J-45 guitar's beefy, hand shaped neck is one piece of select premium grade mahogany, set with Gibson's famous double dovetail neck joint for a lifelong tight fit. Hot hide glue is used in the construction, not synthetic glue like many of today's guitars. Hide glue is organic, and thinner. It makes for a better wood-to-wood construction, without a thick layer of adhesive to impede the guitar's vibration.
The top bracing is exactly like the original, all carved and shaped by hand, even with the tooling marks still present, just as in 1942. The lightweight, wide "X" bracing ensures a guitar top that vibrates easily and sound that sustains!
The reissue J-45 guitar's fingerboard is rare Madagascar rosewood, graced with vintage style frets, .082" wide by .093" high. The fingerboard also has mother-of-pearl dot inlays, again, just like the original. The bridge is Madagascar rosewood, too. Both the nut and saddle are bone to maximize string vibration transfer.
The gorgeous Vintage Sunburst color is finished off with vintage style McFadden nitrocellulose lacquer. McFadden lacquer is the thinnest, and lightest lacquer used by Gibson, and it matches the original extremely closely.
Gibson supplies the Legends J-45 guitar with a recreation of the 1942 style handmade Red Line guitar case. This case replicates every detail of the original, down to the purple flannel liner and nickel hardware. Gibson also includess a signed certificate of authenticity. An engineering drawing of the original 1942 J-45, based on Gibson's x-ray examination of the J-45 owned by Eldon Whitford, is on the reverse of the certificate.
Many who have tried the Gibson Legends J-45 Acoustic Guitar think it actually sounds better than the original! This is truly a unique opportunity to own a piece of guitar history.
Gibson 1942 J-45 Legend Acoustic Guitar Features:
- Body: Solid, Premium Grade Honduran Mahogany
- Top: Solid, hand selected Adirondack Spruce
- Bracing: Exact replica of Gibson's 1940s bracing dimensions, down to the saw-blade marks
- Neck: Exact replica of Gibson's 1942 large "V" neck. One-Piece Honduran Mahogany, 24.75" scale
- Fingerboard: Madagascar Rosewood, with Mother of Pearl inlays
- Nut: 1.725" wide, Bone
- Bridge: Madagascar Rosewood, bone saddle
- Tuners: German "Kluson" nickel plated tuning machines, custom made white "button" tuners
- Pickguard: 1940's style celluloid. "Firestripe" pattern
- Finish: Ultra thin "McFadden" nitrocellulose lacquer
- Included: Custom, hand made 1940's style "red Stripe" hardshell case, signed certificate of authenticity.
Gibson 1942 J-45 Legend Acoustic Guitar Includes:
- Includes Custom handmade 1940's style "red Stripe" hardshell case.
Gibson revives their celebrated dreadnought acoustic guitar from the '40s. Order today!
Gibson 1942 J-45 Legend Acoustic Guitar
Write A Review
Average of 2 User Ratings
Overall
Quality
Features
Value
Customer Reviews
Overall
Quality
Features
Value
Been Playing this for 13 years
Posted by Gibson Picker from San Diego, CA on Aug 6, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz
This guitar plays like a dream. Will need some fret work soon, but the action is still great! Also, I have played the Gibson Humming Bird guitar which is very nice as well. Be prepared to pay the price for a quality guitar which will hold their value for many years to come.
Overall
Quality
Features
Value
Excellent Guitar
Posted by Captain P from New Smyrna Beach, FL on Jul 27, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Variety
This guitar is extremely versatile, and plays smoothly and beautifully, with a wonderful action. This is one of my favorites out of my personal quiver. I highly recommend. :)
If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.
Gibson 1942 J-45 Legend Acoustic Guitar
Read 2 Reviews
Experience The Musician's Friend Advantage
Shop With Confidence - enjoy the protection of the Musician's Friend Advantage before and after the sale!
We'll Beat Any Price!
We'll beat any verifiable advertised price before or after the sale. Call 866-462-9293 for an unbeatable price quote.
45-Day Lowest Price Guarantee
If you find a lower advertised price within 45 days of your purchase, we'll refund the difference after verification. Some products are excluded. 45-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee & No-Hassle Return Policy
If you are not completely satisfied with any product, return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of your choice – no hassles! Stringed instruments priced at $1999 or more have a special policy. On-Time Delivery Guarantee
If you don't get your gear on time, shipping is free and you get 20% off your next order. Details »Help & Support
Questions or comments? Email or call us at 800-391-8762.
This Item Ships Free!
- retailerId
- 2cd1722b
- view
-
- productId
- 513692
|
