Gibson J-45 Rosewood

No controls, but I don't think that's a problem. The volume inside the soundhole is all you need. You won't ever have to EQ this guitar. Beautiful finish, well-made. The rosewood gives the J a bigger sound I think. One thing I hated was that I had to put a button in for a strap because I don't like straps that go around the base of the headstock. I don't have any complaints that really matter though. A minor reason that I got this guitar is that it has a small body, I can't stand big guitars. Gibson is notorious for being fickle in the way they make their acoustics, but mine is flawless. I think they're definitely improving in their consistency.

I think the J45 rosewood has one of the most balanced sounds in the acoustic world. I go straight into the system mostly. It has the biggest acoustic sound I've ever heard, very full. Not much variety in the different types of tones you can get out of it, though.

I play a lot of styles. Historically, the Js are best used for bluegrass and fingerpicking as a whole. However, the rosewood gives it a punch that I think extends it's style range. It sounds great for jam, church settings, pop-style stuff. It doesn't sound well for background type acoustic stuff. If the acoustic is out front in the sound, the J45 rosewood is perfect. It doesn't sound great as a support acoustic.

I was surprised to find that my J came with very playabe action. The action was perfect from frets 1-7. It was too high further up the neck, but that's a simple fix. There were no hiccups in the way it was made, it was very well-built. The sunburst finish is stunning and really well done. As I said before, Gibson has made leaps forward in this area.

This guitar seems like the builders expected it to be abused, it has great durability. The hardware seems everlasting. A friend of mine with a J45 actually dented the top of his, but he didn't exactly touch it gingerly. He (absentmindedly) slammed his fist down on his guitar and it made a big dent and cracked the wood a bit. I say all of that to tell you that his guitar sounds EXACTLY the same. It took a lot of pressure to put that dent in and it didn't even affect the sound. Very dependable, all the features are meant to last, and yes I would and do use it without a backup.

Never needed it.

I've never played a better sounding acoustic. I went with the J45 rosewood because it has balanced, clean tone. Taylor's were too bright, Martin's were too weak, and the J45 avoids both of those things. Again, I have no complaints about anything that actually matters. Once again, DO NOT buy this if you are only a background player. If not, I would never discourage someone from buying it.

All solid wood construction (Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides)
Gold Grover tuners, Active electronics, gloss finish

Incredible full rich tone with outstanding string balance. Equally good for flatpicking and fingerstyle. Plugged into a Fender Acoustisonic Junior it sounds amazing. Have also used it for recording with excellent results. I still like my Taylor better for acoustic solos, but for all other acoustic work, the Gibson J-45 is my first choice.

Overall, the fit and finish were quite good on this guitar. The action was set too high for my taste, but that's typical for Gibson and easily corrected. Previously purchased a Gibson L4-A which had beautiful tone, but could not get adjusted properly. The action was either too high, or the frets would buzz. Dealer allowed me to trade it back in for full value and get this Rosewood J-45.

Guitar seems durable enough, but I'm only planning to use it for recording and playing at home.

Dealer was great to work with, but have not dealt directly with Gibson.

I've been playing about nine years and also own a Martin and Taylor. They each have their strengths and weaknesses, but the tone of the Gibson makes it the overall favorite. Compared to the Martin HD-28, J-45 Mahogony, and Gibson Songwriter when deciding to purchase

Most info covered earlier. I love this guitar now, but it is not the guitar that I bought. Gibson buyers beware!!

The first J-45 I took posession of had a pronounced "hump" in the neck where it joined the body at the 14th fret. This caused buzzing at every fret above the 7th. (Shame on me for taking this guitar home), This instrument was sent back to Gibson for "repair" and came back as bad or worse than before. I am not a fan of Gibson's warranty/repair dept.

Set-up from the factory was lousy. High and low frets, improper nut slotting, frets not dressed. You could have sawed a two-by-four in half with the edges of the frets on the neck. The only reason I hung in there with this guitar is that the sound was great, and I was determined to make it play right.

No telling. I had the frets leveled and dressed, the nut re-slotted for medium gauge strings (Why does Gibson ship a dreadnought guitar with light guage strings?). New bone bridge pins to replace the incredibly cheap "golf ball" plastic pins, and a general setup from a competing dealer from the one that I bought the guitar from. NOW...I have a good Gibson guitar.. no thanks to their dealer or Gibson.

Gibson sucks. Try to contact them... it is like trying to call the White House.

I have been playing for 37 years. I own Martins, Gibsons, Nationals, Goodalls, Larivee, Weber, etc.

I hated this guitar when I bought it, but now I love it after all the modifications. Gibson has a unique tone and feel and that is why I wanted one.

I would not compare Gibson to other high-end manufacturers. They have a ways to go.

2005 J-45 Rosewood. I won't take up space reciting all the standard features which are described in other reviews and on Gibson's website except to note that this model has few significant differences from the standard J-45 beyond the obvious rosewood versus mahogany body construction, namely: round neck shape versus vee, Grover tuners versus Gotoh, ebony fingerboard and bridge versus rosewood (though, apparently, some were manufactured with ebony-stained rosewood). Bottom line? The choice of this model over the standard is very personal and subjective except maybe the tuners. It's hard to argue with the superiority of Grovers.

I used to thnk of the bigger-bodied Gibsons as mostly being flat-pick strummers. All about big bass and big volume. But, I played one in a guitar shop while waiting for a friend and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the shorter scale and moderately wider neck are very comfortable for fingerstyle. Just as importantly, there is ample separation of bass and treble. Of course, it does all the usual dreadnaught stuff, too. So, you can get a very acceptable compromise between dreadnaught volume and small-body definition, depending on how it's played. Plugged in, you have to be very aware of feedback potential. It can be a real screamer. An outboard notch filter or DI box with same is highly recommended.

Set up was just right for me but, I admit that I like actions that are a bit n the higher side. Cosmetics are great. I suppose the body on standard mahogany model looks a bit better with its dark stain but, again, that;s very subjective. I wouldn't choose gold finished tuners necessarily becasue they tend to show wear much earlier than nickel.

It's a tank.

NA

Have been playing for 25-plus years. Other guitars: Gibson ES-335, Fender American Strat and Tele, Martin D-16. I love this thing. I love everything about it. It's really great when you find one guitar that appeals to you on every level: looks, vibe, sound, playability and even smell. I frickin' love it.

Standard J45 Rosewood. No fancy stuff.
Active Fishman pickup installed, TKL case, Grover machines, sunburst.
It has what it needs to be functional.

Used for country, folk, Americana.
Full rich sound fingerpicking, loud guitar. Makes you have to sing out over it. Great sustain.

I will have it set up, and replace the tusq saddle nut and bridge pins with bone or ivory.

Its a tank

N/A

Contantly upgrading as budget allows. This one is a keeper. Do mostly songwriting, and a good guitar is a great asset. I have Martins also. Prefer the Gibson. Use the Martins for camping, bluegrass, and outdoor events. Played several Gibsons, and this particular one stood out, though I'm not wild about the sunburst finish, the sound won me over. I don't forsee upgrading further.

Features are pretty straightforward. Nice grover tuners. And althought i haven't played this guitar with the pick-up, i'm going to assume it sounds fine- as fine as a piezo pickup can sound. I'm sure if tweaked a bit when recording, it'll sound fine.

This guitar sounds great. I was on a budget of 2,000 dollars when i set out to buy another guitar. I've owned a few guitars (taylor 310 and 410 and Martin D15's)...i never had them very long because i couldn't strum them the way I wanted without them sounding too tinny or unbalanced. BUT, i picked this thing up and "voila"...i could hammer away at this guitar and i was very pleased. It remained "tame" and balanced. It wasn't as rich as some of the 3,000 dollar martins, but that's fine. This guitar had nice bottom end and a nice blend of high tone. Intonation is perfect. Stays in tune, nicely. It had a bit of fret buzz, but that's to be expected from a new guitar. After a nice set up after some use, this thing will be f!@#ing amazing.

As i mentioned, a bit of fret buzz on the B string, up and down, and a bit on the A string. No biggie, though. It's to be expected from a spanking brand new guitar. Needs to be worked in, and then a nice set up. Action on this guitar is perfect. Finish is beautiful, too. I don't care about wearing out, or blemishing the finish on an acoustic guitar. It gives it character, and becomes your own. I'm giving it an "8" only because of the fret buzz.

This thing is solid. Heavy. Unlike the martin D15 I owned, the strap button on this is "in place"...don't have to put it on to use a strap- kinda of silly the way martin did that. Anyway, the rosewood is beautiful and the guitar is nice and meaty. You can tell it could take a lot of abuse. I play rhythms all day long, with a dunlop .73mm pick and this guitar responds nicely. It holds the tone of all the strings together, solidly.

never had to contact gibson for everything.

2003, shipped straight from the factory to me. More details than the mahog., but not enought to be excessive. Fishman pickup sounds better than I expected.

By the way the fretboard on mine is rosewood. The previous reviewer can check if they would like. Ebony has a much tighter grain. Rosewood has an almost porous look. Compare it with the bridge which on mine is rosewood. This is from Gibson's website.

"In order to continually improve the design, quality, and performance of our instruments and to make use of the best materials at all times, Gibson reserves the right to change specifications without notice. Because Gibson brand guitars are handcrafted, it is normal for some measurements to vary from those listed."

After some heavy playing I have noticed that the rosewood color is starting to come through. No big deal Stewart MacDonald sells the same stain that Gibson uses.

I have had this guitar for about 16 months and I am in love. It has the best sound of any guitar I have picked up. I own, and have owned several high end guitars, but I find myself comming back to this one. It has a delicate tone for fingerstyle, but it will roar when flatpicked in a band.

Set up very well, finish is close to perfect with a few minor blemishes. Only complaint is the intonation. This guitar is very easily effected by humidity. A small change in relitive humidity will force the guitar to play sharp by more than a few cents. It's a pet peeve, but I notice that after the guitar warms up (about 15 minuites of playing) the intonation returns.

Nitro cellouse scratches, and reacts with about everything, but the guitar is well made. Neck feels grate. You can tell they take their time. I would and do play without a backup.

Seems Okay. Sent in the warrenty card, but have had no dealings.

Great guitar. It seems like as it will age it will continue to give me the tone I am looking for. Now that it has opened up it has that mature Gibson sound. Hope I don't get stupid or bored and sell it.

Bought new in 2004 from Wildwood Guitars in Colorado, this is a 2003 model. All features are as stated in earlier reviews with the exception of the dude claiming his fretboard was rosewood (fyi, ebony boards are often marked with light streaking in the wood--My Taylor even included a card explaining that light streaks are a natural feature of ebony, presumably so people don't freak out thinking their board is rosewood if it isn't jet black!). I give this a ten because it has the best tuners on the market, indian rosewood back and sides, ebony board, nice case, and active fishman transducer. Considering that the latter will cost an extra 200 bucks or so to install in a comparable rosewood Martin, the Gibson is a real bargain.

When it comes down to it, I know whether or not I would like to own a guitar after one open G chord. I can research guitars for months online, but it really does come down to that first chord for me. Needless to say, this is the best sounding guitar I have ever played--and I have played hundreds! The Martin HD28V is up there on sound and playability, but I prefer the shorter scale and smaller body of the J45 and again, I don't like the idea of paying more money and then having to shell out for a pickup. The standard mahogany J45 is legendary in Alt-Country/Americana circles and is played by Jeff Tweedy, Jay Farrar, Dolorean, and countless others. What is amazing to me is how the Rosewood model retains the signature sound yet improves upon it immeasurably. Notes are huge and loud, yet very balanced from bass to treble--not overly bright like a Taylor or bassy like a lot of Martins I have played. It is unbelievably resonant and you feel your stomach rumble when you hit a chord. The fishman transducer sounds good with a very transparent no-frills sound, which is about all you can expect with acoustic amplification in my opinion. The guitar just sounds too good to be played through an amp, but I love the fact that the pickup is there for recording or live work.

The factory action is very nice, but maybe a touch high for me since I only flatpick. The b string has a hint of buzz, but the guitar is still acclimating to a humidified case. The Gibson strings aren't the freshest, but sound wonderful so I plan on putting on a new set instead of my elixirs (I hate changing strings!!!). Everything else looks perfect. Bindings and joints look great and there are absolutely no scratches in the finish. The rosewood grain is highly figured and the vintage sunburst looks amazing. However there is a pinsized dab of glue by the bridge and the leather case will have to be swapped out as part of the stitching has come loose resulting in the leather covering coming apart from the wood in one spot.

I give this a 7 because it is a higher maintenance guitar than my satin finish Taylor owing to the glossy nitrocellulose laquer finish on the J45. Gibson included some literature about preventing finish checking that I plan to adhere to religiously since I live in a very dry/cold climate. On the upside, the laquer finish looks stunning and will enable the guitar to sound better as it ages unlike my Taylor.

I have owned many many Gibson guitars over the years, both new and used, and have never really had any problems. About 8 years ago, a friend tipped over my les paul and smashed one of the gold keystone tuners and Gibson sent me a brand new one for free. Other than that, I've never really had a problem...I mean seriously, how exactly does a guitar break? In any case, I purchased the guitar from Gibson's top dealer last year, Wildwood Guitars, so I will work through them to do any warranty claims.

Playing for 12 years and own a Gibson P-90 equipped Melody Maker (best sounding guitar I have ever owned), Epiphone les paul, Taylor 310, Fender Jazzmaster Bass, Mesa Mk III head, Rivera Cabinet, Digidesign ProTools Mbox, POD XT (best $300 you will ever spend on recording equipment!), etc...
I despise the "if this were stolen I would buy another one" remark on Harmony Central, but yes I would not want my guitar I just bought to be stolen! The J-45 Rosewood won out over the Martin line, with the HD28V being the only serious contender.

Bought new in Summer 2003 . Made in Bozeman, Montana. Guaranteed against faulty workmanship or materials . Fitted with an under bridge pick-up.
The table is natural Spruce, sides and back Indian Rosewood, bridge is Ebony the neck wood is presumed Mahogany and the fretboard is black stained Rosewood ? yes Rosewood not Ebony as stated in the specs ! Body style is typical slope shouldered J-45. Tuners are gold finished Grovers. I?d say the neck is slender with thinner than I like frets. Bridge pins look like white plastic. There is only a single inlay round the sound hole and the fret board inlays are single dot. This differs from any pic. of a J-45 Rosewood that I?ve ever seen on the web.

Accessories were a nice Custom hard case , a humidifier and a warning notice that the delicate nitro finish could be removed if guitar straps are used ? I found the latter just a bit absurd.

I really only buy a guitar for the sound and this one must be about the best I?ve heard. It is bright and clear on the top strings and has a powerful rich bass. I was going to try a Gibson Advanced Jumbo but that went from the shop the day before I got there ? I gather they too have a very powerful sound but the J-45 is easily powerful enough for my style of playing which is mainly flat and folk / blues finger picking. I prefer it to the sound of my Martin J-40M which used to be my favourite all round guitar. The neck is just right for my hands but the fret board and frets are not the optimum for bluesy type stuff.

The factory set up for the action was good for normal tuning but a buzz was evident on the bass string when it was tuned down , with or without capo on any fret when picking light gauge (12?s) strings. I?ve tried adding a shim under the saddle and using a heavier bass string which improved matters and have now cured the problem by filing down a new Tusq saddle, leaving it higher on the bass side and using 12 to 56 gauge strings.

The factory finish was good on beautifully grained Rosewood back and sides. The gold machines had some sort of gluey residue on them which made them rough to the touch. This needed scratching off using fingernails.
The halves of the spruce table have a different grain such that in certain lights the two halves of the lower bout have quite markedly different shades. The mahogany ? neck is quite a bit lighter than the Rosewood back and sides. This may be intentional as I have the same effect on a Spanish guitar. I prefer a better match in colour.
During my first string change I discovered that the fret board was not Ebony as per specification but badly stained (light patches were evident) Rosewood. I have since re-stained the board with Ebony wood dye to make it more presentable.
The pickguard / scratchplate started lifting after only two days after purchase. This was partially resolved by carefully applying contact adhesive, though a small bubble on the plate is still visible.
Inside the guitar there was no evidence of any flaws or excess glue.

Have n?t had the guitar really long enough to comment bit it?s the most awkward guitar I?ve ever had to re-string. The bridge pins have a narrow parallel slot in them so unless you manipulate the string away from the slot or bend a hook in the string, the strings can easily lodge in the pins which rise as you tighten the string. The lifting scratchplate / pickguard is of some concern.

I found Gibson customer support non-existent. I wrote to Gibson Montana complaining only about the stained Rosewood fret board saying that it would break our Trade Descriptions Act and that I did n?t think it was covered by their get out clause which allows ?change of spec. without notice to improve performance?. No reply or even acknowledgement of my letter has been received.
I have since re sent the original letter with a covering letter but they are sticking with their zero response attitude.

I?ve been playing 40 years and at present own a Gibson L-00, an old Gibson Heritage Custom
acoustic a Martin J40M, an imitation Dobro and a classical Spanish guitar. In the past I have
owned a D35, a D41 and a Kalamazoo-made Epiphone Texan. On hindsight I?d probably
wish I ?d looked at the fret board in daylight when I bought the guitar. If it were stolen or lost
I?m sure I would buy another but would go for the Custom version which should stop most of
my above bitches.
I love the guitar?s sweet but powerful tone and its versatility. I normally used to have two or
three guitars out when playing but now this one will do most things. It is easily my favourite
guitar but is unfortunately marred by cost cutting or lack of quality control.

Nothing to add to the previous reviews other than to say that the seemingly minor variations between the standard J45 and this model (the Rosewood) are subtle but distinctive: the abalone headstock inlay and the gold grover tuners really add to the fabulous look of the guitar.

I have never been much of a fan of Gibson acoustics - haven't disliked 'em, just didn't give them much thought - favouring Martin and, more recently, quality hand-made guitars. But this Gibson just sold itself. I went in to the same music store day-in day-out with my eyes on a Taylor 410ce but the salesman pulled out this J45 Rosewood and I kept coming back to it, dismissing the Taylor(s), putting back the Martin 00028EC, rejecting the Larrivee. It wasn't what I was looking for and it wasn't what I thought I wanted, but it just beat all the others in a direct comparison. Punchy, silky smooth, and bright all at the same time; crisp, yet warm and deep. The pick-up is the most acoustically faithful I've heard with the exception of my Taylors with the new Neve ES. I thought I'd buy the J45 for blues, especially for using a pick, but now I find I fingerpick just as much. I've previously owned several guitars for different uses, but this has to be the "if you only have one guitar . . . ". I've since bought another Gibson (J185) purely because of my satisfaction with this one.

The action was (and still is) a little high for my style but actually fits within factory recommended tolerances. The neck feels narrow because of the relatively shallow profile. The only drawback with this is that the top-E seems too close to the edge of the neck, making it necessary to keep your palm well away from the neck to avoid duff notes; bends and pull-offs on the E-string require precision. The frets are way too high and seriously affect any slides, but I always expect a new guitar to require setting up properly. Fret dressing and a new (lowered) bridge would be my preferences for the style of music I play; others would not find it a problem. The finish on this Gibson is exquisite and way better than any other I've seen: perfectly bookmatched spruce with a really tight, straight grain; beautiful ebony bridge and fretboard; and the smell of the rosewood (it kicks all my other East Indian rosewood guitars into touch just on smell). In vintage sunburst it looks stunning and I've grown to love the round-shouldered look and the slightly smaller size compared to jumbos and standard dreadnoughts.

The only questionable issue with this and other Gibsons is the traditional shellac finish. I really baby this guitar. It does not like sweat, skin contact, leather, plastics etc and once the glorious gloss finish turns matt there's no way back. If I'm playing at home wearing short sleeves I always drape a cloth over the side of the guitar. I wipe it down after every use and polish it weekly. It looks absolutely stunning and I intend to keep it that way, which is a bit of a fag: my Taylors have a much more durable gloss finish that just needs a wipe and the occasional buff.

Gibson have always been prompt and efficient replying to any e-mail queries. My sound-hole humidifier was missing. I contacted Gibson Montana and Rosetti (the UK distributor): Gibson sent me the humidifier from the USA to the UK within 4 days; Rosetti took 2 weeks and they're just down the road.

Been playing on and off for 30+ years, owned everything blah blah blah. As said above, this guitar has converted me to Gibson after a lifetime of thinking they just made Les Paul's. My friends, family, and guitar buddies rave about this J45. I intend to own it until sold when I'm too old to play it or it'll be pssed on to my daughter.
I'm scoring this "10" for overall value largely because I bought this guitar new for under a thousand pounds in the UK. Rosetti have an RRP for this model of well over two grand and you can't find one anywhere for under about 1,899. I believe the store made a mistake, selling this as a discounted J45 (standard), reduced from 1,499 to 1,299 and then down to 999. At that price it is the bargain of the century. But even at two grand I'd be pleased with it's sound and looks. I would hate to lose it. It has become my favourite guitar (ever).

2002 Gibson J-45 Rosewood made in Bozeman Montana. Solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard. Dreadnaught style. Gold hardware, grover tuners. 24.5 scale on a big ol' fat neck. Fishman piezo pickup with end-pin jack. Includes case and humidifier.

Rich/full sound, with trademark Gibson punch on the bottom end. Use the piezo and you lose a lot of the trademark Gibson tone and get the generic "piezo" sound, but still, as piezos go, its a good pickup.

Some disappointments here. The body and neck construction is outstanding. However, the frets needed some serious dressing, and worse, I needed to get a new saddle re-cut for it. The saddle sat much too loosely in the bridge, affecting the unplugged sound and also preventing good contact for the piezo pickup. I had an expert luthier cut me a new saddle and the sound (plugged and unplugged), which was good in the store, became just excellent, richer and with more ring and sustain. However, shame on Gibson for letting this QC issue slip through the cracks

Built very well. Take care of a it like any quality acoustic, and it will be just fine.

Gibson does not have a great reputation for customer support. But the few times I've been in touch with them, I've had no complaints.

I've been playing for about 18 years, seriously for the past 4. I also own a PRS Singlecut Trem Artist, PRS McCarty Standard Soapbar Rosewood, and Hamer Newport Korina. After a lot of swapping and selling over the years, this is the one acoustic I wanted to keep. I'm partial to Gibson acoustics, having also owned a J-100 XTRA (great guitar) and a J-160E. I've compared them with Guilds and Martins, which I've also owned, but I just love the trademark Gibson tone. Actually, with the rosewood back, this splits the difference with the tone of a Martin D-28, but adds the Gibson "thump." Despite the correctable problems identified with this J-45 Rosewood early, the work of a great tech returned it to where it needed to be, with a great custom cut saddle and a nice fret dressing job. There is nothing else I wish this guitar had. The next steps up in the J-45 line are cosmetic improvements. If you have to have one acoustic, its hard to go wrong with this top-of-the-line Gibson.

My J45 Rosewood was made in Bozeman, MT in '02. 20 frets - 14 clear, with solid spruce top and solid EI rosewood back and sides. The neck is mahogany, with gold grover tuners on the headstock - with "Gibson" logo and flame in MOP inlay. And the fingerboard/backwards belly bridge are ebony - with MOP dots. The top finish is a beautiful 'vintage' sunburst, with the back/sides a deep brown stain.

I really like the 'feel' of the 24 3/4" scale, along with the 1 23/32" nut width - which really fits my hand well.

The purchase came with a Gibson logo-TKL arched top hardshell case, which has 4 quality latches.

This guitar is one of the most responsive guitars I've ever played. It can really 'bark' if you go at it - but can be just as wonderfully suited singing soft and sweet. The J45 Rosewood has that 'Gibson Tone' - which is so hard for me to describe. Definitely a full-round sound, punchy and dry, with even separation across the strings. Plenty of 'overhead', and I think not likely to break up while playing hard. This should only get better as time passes!

The factory set up for my J45R was a little high. Even though I like a little higher set-up, it needed to be adjusted down (this is probably just as likely to be the result of its handling/humidification at the store while in inventory the past year or so). The top is wonderfully silked, with an extremely tight grain - and all - top, back, sides are matched. The frets are finished well, and the intonation is damn near perfect.

Only time will tell. But the J45R 'feels' very solid/stable. I'm guessing that will hold true, and the apparent quality I describe will result in it's long life (knock wood).

The e-mailed questions (3 or so) I had sent to Gibson prior to my purchase were responded to quickly. No complaints at all.

I've been playing acoustically for about 12 years, and like most, I've tried a number of guitars - through friends, and guitar store 'testing' ;p. I currently own a D-28 kit and Martin 000-15S. I have owned a Taylor 410 and Yamaha APX in the past. This is the best guitar I've ever owned. The thing I love most about the J45R is its response to touch, and the control I feel when playing. A close second is the beautiful lacquer finish, and the 'look' of that vintage sunburst!

I wasn't really looking to buy a guitar when I came across this Gibson (yea, who am I kiddin'), but I've recently played a number of Marting D-18s, 28s and OMs - as well as some Tippin and Santa Cruz (sp?) dreds. This one really pulled my trigger, and I'd recommend for anyone to try one out - along with the other slope-shoulder Gibsons.

This model is basically the same as the J-45 mahogany model except it has solid rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top with natural finish, ebony fretboard and bridge, slope shoulders, and factory installed pick-up.

It has a very well balanced, deep tone and the intonation is as good as I've heard on any guitar. It sounds great if you finger pick it or it's nice and loud if a pick is used with an aggresive technique. For plugging it up, add a touch of reverb and chorus to really get your juices flowing. The J-45 rosewood is definitely one of the finest acoustic guitars out there.

I had to have the nut replaced right out of the gate, which cost less than I usually spend on pizza. I also had to have the action adjusted just a touch but I consider these things very minor setup glitches for any new guitar.

This guitar seems totally durable and I'd not hesitate to rely on it for stage work. There is obviously a reason it's called "the work horse".

No reason to seek customer support. What little work that's been done on it was not done under warranty and was done very quickly.

I've been very pleased with this J-45 rosewood and if it wound up missing I'd want it replaced with the same thing. Far and away my favorite things about this guitar is the tone and playability!! If you don't already have one, get one.