Gibson J-50 Deluxe

I bought mine new in 1972. It's probably a '71 model. Original hardshell case.
The finish is great . . . it still looks like a new guitar. Made in Kalamazoo.
Spruce top, mahogany everything else.
Even though this guitar has zero "features" I rated it "9" because that's the way I wanted it when I bought it.

Like others have said, the J-50 is not the loudest guitar on the block, but it sounds fabulous! Great for condenser mic recording. I use it in the studio over more expensive guitars.

Very few guitars arrive from the factory set up the best that they can be.
However, after Billy Gallant (Gallant Guitars, Hoover, Alabama) laid his hands on it I defy you to find a better playing six-string (acoustic OR electric) anywhere.
I own lots of guitars and this is still my over-all favorite because of the action and tone.

One small flaw . . . you can see every brace under the spruce top due to the particular hide glue being used at the time. They show up as slightly darker stripes in the spruce. I've heard these called "Zebra Tops".

I have gigged with this guitar more times than I can count. It even got dragged off the stage one night by a drunk bassist and suffered no ill effects.
Absolutely dependable!

I've never had to talk to them (and I own other Gibsons).

Been gigging about 44 years (I'm 59).
I own LOTS of gear, and still my J-50 is my baby!
Plays like butter, sounds wonderful

73-75 J-50 Deluxe.Gibson's version of a Martin d-18 in my opinion.Solid spruce top with solid mahoghany body.Big 70's gibson headstock with the original kluson tuners.Odd tortise shell binding around the body which has cracked in a few places.It has a nicely aged top,but has a crack at the top of the soundhole.This is common on this model.big black pickguard,just like the old j-50's.Medium frets in good shape.A nice comfortable neck,which makes it quite easy to play.The depth of the lower end of the body appears a little shallower then most drednaughts.

It has a punchy yet mellow tone,Which makes it good for singing accompiniment.Not a very loud guitar.If you're looking for a cannon this isn't it.I also sing ,so this guitar doesn't drown me out on softer songs.I consider that a bonus.I play a combination of percussive strumming and fingerpicking.It handles both styles well ,more suited for pick work.I ordered a pickup for it.Curious to hear it through a P.A when I play in clubs.Right now ,it sounds nice around the campfire.I have had some of my guitar playing friends try it out.Between us there is many years of experience and some nice vintage acoustics.all have been impressed with it's playability.The other night 3 of us sat around a table jamming.One 70' Martin D-28,a 57' Gibson J-45(what a guitar) and the J-50 deluxe held it's own with those monsters.I find this guitar needs just the right brand of strings to make it open up.currently a set of Dean Marley vintage bronze ML is on it. In my opinion,these work on this guitar.I'm still experimenting.John Pearse Silk and Bronze next.

Well,this was an E-Bay purchase.I absolutely rescued this guitar.I don't think it had ever been set-up or even cleaned since it's original purchase in the early 70's.There was enough cheese on the fretboard to make a cake.Broken strap buttons.and the big job ,a lifting bridge(also very common on these guitars).I called a friend of mine who is a very good luthier and asked him if he could repair it.He said he was so busy it would take 2 months to even look at it.Getting as much info out of him as he knew about bridge repair,I tried it myself.After hours of work,I had the bridge removed,cleaned up and re-set.I'm very happy with the job I did.There is only horse hide glue holding these on.No screws.Which makes them more prone to let loose after time.Anyway,after the bridge issue,I dressed the frets,cleaned and oiled the tuners and removed a small, glued on Barcus -Berry soundboard pickup and did 5 or 6 neck adjustments,installed new strap buttons,scraped and oiled the fretboard,re-glued the pickguard,re-glued the nut,sanded the saddle,the guitar came back to life.Good thing I enjoy repairing guitars.I'd give the guitar a 2 for fit and finish when I got it.Now I think it's worthy of an 8 or 9.

After the repairs,I think this guitar will be a reliable guitar.I plan on using it at gigs.I always have a backup.

I've owned a Gibson ES-335 for 23 years and have never had to contact them.Hope I never have to.

I have been playing for 26 years.I own lots of gear.I won't get into that.I was half cut when I purchased this.I wish I would have asked more questions.Luckily,it is now a nice guitar.I would buy one again.This guitar has the mojo.It's not as nice as a slope shoulder J-45 or Advanced Jumbo,but it's a nice acoustic in it's own right.These guitars were built when Gibson was going through an identity crisis.They started messing with tried and true designs and ended up losing respect from their customers.Guitars of this era are hit and miss.I hope you check it out better then I did before buying.On the plus side,you can find acoustics like this and get yourself a vintage Gibson at a decent price.

I have a j-50 deluxe made sometime between '73 and '75. Kalamazo, MI. It is in fairly decent shape. It had some repaires to the top and tailpiece re-glued, but done very well. All original. Original machine heads still work great. Original nut in good shape too.

I like this guitar quite a bit. Doesn't project much, and the mids are not very present. The lows and highs are smooth. It is for these reasons that I bought it actually, I figured it would make a great recording guitar because of its' lack of "boominess", I was right, it is great for open mike recording. Very soft sound. Probably not the best guitar for Non-miked performance.

Plays great!!! I lowered the action via truss rod when I got it, but I like to retain some nice relief around the 9th fret. Neck feels much like gibson electrics. The frets are getting a little worn, but what do you expect at this age. A re-fret will be in order soon. Intonation is good but the 6th string goes flat at around the 7th fret. One thing I must say is that every note on the guitar is musical sounding...sometimes you get a guitar that sounds great in lower frequencies but harsh in the uppers or nice in the uppers and weak in the lower register. This guitar is very well rounded.

As long as it is not abused it will last forever.

N/A

This is not the greatest guitar ever made, but for under $500 nothing comes close. It is unique sounding and very musical (which is what it is all about right?) Great for recording, a little too soft for live without a PA. I have been playing for about 18 years. I am a professional guitarist. I own alot of other gear, this guitar stands among some of my favorites.

My Gibson was made in 67' and is still in good shape. Although it has some wear and tear from past playing, it still looks great. THe top is a solid Oak top, and its neck looks like Maple. I cant say the finish because when I bought it, in 1997, it had no finish. The strings were quite old so I had them replaced twice, now its sounding as great as it should.

The Sound in this guitar is a full Rich sound. It suits me for when I am playing acoustic, and its great for playing with others. If you like country or blues, or rock and roll, this is a great guitar for you.

I had a little buzzing of the strings, then I got it fixed up, but it still has a little buzzing when hit hard.

I hope this guitar will follow me throughout my guitaring years, (considering that I am 14 years old)!

I have never called customer support

This guitar is great!

My J-50 was made in 77'. Made in USA. 20 frets. A solid Spruce top. Solid mahogany back and sides and mahogany neck. The finish is gloss laquer, the mahogany might have been stained before the laquer. The body is a round shoulder dreadnaught. Bridge and fingerboard looks like rosewood. The tuners are old gibson, three on a side. The neck scale I think is 24 3/4. It has a feel a little like a Les Paul. I got a HSC with it.

The sound is in one word, Vintage! It sounds like the Beatles when they used acoustics. Led Zep, black mountain side, and anything that was recorded before that. Mine does not have electronics. It has a full bassy but focused sound like the songs I described. Sounds miked
and a little fuzzy using a tube soundboard. Does not sound tinny like on a lot of country records.

I just bought mine and I think it needs a setup. The action is a little high. The way things fit looks fine. I didn't notice any flaws or bad workmanship. The frets are like the ones on a expensive martin.
The tone is not as bright.

It should withstand live playing but if you do keep your eye on it at all times, it could get stolen very easily. As far as withstanding abuse, it's not a mid 50's fender esquire but it's not a semi hollow body carvin either. It's a bit on the light side. The finish is good enough. It looked like someone added a strap button, not original. You could depend on it, You might want to keep your more expensive guitars at home.

I want to have a setup done on it. The action is too high. I don't have a warrantee. I bought it used. They claim it's an adjustment of the truss rod. I wonder if I can do it myself. I have done it on my fenders.

I've been playing a fender jbass about 25years. I bought my first guitar and have been playing guitar for about 20. I wish I knew what other people were paying for a guitar like this. I think I over paid! I wanted a larger neck but it's not that bad. Maybe I'll buy a LP someday. I like the solid wood top, sides and back. Thats why I bought it. A Martin has more projection but in a way the're a lot similar. A faster neck than most even with the high action. I think this one is gonna be a keeper.

Purchased new in 1978. Made in USA. I am the original owner. This is an acoustic dreadnaught - no electronics onboard. It has a solid Spruce top, a large, tortiseshell pickguard, and a rosewood bridge. The sides and back are solid mahogany. The neck is 3-piece maple with a rosewood fingerboard, 20 medium frets, and dot inlays, and it joins the body at the 14th fret.
The light coloration of the Spruce top creates a pleasant looking contrast against the glossy, dark brown of the back, neck and sides. From even a short distance, it is virtually impossible to tell where the wood materials change between body and neck. Only close examination of the grains revails where mahogany ends and maple begins.
Simple, white plastic binding surrounds the bottom outside edge of the guitar body. The top binding is a little more elaborate, only slightly, in that alternating, narrow/fine white and black binding lines (two each) run in parallel with the primary, wider, white binding around the guitar body perimeter. The rosette is equally styled and simple.
The headstock is covered in black lacquer with a fine white line outlining the also black-lacquered, truss rod cover.
Factory/store settings were too high for me. I had the action lowered by a professional luthier.
This is a guitar of simple elegance. Nothing fancy, but solidly, well built. It is light in weight.

When equipped with the original strings, this guitar sounded on the empty side, hollow, not as full. I've since switched to medium guage strings: .013 - .056. Marting SPs work well. I use a pick mostly, and I do some fingerpicking. Whether backing off to a low volume or striking firmly for the loudest chord I can get, the tone of this guitar is impressive, very high quality.

As I noted above, the action was originally too high. After having it lowered, the guitar plays superbly.

There isn't much to base a claim on relative to reliability, other than it never fails me, and it never requires maintenance, other than an occasional change of strings. I give it a good wiping with a standard guitar polish from time to time, and I've treated the rosewood fretboard with a light lemon oil.

Haven't had to use it.

Overall, my opinion of this guitar is very high. It is easy to play and a joy to listen to. I believe it is suitable for most any playing venue (requiring appropriate amplification for larger venues).
I've been playing for just over forty-two years. I currently also own and play a Fender Strat Plus, an Epiphone Les Paul, and an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe, but this is the guitar I retreat with to my sanctuary when I'm working out new pieces or when I just want to run scales to stay in shape. It's just a feel-good guitar.

This is an early to mid-1970's Gibson acoustic with a solid, wide grained spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. All orginal condition with the possible exception of the bridge which seems to have been "professionally" re-glued sometime ago. From the photos I have seen of this guitar, the bridge may not be original. An extremely great sounding after-market old DeArmond single coil pick-up installed over the sound hole with one tone and volume control mounted on the top of the body (ala the Gibson 160E) with the wire from the pick-up placed on top of the body (not inside the body). Somewhat thin frets. Overall condition of the guitar is VG plus with only a few minor and not too deep scratches on the back of the guitar. It's a "Deluxe" model which means "larger, non-sloped shoulder" design and somewhat funky brownish tortise shell (spelling) binding with a very large pick gaurd. Came with OHSC. Nice thin neck--Very shiny, somewhat thick finish (but not on the back of the neck). Typical Gibson enclosed tuners - steel tuner buttons. For what I paid for this, the features are outstanding. I didn't give it a ten since the binding is somewhat funky looking.

The acoustic sound (once the guitar was set up right) is great. Very even sound with that slightly typical Gibson bassy acoustic sound. Sound somewhat dark and rich. With the pick-up plugged into a Fender Champ amp, the sound nails that Beatle Gibson 160E perfectly, just a little fuller and slighly less bright. Sound much better than the current 160E re-issue since the re-issue has a stacked humbucker while the original (and this DeArmond) is a single coil pick-up. Has a fairly big sound that is somewhat difficult to capture while recording -- have to really move the mic around to get it right. The electric sound is slighty better than acoustic sound --- Would have ranked it a little higher if the guitar would have captured a little more string "snapiness" when played finger style. Sounds outstanding when played with a flat pick.

Since this is a used guitar, I really can't comment on how it was when it was new. The action was quite high - esp on the bass side. The bridge looked as if it was sanded down slightly, probably to assist in getting the action lower. All the guitar really needed was a two minute session with a good guitar tech and a nut driver on the truss rod. Since the tech told me that it looked like the truss rod had never been used, he needed to put a drop of oil on it to get it started and then turned it almost two full turns and the guitar now plays great. Frets in great shape, even now, and the neck joint and overall condition of the guitar is very solid. The bridge re-gluing job could have been better. As mentioned before, the finish seems to be very thick --- Bone nut was cut well --- Tuners seem to keep things in tune. Overall, a very solid piece --- I have heard that in the early 1970's, the Gibson workmanship was starting to get spotty, but this guitar is very well made. It doesn't get ten due to the thick finish and the previously mentioned funky brown binding ---- The binding job could have been better.

I would play this guitar acoustically without a back-up, no problem at all. I tend to worry that since the cord for the pick-up is located outside the guitar body (over the pick guard), I would be frightened to play it live where I needed the pickup without a backup for fear of accidently hitting the cord and shorting out the pick up. Again, a very solid piece. String pins were bent when I changed the strings, but this IS almost a 30 year old guitar ---- For $4.00, I got a replacement set, no big deal.

Absolutely oustanding. I e-mailed them on two different occasions (one for dating the guiar, and the other to ask what the "Deluxe" meant) and got a very detailed reply within 12 hours. One reply came back to me within one hour at 10:00PM!!!! I have also had the same experience when I contacted them on my other Gibson guitars.

For $450.00 I got a 100% American Made Gibson from Kalamazoo, MI with the original hard shell case (hey, it even still had the key), and made of all solid woods. The dealer also threw in a free set of strings since the ones that were on the guitar were quite dead. I was a little concerned about the action, but once a guitar tech tweaked the truss rod, the thing plays and sounds great. I have a new Martin 000-1 that I really love, but this guitar sounds a LOT fuller, richer, and darker. Whether this guitar was stolen or not, if I could get another one for the same price, I woud buy it in a heart beat. I was originally looking at the Ephiphone (Korean) John Lennon 160E model, but it cost $485 (give away price from Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI) without a case. That guitar has only a solid wood top, and laminated everything else. For less money I got the real deal. I have played a late 1980's Gibson XL-100 acoustic and this J-50 has the a similar sound, but it's much fuller in sound (even though it's a smaller body guitar). I have been playing for thirty years, and own about 15 other guitars (mainly electric). This is one acoustic that I really love-- it's just a little different with the DeArmond pickup and it sounds and plays great. If there are other folks out there who also own this vintage of the J-50, please do write and describe the bridge since I would like to know if it's original or not. If 1970 Gibsons are not all that great, then I guess I got very lucky with this one. For me, since I have small-ish hands, the somewhat thin neck is a real life saver for me. If your lookig for a big, meaty neck, this may not be the axe for you.