Gibson J-45

2001 standard model. Comes with an excellent hard case.

In a word, beautiful. This guitar just sounds amazing; brilliant bass response particulary. You can't stop playing it. The guitar sustains forever; harmonics are also amazing. I tried two others before I settled on this one; the first was great, but was a cosmetic second. The second didn't sound as 'alive'. But the third one was perfect. I would suggest always trying different J-45's out before you buy. Other people in previous reviews have also said this.

The sunburst is amazing. The finish of the whole guitar is flawless. Take a look at it in natural light and it is perfect. Although, the other two guitars I tried, didn't have as brighter sunburst. It is such a good looking guitar. Elements like the white plastic tuners are what gives it its look. People in previous reviews have been complaining about the tuners being plastic, and yes you should get more for your money, but they are an important part of the aesthetic of the guitar. The neck is wonderful. The factory set up wasn't great though: the action was incredibly high and I am a bass player!

Seems pretty tough, although you want to look after it. Only had it a week, so can't really answer this section.

Academy of Sound were very good. The case didn't have the humidifier in, so they are going to order it for me, which I suppose is goos customer support.

I have been playing for 10 years. I have a 2000 American Jazz bass, 1995 American precision, 1980 Les Paul Custom and a 1988 Strat Plus. And now I have an acoustic to match up to them. This guitar just makes me exicted every time I play it. It just sings to you. I would definately get another if something was to happen to it. It looks so unique compared to every other a acoustic and it sounds so good! It is simple and therefore a classic.

My J45 was built in Kalamazoo back in 1962.I believe that it was originally cherry sunburst but was faded to look like a J50 when I purchased it about 10 years ago. The guitar has a solid Spruce top, and solid mahogany back. I'm not sure if the guitar has solid mahogany sides or if it is laminated. The bridge is non adjustable with a solid saddle and is made from a beautifully figured piece of Brazilian rosewood.

This is one of the finest sounding J45's I've heard. It has a warm, full voice. The sound when played hard goes to a new dimension and becomes percussive and loud as the top is driven.It sounds like the Everly Brithers or early Beatles. It has deep bass but never too boomy as on some Martins. This guitar also exhibits a great sound when played with out a pick great for fingerstylings.

As this guitar was purchased used I can't attest to the factory at all. This guitar has low, low action with absolutely no string buzz. The neck is wide and flat making playing this guitar a dream. Everyone who plays it tyies to buy it from me. The top has some small hairline cracks that have been cleated.It has the original tuners that do a reasonable job of keeping the guitar in tune.

This guitar gas been around for 40 years and only seems to get better with age.I have used it live and it seems solidly made and would offer no problems if used everyday in a live setting.

I've been playing for 40 years. This is the finest flat top I've played. Nothing matches its warm full sound and great playability. A true winner!!

Lefty 2003 Gibson J-45 (US Made, Bozeman, MT). This guitar features round shoulder style, Sitka spuce top, Honduras mahogany back and sides, Indian rosewood fingerboard, V-shape neck, Indian rosewood bridge, tortoise tear drop pickguard, Nickel Gotoh w/white oval button tuners, and a Fishman Active tranducer pickup. Also, it comes with a really nice hardshell case and sound hole humidifier. The vintage sunburst finish gives it a classic look. Scale length is 24-3/4." This guitar may not be as ornate as some of its competitors in this price range, however, it is a very honest guitar in the sense that it does what it is supposed to do and the Fishmann tranducer pickup gives it versatility in that you can plug it in if the situation calls for it.

This guitar is known as the "work horse" and it certainly lives up to that reputation. The guitar has a well balanced sound, one of the best in its price range. Rich full notes and overtones that blossom and sustain wonderfully. The guitar has a deep bass sound to it without getting muddy. The mids and highs are equally represented and thick. The whole things comes together very nicely. Flatpicking is awesome, every note is full and sustains beautifully. Chording is equally powerful and this guitar responds well to soft and hard attacks, never losing its overall articulation. This guitar also does a great job with fingerpicking style on account of its deep full sound. The only negative comes when you do some serious chord work, at those times some of the intricacies can get a bit lost but not to the point where you will feel that the guitar has let you down. In other words, it does have its limits but for an all around singer/songwriter everyday player you'd be hard pressed to find a better sound and value in this price range. The guitar sounds big without being boomy, overall, it is a very unique sounding guitar.

The factory set up on mine was good. I do plan to have the action lowered just a bit to make it more comfortable but it is not to high by any standard. In other words it plays really nice as is out of the box and is fairly comfortable which is why I am in no hurry to have the action lowered (I'll get to it when I get to it). The finish is nicely done and has a cool vintage vibe to it. Close inspection reveals some minor finsh flaws around the sound hole but nothing bad. Like I said above it is a a very honest looking guitar, no frills, just cool sound.

So far so good. The Fishman is reliable and the guitar is like most fine acoustics, that is, generally fragile. You need to be careful to not bang it around too much. The finish is puposely thin to allow it to breath so be kind to it.

I emailed once and got a response the next day. Pretty cool for a huge corporation, in my opinion.

I have been playing for over 25 years. I have been lucky to have owned some fine guitars. Martin D-28, D-35, Taylor 614, 712ce. This guitar represents a very good overall value. The d-28 was very nice overall sounding guitar but was not as comfortable as this and didn't have the fullness of this J45. The D-35 was horribly bassy and boomy, the mids and highs were lost on that one. The Taylors had great necks and good sound but lacked the fullness of the J-45 and when you play them hard they get awefully trebly sounding. The only gutar I like in comparison to the J45 was a Martin "Golden Era" D-18 but that guitar is over $1K more than the J-45 and has no pickup. Everyones taste is a bit different but usually all us guitar afficiandoes can agree on a good value in guitars and this is certainly worth you checking out. The vintage sunburst finish and Fishman tranducer elevates it out of the ordinary looks category and the sound (the most important thing) is anything but ordinary. Like I said above it is a unique sounding guiat and unlike its competitors it maintains an even balance between bass,mids, and treble no matter what you throw at it. At the end of the day, for the money it sounds full and rich with overtones...like um...a Gibson!

2003 solid top, fishman pick up, top sikta, body mahogony. No pick up EQ, so a small eq unit is needed for live use. Its an acoustic guitar, what features could you want!

The most important thing and the sole reason I bought this beast. I have tried all kinds of guitars over the last few days. Everyone kept saying the taylor is the best and so I was about to get one, till I picked this up. DONT believe anyone who tells you a taylor is better than a gibson!!! Theyre so different in sound, they cannot be compared like this!

The taylor (300, 400 series) has a beautiful tone when plucked or fingerpicked, and is very shimmery and trebly. However for rythm playing, especially hard playing it sounds harsh and too trebly. The j-45 has a much warmer sound suited to strumming/rythm playing of any kind, and responds really well when played hard. However, for me it also sounds wonderful fingerpicked and for lead work. It certainly has a unique sound that must be played to be appreciated.

Taylor's new ES system is awesome however and the sound coming out of an amp is much closer to the sound you hear from the guitar than any other pickup system available. Thats the only reason I found it hard choosing between the 2, since I will need it for live work a lot. However, there are new gizmos coming out that give a better plugged in sound from the gibson, so I chose the gibson.

And ps, dont assume a more expensive gibson has a better sound - i tried out the other higher priced models and none sounded as warm and rich as the j-454 to me.

Set up fine.

I hear gibsons last. So nothing to worry about here. Plus they get better with age, more so than other leading brands.

I've been playing 6 years, I own a 77 telecaster, vox ac15, yamaha apx-10 (currently on its way to the bin - a useless guitar, that sounds way too tinny to use live). This guitar sounds like no other, and just clicked with me the moment I tried it. If you try it and that happens, then its the one for you.

Would steal a new one if mine was stolen, for sure.

This is a Gibson J-45 2003 round shouldered acoustic manufactured in Bozeman, Montana. It?s a faithful re-issue of the classic 40?s workhorse model finished in stunning vintage sunburst with a tortoise tear drop shaped pickguard. The body style features a solid spruce back and side and a solid stitka top. A dark chunk of indian rosewood is used for the 20-fret fingerboard. The tuners are traditional style Gotoh with white oval buttons, which really help to establish the guitar?s vintage credentials. The guitar is also fitted with a very useful Fishman transducer pickup and comes with plush lined hardshell case.

This is a real strummers/songwriters guitar, which gives off a tight, vibrant sound with bags of deep bass and treble. For such a small guitar (short scale at 24 3/4 inches) it really projects (with amazing sustain) whether strumming hard or soft. The sound is very rich and raw and I?m sure the tone will only improve as the guitar ages and is broken in. The J-45 offers plenty of headroom and volume, and all the while remains naturally balanced enough to make a wonderful sound.

The guitar came set up with Gibson Phosphor Bronze wound strings which help to deliver a deep/crisp tone. Initially, the strings were set slightly high, which made it difficult for finger picking and certain open cords, but a professional set-up soon remedied the situation. The very thin nitro-cellulose finish was flawless as was the sombre deep sunburst finish. My only criticism was the rosewood neck, which was very dry, but this was soon remedied with an application of lemon oil.

The guitar is incredibly light and although extremely well made, I would imagine it would be prone to scratching if not handled correctly. Considering the reputation of these fine Gibson Montana flattops, I expect the J-45 to last a lifetime and would be disappointed if it didn?t.

The guitar has a lifetime warranty and so far I?ve had no reason to contact Gibson directly.

My decision to buy a Gibson J-45 was strongly influenced by some of the great guitarists who have used one over the years. From Buddy Holly, Neil Young and John Lennon to more contemporary artists like Richard Ashcroft, Jeff Tweedy, Paul Weller and Damon Gough.

Whether being used strictly for songwriting or performing live, for me, the J-45 just has it all. Amazing tone, precise attention to detail, effortless playability and fantastic looks. Gibson acoustics have been criticised in certain quarters for their high list price but when compared to similarly priced Martins and Taylors, the J-45 has that certain uniqueness that its rivals just don?t possess. I have longed for a Gibson made acoustic for quite some time and after testing both a J-185 and J-150, the less ornate J-45 won hands down. Unlike the bigger jumbo models it?s small enough to pick up and play at any time but also loud enough to hold its own in any live situation. Overall the Gibson J-45 is a timeless piece that defines modern elegance.

Made in Bozeman, Montana in 1990. The serial number indicates that it was the 2nd guitar completed that day. The standard features are available on the Gibson website. This particular guitar has a transducer integrated into the saddle and an endpin pickup.

I mention elsewhere that I was attracted to this guitar by it's great looks. The second thing that grabbed me was the feel of the neck. Gibson really got this right, in my opinion. The nut width is just shy of 1 3/4", which is larger than the common 1 11/16". The neck profile is really very nice. Not a skinny, so called "fast" neck, but a good shape with a slight V. Fits my hand perfectly. I have been told by other folks on the Internet that their Gibson J guitars have completely different neck profiles. I have no idea why they might be different, but I would caution readers to know that this is apparently a variable detail.

I do not amplify my guitar. I will likely never use the saddle transducer. And the endpin jack, BTW, is too wide for the holes in my guitar straps.

I have owned several Gibson J-45/50 guitars. The 1950's models have sounded crisp and bright with plenty of "bark" for lead playing. The 1960's models have all had a mellower, warmer tone. I sold a '65 J-50 last year that sounded fantastic... for some songs, but didn't work in a stringband setting. The opposite is true of my '50's J-50. This Bozeman J-45 fits right between the two sounds. With Alaska Piks, I can fingerpick this guitar and get a warm, woody tone for vocal accompaniment. With a 1mm Dunlop Nylon flatpick, I can get a fully homogenized chord with a string bass note for stringband accompaniment. With a .8 mm plastic Dunlop, I can pull a strong, clear single string tone for bluegrass lead style picking.

Note: String brands and gauges, types of picks and picking styles make a HUGE difference in how a guitar sounds. It's always the case that YMMV.

Really nice sunburst finish. I was initially attracted to the guitar in the store by it's eye catching good looks. I have yet to see an acoustic guitar manufacturer, new or old, big or small, create a sunburst finish as lovely as those done by Gibson. Setup was poor - strings too low with fret buzz on the first few frets. I shimmed the nut a tiny bit and all is well now. The nut, interestingly, was not glued in place. When I removed all the strings the nut fell off! Odd, but made for an easy shim job. Cheap tuners - Kluson with Keystone buttons. I will most likely replace these with white oval button tuners.

Seems well made. Not nearly as light weight as my 1950's J-50. Solid wood construction, and I noticed that Gibson didn't use side reinforcements like I have seen in other guitars. Martin uses fabric strips, Santa Cruz uses small pieces of basswood, etc.

Mentioned above: endpin button doesn't look trustworthy. No heel button.

Tuner are cheap.

Finish seems durable.

Don't know, never contacted Gibson.

I have been playing the acoustic guitar for over 30 years. I own several guitars, including vintage Martins and Gibsons (and three Guilds, now that I think about it). I think the slope shoulder, short scale is one of the great innovations in guitar design, and I have spent the last couple of years searching for the "right" guitar of this body style. I have bought and sold 8 Gibson J guitars in the past two years and played several copies by other makers (Santa Cruz, Huss & Dalton, imports). I am most pleased with this particular J-45. It looks great, has a fabulous easy playing neck and sounds like a Gibson. The expensive boutique guitars I played sounded OK, but they didn't have The Sound I expect from one of these guitars. Warm, full and powerful - at a price that is a fraction of the cost of a boutique model! I think this guitar represents a very good value.

Regarding short scale, slope shoulder dreadnought sized guitars, in my opinion the motto "Only A Gibson" is spot on.

1994 model. solid sitka spruce top in vintage sunburst finish, solid mahogany back and sides, white binding on body, kluson vintage tuners, round shoulder design dreadnought made in bozeman, montana. mahogany neck, indian rosewood fretboard and bridge, 20 frets, 24 3/4" scale leangth. included vintage brown gibson hardshell case.

ok, this is where the j-45 gets perfect marks from my point of view. i began my "high end" acoustic guitar search about two years ago when i traded my duties as lead guitarist to begin to focus seriously on songwriting and singing. before then, i'd always owned acoustics in the low to mid level, the $300 to $400 range. for frame of refference, my idea of high end is over $1000.... obviously, there are acoustics that are far greater in cost than that, but you get the point. so, i started with a taylor 310 then on to a guild f4ce, to a taylor 312ce to my last guitar, a taylor 314ce. they were all fine guitars, the taylor's in particular. but, none seemed to fit me just right. the taylor's neck design (which the are praised for) is slim and fast, which is what most people are after... but not me. i preffer a bit more meat which feels comfortible to me. i'm using my acoustic to strum chords, not play solos, so i like a beefier neck myself. even though, oddly enough, i've got smaller hands. ok, so all this to preface my "opinion" on the sound of the J-45 because some background might help a player with simillar likes / dislikes and playing style make an informed decision based on my comments. here we go then. the J-45 is a rounded shoulder dreadnought design which does take some mass out of the upper bout not having square shoulders. this makes the guitar a tad smaller than the typical dreadnought and, for me, more comfortible to play. as i mentioned, i'm mostly a strummer, not a lot of fingetstyle. this guitar produces a generous amount of bass which exceptional clarity. when chords are arpegiated, the bass pops out nicely with the balance of tone being mostly in the mid range to my ear. the highs are clear but understated in just the right amount. not tinny or shrill. the guitar has super projection and no one frequency seems to overpower another. for my folk rock / americana style of playing, it's perfect. this guitar could cover a lot of bases.... bluegrass, folk, country, blues, pop, ect. again, i can only comment on how the guitar sounds in relation to what i'm doing with it. if you are looking for a guitar for strumming big, full, rich, vibrant chords on, this guitar will get that job done brilliantly. i added an L.R. Baggs passive I beam system to the guitar as well as replacing the stock saddle with a bone saddle which brightens up the sound some. the Baggs I beam is about the most faithfull recreation of acoustic tone from a pickup i've found, so i'll say my guitar sounds awesome plugged in as well.

hard to comment on factory set-up as i purchased it used. the set-up it has now is wonderfull. nice low action without buzz. nicely crowned frets, very smooth. sunburst is typical of Gibson, awesome as always. no finish flaws i could find, no excess glue, no bracing issues. seems to be a superbly made instrument.

the guitar is 10 years old and still tight and solid. finish id great and hardware functioning like new i'd think. seems very dependible and i'd not have any worries playing coffee house gigs without a backup.

haven't delt with Gibson customer service. they do have a really slick web-site, but nowhere near as informative about "tech" stuff as Taylor.

i've played guitar 13 years and owned LOTS of guitars in that time. i've had a real tough time finding those "magic" guitars you sometimes hear about. this J-45 is about the closest i've found. i really don't like setting it down. it makes me REALLY want to play. it's brought out some new and inspired songwriting in me as well. i think this guitar has a lot of songs in it. if lost or stolen, i'd have to have another one right away. in fact, i'm planning on buying another one soon as a second guitar. i'm not sure how the piezo they install under the saddle from the factory on the new ones sounds, but i'll try and get one without it so i can have the L.R. baggs I beam installed. i couldn't ask for a guitar better suited to my style. it just plain sings....

This guitar sounds just the way I'd hoped it would. Lot's of bass, warm mids, sweet top end. Loud when played hard and lot in between

I purchased the guitar used for a low price so I can blame gibson entirely, but there is what I consider to be excessive bellying with medium strings. This must be due to the very light bridge plate used in the construction. On the other hand I play with a higher action so I'm comfortable with it as is. I have a friend who has an original 53 J-45 and his is the same... So I'm not sure what to rate it here. You make your own call

I've been play 30 years. On this guitar I play blues ala Mississippi John Hurt, Rev Gary Davis, etc. This is the right guitar for me and I highly recomend it for finger style blues.

A Gibson round shoulder, J45 VS (Vintage Sunburst), Nov 2003 model, Made in USA, (Bozeman, Montana) with Spruce for the top, mahogany on the back and sides, and rosewood for the fretboard and bridge. This horse is black and wears an orange sunburst with short scale 24-3/4. It has an active transducer, either a Fishman or Schertler Blue (no tone & volume controls) runs by a supplied 9V battery, hold by a metalplate holder, secure by Masking Tape! (Guess to preserve the vintage look)

There are Soundhole humidifier (a ?Gibson Logo? Sound Cap with a spongy Flexibke tube), a Gibson pick, a Lifetime Gold warranty booklets and some instruction notes on the humidifier. The entire items are inside the pocket in the TKL Hardcase, with blue interior of soft cushion. Gibson Logo printed on the Hardcase and all the latches are gold plated. Lastly, a free packet of Acoustic strings from the above retailer.

I like playing alone in my room especially during the dawn, this horse seems to lead you to the peaceful garden. When you strum or pluck the bass lines, the rich tones produce and trap within the hole, block by the braces, and it vibrate the body way up to the head-stock, you can feel the steady vibration when you hold the ?Gibson? wordings laminated in the head-stock. When your fingers start plucking the lower strings, the sounds turn melody and sing as respond to your calling. The tones are well blended when strumming. J45 shy looking image may be for bluegrass, see how the horse reacts when you play Rock and wack power chords on it.

I have plug-in through my acoustic amp it rings out the mellow metallic voice. With a chorus effect, you have a totally new expression. I am sure that in years to come, when the nitro cellulose lacquer gets thinner, the sound will be even better.

The default setup looks like a medium action. I do more fingerstyles, the action is just perfect for me. I prefer low to medium action, with light gauge strings. I feel that it?s very responsive to fingerstyles and finger bending. In addition, I like the 2003 model base construction, there?s no joining gap (Unlike the 2001) where the plug-in button is installed. The whole base area is smooth. For the finishing, I like the corner binding of the guitar body are white in colour, together with the tuner pegs, I see it as a good combinations.

I am sure that this workhorse will not fall sick and lead througth the Journey of Musics. I don?t need a backup.

Gibson offers lifetime warranty, and the staffs are helpful, they replied my query through email. The rating under C.S., I like to credit the sole distributor Swee Lee Music Coy. & the authorised retailer The Guitar Gallery Pte Ltd, Singapore. We are outside, U.S., so they are my sole support. These people are helpful and well versed in knowledge & settings on Guitars, especially Terry & Derek from The Guitar Gallery. They spend time with you, explain the models & specifications. Best of all, you are free to play all Great guitars available, you never hear anything like ?Sorry, dude, this piece is a collectable or special Custom Edition.?

I have been playing for 15 years. To own a J45 is my childhood dream. In those days, I can only longing for it behind that displayed glass. I am so crazy about this model that I got a miniature item (Brand: Pickup) of this J45. I read a lot on the J45 in the publications like ?Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars: An Illustrated History & Guide
by Eldon Whitford, David Vinopal (Contributor), Dan Erlewine?, and the ?Gibson Guitars 100 Years of an American Icon by Walter Carter.? I heard from many, that Gibson guitars are overpriced. It may be due to the rich historical values and of course the experience of making quality flat-tops of the most popular four, i.e. J200, J45, Hummingbird & Dove. That?s what I think. Well, the wishing item had finally removed from my lists. Handmade guitar like J45 gives me a sense of authentic feel every time I play, get one and you know exactly what I mean by ?Tone, Feel & Appearance?. If this baby was stolen or damaged, I will be very upset. ?Touch the Wood!? I own many other guitars, however, I believe, ?Only a Gibson is Good Enough.?

2001 J-45 from Bozeman Montana. It has 20 frets. All solid woods, mahogany back, sides and neck. Spruce top. The built in pick up is crap, and i put it thru a very good mic pre and tried my damnest to get it to sound good. Sounds like crap. The guitar, on the other hand, sounds fantastic. Woody and dry, mmmm, just the way it should! I played on so many and never was satisfied. I guess owning many high end guitars, including a great J-200 Gibson, i was spoiled. But i like the look of the slope shoulder, and i was determined to get me one. As luck would have it, one went on sale at a store i do business with, and i bought it over the phone!!! turned out to be the best sounding one i ever played!!! Go figure... I have immediately replaced the cheap tuners with gold Kluson tulips, ala J-200, not so much for aesthetics, but for the tuning ratio. The tuning ratio sucks on the cheap ones. Now they are great. Changed the cheapie bridge pins too. When i get a chance, i will change the nut too. No more plastic on this baby. This is a great sounding guitar!! The case is nice too. It gets a 7 rating only because i had to replace alot of plastic crap on it. For $1900.00CDN, it should be better.

Did i mention that it sounds great?? Well, it does. I have friends that are in the business who make mention of the fact that this particular piece sounds mighty fine indeed. And they know their stuff! I love it.

Factory set up was a little off. Buzz here and there. Action a little low. All is well. Top is not the best bookmatch i have ever seen, in fact it is probably the worst matched top i have ever owned, and the worse of all the ones i tried out, but guess what? It is the best sounding of the bunch!!! Not a trace of glue to be found, very nicely finished. Did i say i love the sound of this guitar??

I own 40 year old Gibsons, and the good ones are built for the long haul, that is why they are all still out there! The finish does not seem to me to be as thick as they used to be, but i cant be sure of that. You can depend on this guitar. Take care of it, and it will take care of you. You could use it without a back up if you wanted to, although i dont really trust or like the cheap pick up.

Nope. I did email Gibson a couple of times on a couple of things, and have never ever heard back. I hope their service isnt as awful as there contact software and whoever is supposed to be replying.

If lost or stolen, i would have to go thru the whole process again. I only buy what sounds good. Compared to my J-200, it has a thinner bass to it, but still very acceptable. It has a sweet and woody midrange, well pronounced and intricate. The highs dont bite your ass off either. They are quite pleasing. It is a workhorse. It records really well, really , really well!!! I use a combination of a Neumann KM105, i think the number is, and a Groove Tube tube mic. One is small diaphram, the other large. Fantastic combination. I also use a sound hole pick up, a Fishman Rare Earth, which is fun too.
What i love about it is the sound, and i love the shape. What i did not like about it, i have mentioned and done something about!

This is a brand new '68 Reissue J45 in cherry red - same specs as the others with spruce top and mahogony back and sides. My understanding is it's a very limited edition but it cost me the same UK price as a regular J45.

The main difference between this and the standard model is the lack of a pickup, which I guess is kind of disappointing from a convienience point of view but I hate the sound of a plugged-in acoustic anyway.

I intend to buy a separate pickup if I ever need to use this guitar for live work.

This particular J45 has the famous Gibson pearloid tuning pegs which I am very happy about because I'm not a huge fan of the plasticy button ones. I think if you're going to spend this much on a guitar none of it should feel cheap and I have heard bad things about the regular tuning pegs.

I'm giving it a 6 for features because there's no pickup and a strap button around the bottom of the neck would have been nice but it's a small price to pay for owning a pretty unusual J45. And anyway, you don't buy this particular model for features.

My favourite bands are The Beatles, Teenage Fanclub, Grandaddy - that kind of thing, so hopefully that gives you some idea as to my style.

I play mostly rhythm - strumming to back up singing. Before I bought this guitar I tested Martins, Takamines, Ovations, a Lowden, a Taylor and a few others. Many of these were more expensive guitars but the J45 smoked every one of them when it came to playing my style.

The first thing that struck me is how quiet the guitar initially seems but that's not to say it is in any way weak-sounding.

It definitely is refined compared to a lot of other acoustics but in my opinion this is because it's just built for a singer/songwriter. For these purposes the sound level is perfect.

In terms of volume, a jumbo or a J45 rosewood would almost certainly outshine this guitar but if you're after a booming instrument I guess you would be going for a different model anyway.

Also, if you play hard on it, the J45 definitely responds, not losing any of that characteristic tone and it's definitely loud enough to make itself heard in a good jamming session.

Although I don't do that much fingerpicking, the J45 seems to handle it quite well. Compared to, say, a Martin D28 I think it sounds very ordinary in this department but there's still quite a lot of character there - single notes tend to 'jump' out of the soundhole making it pretty distinctive.

If you're into fingerpicking, I would say a rosewood guitar or a jumbo would definitely be the way to go - you just need that bit more bass.

Having said that, the J45 is definitely the guitar for me because of the rhythm sound. The balance is sensational - no other guitar I've played comes close. Booming (but not overbearing) bass, sweet, sweet middle and ringing trebles are evident right up the neck.

Before I played this guitar I actually thought I'd be buying a J45 Rosewood - I thought the upgrades, including the rosewood back and sides would make for a better guitar.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Playing them side by side I found this to be the far superior guitar when it comes to strumming. The rosie's bass was just a bit too strong for my liking; something I've found with a lot of rosewood guitars. I know some people swear by them but for my playing style the regular J45 fits like a glove.

If you think you're into a similar style of music as me, my advice is to test one out by playing an open G chord on one. I did and it took my breath away which is why I'm giving this guitar 10 for sound.

There seems to have been quite a few criticisms of Gibson's set-up recently and I've read about many people complaining that they've played guitars with minor cosmetic flaws, poor setup and action etc.

I've played quite a few Gibsons and I've noticed a few things here and there (I have a Les Paul with a couple of minor issues but the sound is the best I've ever heard from any instrument - guitar or otherwise!) but this J45 is set-up to perfection.

Action is wonderfully low with absolutely no buzz - low end of the neck is actually kind of like playing an electric. Bridge is totally spot-on, neck angle is perfect and I've checked the whole body and as much as I can see inside the soundhole - it's all immaculate.

The wine red finish is a little brighter than you would usually see but I can't really call this a complaint - I suspect as this guitar ages it will gradually become an even more fabulous colour.

I don't know if Gibson take extra-special care with limited editions but I honestly can't find a single flaw on this guitar - another 10 (and I'm trying to be harsh here!)

The guitar seems absolutely solid but as I have only just bought it I guess only time will tell how it gigs (that's if I decide to gig it).

They do call it 'The Workhorse' though so that can only be good.

Emailed Gibson once before purchase and got a prompt and helpful reply. I'm givig them 6 out of 10 as I find their website to be geared shamelessly towards the US market and therefore of limited value to anyone who is a customer elsewhere.

I've been playing for around 12 years and as I've played more and more guitars I keep coming back to Gibson.

I'm sure a large part of this has to do with the fact that many bands I like use Gibsons and if you want that sound nothing else is going to do it for you.

This is the first high-end acoustic I've bought and a major investment for me - there's a good chance that I won't spend this much on an acoustic again so I take this very seriously.

I played as many guitars as I could and for my money this was my only choice. I went in with a completely open mind and played a wide variety of guitars. Before I knew I wanted a Gibson I was pretty much decided on a dreadnought as I preferred the rhythm sound I was getting. Many jumbos seemed too bassy for me.

After narrowing it down to Martin, Gibson and Fylde (all just about in my price range) I went for the Gibson because of it's character and tone. I simply love the sound.

At the minute there's not much I hate. Probably my biggest gripe is the lack of a strap button on the neck as I'm not too comfortable with the old shoelace around the head of a guitar.

If this guitar were stolen I am pretty sure I'd go for a normal J45 as I don't think I'd be able to find another one of this limited edition. I'd maybe change the tuning pegs to pearloid though.

One guitar mag has said of the Gibson J-45: "You can stick your Collingses and Santa Cruzes; this is the best acoustic you've had in for years".

I know how he feels.

The J 45 is the standard Gibson round shoulder style acoustic guitar made in 2001 from all solid woods, with a spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. The body has white binding and a traditional sunburst finished top with black lacquer coloured back, sides and neck. The wood grain only shows through in the sunburst area. There is an active under saddle pickup with internal battery, but no onboard controls. ( good choice). A detailed description is available on the Gibson Montana web site.

The D 45 has a well balanced tone. The trebles are slightly bright, with a woody midrange, and a clear mellow bass. It sounds best after the strings are allowed to age for a few days. I get the best results with medium gauge strings. I have only owned this guitar for a few months and am waiting for the tone to mature with age. I bought this model to replace a Gibson J 185 which I traded two years ago. The J 45 has a more mellow tone than the crisper tone of the maple bodied J 185. It is not quite as bright as my Larrivee D 05 ( see review recently posted ). Plugged in, the pickup sounds OK, reasonably balanced, with almost no ?pizzo quack?, but I intend to use it mostly acoustically.

There was a slight ripple in the surface of the fingerboard. This would only effect the playability if the action was lowered to the extreme limit, which I don?t require. Proper adjustment of the truss rod corrects this problem when the action is set to Gibson standards. ( Due to this imperfection the price was further discounted about $300 Canadian. ) The tuners are stiff, with small buttons, and the bridge pins are cheap plastic, but the nut and saddle are well fitted. The lacquer finish on the neck does not allow the left hand to slide smoothly as compared to my Larrivee. The sunburst is nicely applied on the straight grained top. The rest of the instrument appears to be fault free. The tuning / intonation of the 24.75 inch scale is more critical to maintain than a longer 25.5 inch scale.

I always maintain my guitars in near new condition, and I do not foresee any problems. I usually detune the strings to relieve tension on the neck when they are stored. The dark lacquer finish tends to show all wear and scratches more than a clear see through finish.

I have dealt with the store owner for a few years and have always received good service, so I don?t expect any future problems.

I am quite satisfied, and the guitar has so far lived up to my expectations. This has been my hobby and I have owned several guitars over the last 40 years and now also have a Larrivee D 05, Fender US Strat, Yamaha AES 1500B. Norman B 20 Folk, early 60?s Supro Coronado, and 1965 Harmony Sovereign, - all bought new!. My Gibson J 45 shares many of the same traits as the Larrivee, the main difference being the scale length and factory installed pickup in the J 45.

woo hoo! Finally got my very own vintage Gibson acoustic. Checked the serial number and it was made in 1969; best bargain of my life. I think it's mahogany back and sides, but I could be wrong. Nevertheless this guitar is awesome. Someone stained the top - goodbye beautiful sunburst - and re-finished the heck out of it. A couple of cracks on the top, a hairline crack in back of headstock, both very solidly repaired (waddya know? the guy on ebay was telling the truth). Bracing is solid and guitar is in great shape. Neck was sanded, thinned a little, but as it works out it's cake for me to play on the lower strings when I'm standing now. Grover tuners. Not a collector's piece, but definitely a player and that's what I wanted. Gotta' do something about the intonation. No biggie.

I play mostly americana, rock n'roll ala Neil Young, Steve Earle, The Band, Wilco, that lends itself to a lot of acoustic guitar. I mostly strum and finger pick, and this guitar is more than what I've been looking for. It's very resonant, bright as hell and it's got a nice warm bottom end. All the excess finish "dullified" the sound a little but at the same time making it crisp, like it's being palm muted, and I'm really enjoying the wooden bridge/saddle. Put a Fishman Rare Earth soundhole pickup in it, and it sounded good even coming out of a crappy Fender practice amp without touching the knobs.

Action's great; electronics are great (I got that job done myself); love that vintage J-45 bracing - that's the secret ingredient, isn't it?; like I said before, gotta work the intonation a little, and probably will have done in the next day or two. It stays in tune well, but if it goes out I can't tune it without a tuner because otherwise it just doesn't work. Nothing to do but minor adjustments.

Well, it's a 1969 and it is very structurally sound: bracing, binding, neck, all solid. One thing I've noticed is that bridge is starting to collapse to the front, which I need to reinforce. I always have a backup in case of broken string. I wouldn't be afraid to play it w/o backup in fear of the guitar falling apart. For some reason I tend not to play it as hard as the other ones, but I'm not trying. I think it's because it sounds the way it does without any effort on my part as opposed to strumming my heart out on my other ones.

have not needed

I've been playing for 14 yrs, and professionally for about 7. Currently own customized Jazzmaster (w/ humbuckers), Tele, Epiphone 12 string acoustic (love the sound - great for a laminate), 70's Hummingbird copy (which I like better than any real Hummingbird I've tried) and have owned many other acoustics, hollowbodies and solid bodies. For years I was searching for that vintage acoustic sound, be it Martin, Guild, Gibson, whatever, but leaning towards Gibson. All the new ones I've tried, including J-45's, were not impressive at all, until I ran into a 60's-70's J-50 Deluxe, which I thought was it for me. Didn't have the dough, so I found another online, bought it and it was shit. Got my money back (thank you God), thought I learned my lesson, but had to take a chance on a J-45 for that price, and I won. Like I said, not a collector's piece, but it could easily become one. I, however like mine because it's a little rough and I intend to gig the crap out of it. Its weaknesses are also its strengths. My new #1 guitar.

My J45 is a late 2002 model made in the montana factory. The usual stuff in a standard (modern) J45; solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides and mahogany short scale neck (joins the body at 14th fret).
Whilst there is a fishman piezo under the bridge, there is no shoulder-mounted preamp/eq - instead the pre set preamp is mounted in the end pin inside the body of the guitar (definitely a bonus for me as I can't stnd those ugly plastic boxes defacing the side of a cool guitar and negatively affecting the tone).
The finish is a wonderful deep burst on the top perfectly complementing the figuring of the spruce. On the back, sides and neck the finish is almost too dark to see the wood (very dark brown).
The Dots on the neck are Gibson's "pearloid", and there is no binding on the neck and the headstock is similarly minimalist with the traditional Gibson "tulip" shape sporting nothing more than a gold screened logo.
The tuners are the old style kluson type with white kidney shaped plastic pegs - the same colour as the body binding which almost loooks too white, but also matches the plain soundhole rosette which is finished with a tortoishell scratchplate.
The bridge is the "reverse bridge" rosewood type with cream plastic (crappy!) pins and two pearloid dots and the usual gibbo type nut is (unusual for gibbo acoustics) well cut.
A sexy black solid case was included.
Overall - pretty good; but BEWARE - DO NOT BUY ONE WITHOUT PLAYING THAT VERY ONE - I played on 11 before I found one which wasn't a piece of crap ina almost all departments.

This guitar really does sound wonderful. I play pretty much all styles both live and in studios - mostly flatpicking and hybrid but not too much fingerstyle, but with this guitar it really does not matter what you play; it's definitely a workhorse. I had a Taylor 712, but I am quite a heavy player and i just couldn't dig in without sounding harsh, so I decided on a bigger bodied guitar.
At the bottom, the sound is earthy warm and woody - think ROUND. The bass is not at all woolly, though and lead smoothly into some very sweet mids. All Slope shouldered dreadnoughts share this feature - dynamic and very expressive mids; and when you dig in or lay back you'll always be able to go that little bit further than other guitarists. The top end is also very sweet and singy with harmonics all over the place - never ever harsh!
This guitar has a warm wonderfully integrated and sweet sound - perfectly between the sound of a Martin OM and a D. If you play a lot of figerstyle as well as flatpicking, you may consider a different guitar in addition to this one; it tends to be quite quiet (but that could just be me) - but i cannot think of a single acoustic which does both as well as this one - and it will only get better.
I initially tried a J45 because I couldn't afford a J200, didn't like the J185 and couldn't find a nice D28. I played on an amazing Bourgeois Slope-D (and have since played on 2 more) and that really turned me on to the body shape (i could't justify #2,500) and so I looked to the J45.
Plugged in it sounds good too, but incredible with a nice condenser stuck in front of it!

Set up perfect for me "from the box", and whist the insides seemed perfectly in order and tidy and there was no glue showing anywhere, the frets on the treble side are still a little sharp.
Everything else was pretty damn good, but if i'm gonna be anal about it the finish (although well applied and and) has sunk slighly in the way that the finish has sunk into a vintage guitar - I like it but it's still a flaw.
So.........

It's a Gibson and if it starts good it stays good (with luck).
I've had it 2 months and have played a bunch of gigs and a load of sessions and it's fine.

No problems yet, but gibson USA are great and rossettti (uk distributors) are notoriously bad.

I love my J45 and so does everybody who hears it. I've been playing for 11 only years now but I do it for a living and I love tone! This guitar has it and is everything my Taylor 712 was not in tems of sound: There is bags of power there but not at the expense of sweetness or dynamics. It looks great too though, and is simple and elegant for a jumbo (I can't stand dripping with gold type acoustics).
Having said all this, what first turned me on to the body shape was the Bourgeois Slope-D acoustic guitar. If I could justify the extra #1,300, I would have got one, just because they are that little bit better in every way and are hand made (and where are all the Gibson Luthiers that are meant to be in the custom shop?). But that's over twice the price and if I can't justify the extra i can't say it's worth it.
If you're gonna think about buying one - MAKE SURE YOU FIND A NICE ONE BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY DOGS OUT THERE.
When are Gibson and Martin gonna sort it out?
Overe

Gibson J45 (40s reissue), made in 2003 in Bozeman, Montana.
Solid Mahogany back and sides, sitka spruce top. 24 3/4 scale with Schertler Blue Stick transducer pickup. Round shoulder jumbo body style with indian rosewood fretboard/bridge and mother of pearl dot markers. Gotoh tuners with white buttons. Came with Gibson/TKL hardshell case, soundhole humidifier, warranty papers.

I play rock, blues and occasionally a bit of folk and jazz influenced pieces. Occasionally plug it into the solid state Channel 1 of a Vox Cambridge 30 for a nice acoustic amplified sound. Pick up sounds great and is very clean. Not a completely natural sound to my ears but very pleasing. Un amped the guitar sounds incredible. Excellent throaty bass response, balanced well with bright bell-like treble. Midrange is not particularly heavy but its there, and it fills out the sound well. Very well balanced and has that traditional woody, deep Gibson sound. Did I mention the throaty bass?? I love this sound, it could be a little stronger in the mids but only slightly... over all its almost EXACTLY what I what I think an acoustic should sound like. This is one of the main reasons this guitar is a classic.

I ordered this through Wichita Band in Kansas. They do set ups on all their guitars that come in and inspect each one so there arent going to be any sloppy ones laying around. Set up was just what I asked for. The guitars finish is almost flawless, one small imperfection in the lacquer on the edge of the fretboard but its about the size of a grain of rice. The rest of the finish is near perfect. The sunburst is beautiful and has a nice fade to it. Nice sunbursts are an art and Gibson does them well, Ive rarely seen an ugly Gibson burst. The insides of the guitar are also quite clean. Braces are nicely shaved, purfling is set well and there are no traces of excess glue. The mahogany used (honduras) is very nice and has beautiful grain that has a nice ripple to it down the back. The tuners are often referred to as looking 'cheap' since they have the white plastic buttons but they are meant to replicate the WW II model and they are made by Gotoh, so they are definitely decent quality. Ive expereinced no problems so far. The only real problem I had with the guitar was that someone in QC had apparently misread the serial number on the headstock and the result was that the soundhole label had a serial that differed by one digit. I contacted Wichita and supposedly there is a new label on the way with instructions. Not a huge problem.

Hardware seems solid and I am sure the J is up to live playing...Ive seen more than one handle that :)

Finish is nitrocellulose lacqer and is designed to age with the wood, ultimately making it sound better in the future. Strap button is solid and Id gig without a backup no problem.

Dealt through Wichita Band over the serial number. They have a rep at Gibson who responded the same day they sent the complaint in. Seems solid, but Ive never dealt with Gibson directly.

Ive been playing for about 5 years with bands and for my own enjoyment. I own a Gibson SG, Laney VC30 2x12, Vox Cambridge and my previous acoustics included an Epiphone J200, '66 Caballero and 64 LGO. The J45 is my first 'serious' acoustic and I settled on it after playing a few taylors (5-600 series) and martins (D16, 28) and realizing that none of them could replicate that J45 sound and feel. I love almost everything about this guitar except that I do wish it had the parallelogram inlays that are found on the southern jumbo. I like the mostly understated looks though, and the traditional feel and vintage vibe (slope shoulders) this thing has. The sound is what really does it though.

This guitar was exactly as described, having a Sitka Spruce to, Rosewood sides and back, ebony fingerboard and bridge, Grover tuners, and simple appointments in the way of decoration - just the way I wanted it.

Keep in mind this is not just a new guitar, it's a new, new guitar, fresh out of Gibson's Montana factory and direct to me, next day delivery. The varnish smell wet at this point, but even now, the sound, having not matured yet, is deep, full, loud, and out of this world. Could be a little louder for fingerpicking, but with a flat pick, I get the volume and rich tone, a little on the dark side but oh so well balanced, that rosewood gives. It's near perfect and will only improve with time.

The fit and finish are flawless, with beautiful matched rosewood sides and back, and the front done in Gibson's legendary sunburst. I may have the action tweaked a bit because it seems just slightly high, but I have been used to an electric archtop with slick action, so it may just be a matter of getting used to it.

My guitar seems as well built as any I have ever seen, but it is an acoustic and requires a certain amount of care that let's say, a solid body electric doesn't require.

What can I say about Gibson? I ordered this guitar through Music Villa, via the web, and Paul called Gibson, which is right there in Bozeman, and had a friend pick one out for me. Well, when I received the guitar, there was a letter from Geno stating the he did infact pick out my guitar making sure every aspect was the best he could fine in what was available. I called him on their 800# and sure enough, he was not only there, but remembered the transaction in detail. If you are considering a Gibson, use Music Villa. You will not be sorry. Beats the hell out of the scratched up versions you find in local stores.

I have been playing off and on for 30 years, and am finally able to afford the quality of instruments that I have always craved. I do the Saturday morning basement thing with some other old hippies, playing mostly Country, Blues, and some Rock oldies. My other guitar is a Gibson ES135, a wonderful compromise between a 175 and a 335, giving me the jazz tones or with the tone up and on the bridge pickup, the harsher blues and country tones. If my J-45 was stolen, lost, or broken, I would replace it in a heartbeat. It's a wonderful, understated elegent working tool - the best of all worlds. Anyone thinking of buying this guitar, contact me at the address below if you have any questions not answered here. The only negative I can say about Gibson products is they are a bit spendy, but then, good things have their cost.

Made Between 1943-45 in the USA, 19 frets , solid mahogany top (rare, huh), solid mahogany back and sides, maple neck with walnut center stripe, alot of cracks and a really worn finish.

I play mainly old time country, bluegrass rythm, some blues, and Willie Nelsonesque leads. It's great. I can't quite describe the sound. It's very well balanced with the highs and the lows, great definition, and it's very dry sounding (from the all mahogany construction, I presume). I think it could be used for most any kind of steel string playing. Beautiful.

I couldn't judge this on a nearly 60 year old guitar. The finish is nice and cracked and worn through in areas

She's is pretty beat up, but I can't blame that on her. she was obviously played heavily, and shows it. But it also shows that the woods been broken in well too. It's beautiful.

I contacted asking them about model information for various years on the J-45 and they responded within 48 hrs. I doubt they'd help me with any repairs. I'm not the original owner

I've been playing for awhile. I have owned a Martin D-3532, an American Strat, a 1962 Danelectro, a 1965 Fender Mustang, a Dobro Hula Blues, an old stella acoustic, an old Kay, an Alvarez A-700 Mandolin, and a bart reiter special open-back banjo. Most of them that are still remaining have to go to pay for this one though. If it were stolen I'd look for another good one, apparently with the old gibson's it's a hit or miss situation. I love the fact that it's old, but I hate the little ticks that come along with it being old. I compared it to other old guitars that folks I know had. I wish for know other features. I'd like to share, I love it.

This is a 2002 Bozeman MT Gibson J45. It comes equiped with a Fishman UST (the newer ones I am told have the Schertler Blue Sticks but this one does not).

The wood is Mahogany B/S and neck, and sitka top. The top finish is a simply gorgeous sunburst (I don't think anyone does a better sunburst than Gibson). The Nitro finish is like glass, although I can see a very minor bit of orangepeel under close inspection, but this is very minor. The fit and finish overall are superb, as good as the best Martins or Taylors I have seen recently.

The only drawback in terms if materials in the rosewood on the fretboard could be a little nicer or even a bound fretboard would be better. The fret ends, while nicely finished are a little noticeable while moving along the neck. The neck shape overall is very comfortable though and a real pleasure to play. Not as narrow and fast as a Taylor or recent Martin, but still very playable, especially with the short scale.

The tuners, while cheap (the bottons are white plastic) seem to work very well and do not slip at all.

This is why a bought this guitar. The sound is simply tremendous. This is a brand new guitar, but the clarity, depth of tone and sustain are the best that I have ever heard in a new Mahogany B/S guitar.

The bass is very nice and tight (thumpy and full though as well) and the mids, while very present are mellow (not harsh or strident at all). The highs are crystal clear as well and sustain very well. I had a Martin D18V and it also was an extremely good sounding guitar. However, that guitar was little too loud and boomy for my taste.

As someone else has already said in another review, the tone of this guitar seems to draw you in. It's REALLY hard to put down--it's such a pleasure to play and hear.

No complaints really other than I would prefer a bound fingerboard. I think that is about the only aspect of the J45 that could be improved (in fact, the Rosewood J45 has a much nicer fretboard).

I have not had the guitar plugged-in yet, but again, it's a Fishman UST and I know the sound will need substantial eq to remove som ethe inherent UST quackiness. That was a given though, and I really like that there is no 'barn door' in the side of this gorgeous guitar!

Too sooon to tell, but I have heard Gibson is pretty responsive to their warranties.

n/a

I give this guitar a 9 due to the caliber of the fretboard only (could be a notch better i.m.o.).

You buy these guitars for the sound and overall the vibe that these J45s have in spades. There are simply no imitations for these guitars.

Features are as described elsewhere. This guitar is simplicity at its best and that's why I give it a 10. Mine is a 2002 model. Actually this is my second J-45. I'd been dreaming about this guitar since I was a kid and finally ordered one from Musicians Friend. First one I got had a defect with the truss rod cover. I was SO disappointed because the guitar was SO beautiful otherwise. So I sent it back to MF and emailed Gibson Montana to let them know how upset I was about it. Well, they were just as upset as I was and bent over backwards to make it right for me. Ended up, Gibson Montana arranged for their Master Luthier Ren Ferguson to hand pick a J-45 from the line and they shipped it overnight to me direct from the factory! The one I got is absolutely perfect in every way. The nitrocellulose finish is flawless, not a drip anywhere. The SMELL of this thing is awesome. (You should have a category for smell.) You just breathe in the aroma of that rosewood and maple. Action was a tad high for me (I'm used to a Fender Strat with .10's). But I quickly got used to it. First string change, I lowered the saddle just a bit and now it's perfect. As for accessories, it came with a nice hard shell case (made in Canada, can you believe that? Can't we make those in the good ol' USA?), a sound hole humidifier, and the guys even thru in a Gibson Montana ball cap! Is that great or what?

Sound is awesome. D-e-e-p bass, crisp treble and suits my style perfectly. I'm a front porch picker and this guitar gets as loud as I want it to get and has all the character I'd ever want. I've played it thru my Fender blues Jr., and it sounds incredible amp'ed too. Just as true amp'ed as it is acoustic.

As I said earlier, the first one I got from MF had a defect with the truss rod cover. Somehow, the truss rod was not set properly and it caused the cover to not lay flat against the head. But on this new one, everything is absolutely perfect. I took a mirror and checked out the body from inside, and it is truly a work of art. No finish flaws at all on this one.

I suspect this guitar will last thru several lifetimes, and I fully intend to pass it on to one of my kids or (hopefully) grandkids some day. I've heard a lot about the nitrocellulose finish checking over time, but I don't expect that to be a problem for this one. It will never leave my house in my life time.

All I can say about Gibson Montana customer support is AWESOME! The guy that helped me out with my problem is Don Rufatto (hope I got that last name right). Anyway, they jumped over some hoops to make it right with me when I had the problem with the first guitar from MF and the result is I now own a real gem of a Gibson. Truly a dream come true for me.

I should also say a word about Musicians Friend and their price guarantee policy. I first ordered this guitar at $1599 and I thought that was a fair price. Later, just on a whim, I surfed the net for a lower price and found one at some obscure dealer. Price was $1149 and the dealer only had one in stock. MF matched the price! So I ultimately wound up with this beautiful J-45, handpicked by Gibson's master luther, for a really great price. How great is that?!!!

I've been playing guitar since nine years old. That's 37 years and counting. I was weaned on Hank Williams and grew into the Beatles, and on and on. I originally saw a picture of Hank, Sr. playing this Gibson when I was probably ten years old and I've always dreamed of owning one. Over the years, I've owned numerous high end electrics but I never bought a good acoustic. This was my dream and always out of reach, since if I had the money I would generally opt for another electric. Now that I'm a bit more financially able, I considered and tried out several others before settling on the J-45. Martin D-28 was my other choice. But for sentimental reasons, I opted for the Gibson. Made the right choice! (Though, I'm still thinking about picking up a D-28 too.)

2001 Gibson J-45 Hertitage Sunburst Finish - Boseman Montanta- I picked mine up online. It has all the basic features solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides. No silly EQ or plastic control box on top, just the fishman piezo pick-up mounted under the bridge and the plug at the base of the guitar where the strap attaches. Typical white bean style Gibson tuners - that look flimsy but apparently last forever (so my friends dad says). Guitar neck is thin and the action is very low and easy to play. It came with a deluxe hardshell case (blue interior) and soundhole humidifier. Overall it's a very decent looking guitar/with a simple, classy pickup system.

I've never heard a better sounding acoustic. Granted, I've only been playing 6 years, and played an inexpensive Washburn (D-10) before, but I've played a few Taylors and Martins. I think the J-45 has the best balance of bass/treble. The bass thunders, but the treble still rings nicely. The only problem you may face with this guitar is volume. You will have to strum as loud as you can to try to be heard on a busy street corner. However, if you can afford this guitar, you shouldn't be playing on a street corner. To me, volume doesn't matter I gennerally play in my apartment and record on my 4-track. The pickup is decent, as good as can be expected for an acoustic, but I don't have an acoustic amp, so I'm not in a great position to judge it plugged in. Overall, sound is excellent, the tone is sick.

Action was medium-low when I pulled it out of the case, so i kinda lucked out. However, whoever set-up this guitar, never checked the pickup. The low-E string was not being picked up by the bridge piezo, so i took it into the local luthier and he had to "take out a wedge" which was supposed to be removed at the factory. After that, the pickup worked like gold, so I think Gibson needs to tighten down on their QA/QC out there in Montana. The finish was/is beautiful and everything else about the guitar was fine.

I took this from Connecticut to New Orleans LA, (approx 1500 miles) storing it in the back of my pickup truck in the middle of August. Tough as nails.

I've never delt with Gibson, but I had the pickup fixed after I got the guitar and didn't pay a cent. The lifetime Gibson warranty covered the repair. The pickup is covered for a year, all other guitar components are covered for life.

The thing looks classy, plays like butter and has an undeniable tone. I'm not sure if its worth $1600, but I'll let you know in about 20 years - I'm going to hang on to this one and find out. If it were stolen I'd buy another, maybe think about the Rosewood model even. If you've got the cash and play enough, go grab a J-45.

1999 J-45 made in Bozeman, Montana. Solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, sunburst gloss finish, 24 1/2" scale, 1 3/4" nut, hard shell case, factory-installed pickup.

Rich, full Gibson acoustic sound. Gets better all the time. Perfect for the folk/rock, singer/songwriter stuff I mostly play, strumming and some fingerpicking. Has a thick, percussive sound that you don't get with a lot of sweeter sounding acoustics. The J-45 has guts. I love it. Sounds great plugged into my AR Acoustic amp, too.

All great. I bought it used, so I can't say how it was set up from the factory. Had the action adjusted at my local shop a few months ago (it was getting just a little high), and it's perfect now. The fit and finish is great. A solid, well-made guitar.

Judging from my experience with the guitar, and from what I've read, it seems like a sturdy, reliable instrument. No concerns here.

Haven't dealt with Gibson. No warranty, since I'm the second owner.

I've been playing for almost 20 years now, but only gotten fairly serious about it the last 5. I also own a Martin D16GT, a Martin D1R, and an Art & Lutherie Cedar Top acoustic. The Martins are both fine guitars with lots to recommend them, and the A&L is a great value, but the J-45 blows them all away. It's easily my favorite. Not only is the tone superior, but it's easier to play than the Martins, due to the 24 1/2 inch scale and the 1 3/4 inch nut. My fingertips are kind of thick, not tapered, and the wider fretboard really makes this guitar a joy to play.

I really got lucky buying this on the internet -- I don't think I'd do that again on a high-end guitar like this. I played two brand new J-45s in a music store over the weekend, and they were nothing like mine. I don't know if that's because I got a good one, or because mine is getting "played in, " but there sure was a difference. At the price I paid, this is an outstanding guitar.

This 2001 Gibson J-45 was made in Bozeman Montana and has the specs described in other reviews. This round shouldered dreadnought has a solid Sitka spruce top, solid Honduras mahoghany back and sides, Indian rosewood fingerboard and reverse belly bridge, Kluson-style nickel tuners (made by Gotoh now, I think), Fishman p-up,etc. Comes with a Dampit humidifier and Gibson pick.

This Gibson suits my style perfectly because I am, for the most part, a strummer, not a finger-style player. It's tone is rich, meaty, woodsy and full of vintage soul. I bought a Taylor 310 the day before I bought this guitar, and had to take it back. The Taylor was beautiful with flawless construction, but it was so bright and shimmering, it got on my nerves. The Gibson is a cannon. Strum hard and it really projects. Go soft and it sounds great too. Suits my folk/rock style very well.

Action is a little high, but prevents any fret buzz. Still, the neck is very comfortable all the way up. Some acoustic makers are trying to catch electric crossover players by using really fast necks. I say, let the electric players get used to an acoustic neck the way it ought to be. The nitrocellulose finish is beautiful. And, the vintage sunburst finish is is a breath of fresh air after looking at all of the natural spruce tops that pervade the market today. I'm a bit of a contrarian, so I'm really glad my guitar does not look like everyone else's. My only complaint is the use of the Fisher-Price plastic bridge pins! I don't know why they couldn't use the same Tusq material they used for the saddle and nut. It's silly for a guitar of this quality and price.Tusq bridge pins will be ordered soon!

The J-45 seems built to last. Since it will never leave the confines of my house, it'll do just fine, I'm sure.

I e-mailed Gibson with a few questions after my purchase. They always responded within 24 hours. I'm happy with that.

I've been playing off and on for many years, but got really serious again about 7 years ago. I'll never make a good cowboy because I don't fall in love with my guitars!! I've had a lot of fun buying and selling them with the goal of playing as many different shapes and brands as I can. I do keep drifting back to dreadnoughts. Over the last several years I have owned a Taylor 314, Martin SPD-16, Taylor 810 LTD, and Guild F-30R. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but hey, I'm having fun. When I bought this Gibson J-45, I A/B- ed it against a Guild D-40, Taylor 410, Gibson J-180, Martin D-18 and it just spoke to me. This one might be a keeper, but if it were lost or stolen....

2002 model J-45 from the gibson factory in montana.solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and bridge. very nice lacquer finish on a vintage sunburst top. round shoulder body style and comes with a factory installed under the bridge saddle pickup. there are no controls on the guitar, just a battery tucked away inside. vintage style tuners, a 24 3/4 scale neck, and being more acustomed to martin guitars the frets seem taller and fatter. also comes with a very nice case(not plastic). the guitar fits very snug in the case and should provide excellent protection. i give this guitar a high rating for features because it has everything i was looking for and nothing i wasn't. simplicity was the feature i was after.

having played guitar over 25 years i have owned dozens of guitars, mostly martins.(rosewood and mahogany) i have also had guilds, taylors, alvarez-yairis, and i have to admit, even one ovation.LOL (no offense.) this gibson is dripping with tone. it has a very warm and bright sound and the bottom end just rumbles. not as loud as many of the martins i have had, but it has that quality tone thats keeps you from putting it down for hours on end. the guitar sounds good all the way up the neck. open chords of course sound good, but the barred chords up the neck have the same sweet liveliness. the guitar suits my style very well, very bluesy when you want to be and the larger frets make it much easier to bend strings. traditional country strumming sounds fantastic as well as do bluegrass licks. the only drawback there is in a traditional bluegrass setting you may want more projection to compete with other instuments. really like the feel of the neck and the fretwork and the guitar is very comfortable to play. open tunings and slide sound great as well.

the set-up from the factory was actually just about right, the only problem for me is they come from the factory with 12-52 gauge strings and i have always used 13's so i will need some adjusting to get that right. the finish on the guitar is flawless and the sunburst has always been one of my favorites. if i had to pick a weak spot about the guitar i would say the rosewood on the fretboard and bridge is not the most attractive but that is getting pretty nit-picky.

this guitar will be a great one for playing live. when you play it people tend to take notice of its huge tone. i would definitely use it on a gig with no back-up.

not had much contact with the company. i emailed one technical question and received an answer a few hours later. i called customer service and they were very helpful in answering my questions. while i wasn't asking them to do anything for me, they seemed sincere and appreciative that i bought one of their products.

been playing over 25 years. also own a d-28. if this guitar were lost or stolen i would definitely replace it with the exact same model. i love the tone, the neck and fretwork and its playability. as far as what i don't like about it, well i just havn't got to that point yet. don't get me wrong, it doesn't do everything, none do, but it does cover a wide range of bases incredibly well. i compared the J-45 to many other guitars like the taylor 510, martin d-18 and a spd-16and the gibson seemed like the best all around. when you combine the price, performance, tone, feel, and appearance, it is really an instument that is hard to beat. a previous reveiw stated its price was too high and used the martin d-28 as a reference. well, the martin is rosewood, but with the gibson you get a lacquered finish, scalloped bracing, factory installed pickup, and a real case. while i have only had the guitar for a few weeks, this is the best sounding NEW guitar i have ever purchased. a very strong value for the money. i did use the other reviews on the j-45 in making my decision and must say most of them for the most part are right on. this guitar just suits me particulaly well.

I won't bore everyone with a repeat of the standard features. Mine is the spruce and mahogany version, in vintage sunburst, and is a 2002 model. It has a factory fitted Fishman under-saddle pickup and end-pin jack. The tuners are the vintage Kluson-style (enclosed, but not sealed) with white buttons. It came with a Gibson-branded TKL hard case, a Gibson sound-hole humidifier, and a Gibson accessory pack containing a polishing cloth, some Gibson Pump Polish, a string winder and a pick.

I play a lot of blues, ragtime and country fingerstyle. But then, I also play a lot of other styles, sometimes with a pick, sometimes with fingers. I capo up a lot, occasionally use alternate tunings. No matter what I do with this guitar, it sounds fabulous. It has a very "woody" sound to it, very rootsy. I have it strung with 12-52 Elixir Nano-webs, and in this configuration it works well for everything I play. I love it.

The guitar was well set up at the factory, as per Gibson's standard specs. The quality of the woods, the even-ness of the sunburst, the quality of hardware etc. is all great. Internally, the workmanship is flawless. Externally, it's excellent, but there are one or two extremely minor finishing flaws which I just don't think should be there on an expensive guitar - tiny marks in the wood below the lacquer, and a few small lacquer runs or bumps. However, since this is a truly hand-crafted instrument, you can't expect the perfect finish you'd get on a Japanese factory-built Takamine, for instance. The only other minor gripe I have is with the white plastic buttons on the vintage tuners, and the plastic bridge pins. In both cases they feel cheap and are not well finished, with moulding lines clearly visible and noticable to the touch. I will replace the bridge pins with some Martin spares I have. Other than that, the action, fit and finish are excellent.

I can't really comment with any authority on reliability and durability, as I've only owned the guitar a short while. However, assuming it's built to the same standard as other Gibson guitars, it should outlast me! It's as solid as any other quality guitar I've come across, and I know that many professional musicians rely on their J45's for live work.

Haven't had any need to contact Gibson, so I can't comment.

I have been playing on and off for 20 years. I change my guitars quite regularly, just for the fun of owning and trying different models. At the time of writing, in addition to this J45 I have a '76 Gibson Mk.35, a 2002 Takamine AN45, a '74 Antoria J200 copy, a '72 Aria "John Pearse" Folk Model, and a '69/'70 Eros dreadnought. If my J45 was lost or stolen, I'd be mighty upset and would certainly buy another one. I love the looks, the sound, the playability (the neck is fantastic). I tried a lot of other guitars, but this one just sounded and felt right. The only guitar I can imagine might feel or sound any better would be a vintage J45.

Made sometime during 2001 in Bozeman, Montana. Inspected and shipped the tail end of 2001, bought July 2002. Same specs as other reviews and nicely-reviewed lefty of 8/2/2000: "Solid spruce top, solid Mahogany back and sides, Dovetail neck joint. Vintage sunburst finish. . . . It has 1940's stlyle tuners with white buttons." See other reviews for details. The sunburst on mine seems a tad darker than most I have seen--dark brown to black. The finish is flawless.
Mine came with the Fishman under saddle pickup and endpin jack.

Guitar came with a nice black Gibson case with acoustic logo ("tone, feel, appearance"). In the case was a soundhole rubber tube humdifier thingy and a pick emblazoned with the same logo as the case.

I am mostly a blues player. One acoustic guitars, I noodle and write and practice.

I have poo pooed Gibson acoustic guitars for 30+ years. Most of them sound like a good guitar with a blanket thrown over the top.

A couple years ago, I took my Martin to a little unplugged blues jam and it got smoked by an old J-160e with green strings. Since then, I've kept my eyes open for a lefty J-45-type guitar.

I was really revved when I found a J-45 a couple of years ago. The one I found sounded, well, like a good guitar with a blanket thrown over the top--dead. So when I ventured along with a couple friends to a guitar store we frequent, I had NO clue that I would fall in love. I grabbed this guitar for a trial strum or two and coulden't put it down! This guitar is amazing! Every note is there. I'm not a REAL acoutic guitar player--I play them much like an electric--but this particular J-45 had no problem being whomped on, stroked, chorded, or single stringed. To me, it is the perfect all-around guitar for blues, folk, country, jazz, whatever. Being a lefty, I don't have the time with many brands and types of acoutic guitars that a lot of my friends have had, but this J-45 seems as well balanced as ANYTHING I hope to find. My friend said it had that J-45 "nutty" sound. To me, it's almost alive with sound, bassy but not as bassy as a Martin dreadnaught; trebely, but not as trebely as a Taylor can be.

It's just a great all around guitar. And again, I'm surprised. Either Gibson is trying harder than ever before or this was some sort of mistake. After all these years, I can't believe I bought a Gibson acoustic!?!?

Although it has the onboard pickup, I doubt that I will plug it in much. I'm bascially an electric player.

I have noticed no flaws on the J-45. Action from the factory is satisfactory. Wood is beautiful, as is the paint.

I've seen a lot of older acoustic guitars with problems: bridges pulling up, tops pulling up, neck outta whack, so I plan to baby the J-45. It will see mainly living room playing. I should think it will outlast me. There is only the endpin/strap button. I will add a button at the neck for stand-up playing.

Both the dealer and Gibson are standing behind this guitar--I'm not worried. Seasonal adjustments and string height, I can do myself.

I have been playing guitar for 29 years with varying degrees of seriousness: sit-around guy, jamming with friends, and in working bands.

Currently, I have a nice collection of guitars and amps.

If this one were lost or stolen, I don't think I'd live long enough (I'm a middle aged guy) to find another great sounding Gibson. I've only heard a handful in my life.

The superior sound and quality made me buy this guitar. I didn't need it or really go shopping for it, but once I played it, I HAD to have it before it disappeared into the hands of another. I have owned two Martins and played many a Taylor, Larivee, Guild, you name it. Guitars are wood and they are an iffy proposition, especially if you are left handed and have to take what's offered. When you find a guitar with this much magic, there is no question--you buy it.

The only thing I wish it had is a twin brother.