I am offering a Gibson J-160E VS from 2008, a crafted in Bozeman, Montana (USA), all solid timber acoustic guitar model featuring the legendary Slope Shoulder Dreadnought body design, resonant Sitka spruce top, back and sides made of warm-sounding mahogany,set mahogany neck with round neck profile and 43.8mm bone nut, bound rosewood fingerboard with shimmering mother-of-pearl dot inlays, high-quality Grover Rotomatic tuners, and P-90 pickup in a beautifully executed Vintage Sunburst high-gloss nitrocellulose finish with tortoise pickguard and cream bindings in very good condition, complete with black Gibson deluxe hardshell case and professional setup featuring 12-53 Elixir 80/20 strings.

The Gibson J-160E is one of the most famous electro-acoustic guitars in music history and is inextricably linked to the Beatles. John Lennon and George Harrison each purchased a J-160E as early as 1962 and used the model extensively in the studio and on stage in the years that followed. The J-160E combines the traditional appearance of a Gibson Slope Shoulder Dreadnought with a P-90 pickup and classic volume/tone controls—a concept that was already highly innovative in the 1950s, which immortalized the guitar with its characteristic sound on numerous early Beatles recordings.

The 2008 model offered here combines this historic design with a high-quality selection of solid woods. The Sitka spruce top ensures clear response and projection, while the solid mahogany back and sides contribute the typical warm, midrange-rich, and dry Gibson tone. In contrast to the ladder bracing found on models from the 1950s and 1960s, the scalloped X-bracing allows the top to vibrate freely and gives the guitar a full and dynamic sound even when played acoustically.

When amplified, the J-160E produces a warm, characterful, and slightly gritty vintage sound thanks to its special P-90 pickup—a sound that’s distinctly different from a modern piezo system. The volume and tone controls recessed into the top allow you to shape the sound directly on the guitar—ideal for Beatles-style sounds, folk, blues, rock, and singer-songwriter applications.

A sound sample of the model can be found above at the end of the photo gallery.

The set mahogany neck with a round profile, a 43.8mm nut width, and a short 628.6mm Gibson scale length offers a pleasantly traditional playing feel with comparatively low string tension. The bound rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dots, Grover Rotomatic tuners, and the reverse belly rosewood bridge round out the high-quality features.

Visually, the J-160E features a classic Vintage Sunburst finish, whose warm color gradient harmonizes beautifully with the tortoise pickguard and cream bindings. The thin nitrocellulose finish further emphasizes the authentic Gibson character.

Technical Specifications:

• Origin: Bozeman, MT, USA
• Year of Manufacture: 2008
• Body Shape: 15-Fret (!) Round Shoulder Dreadnought
• Top: Sitka spruce (solid)
• Bracing: Scalloped X-bracing
• Back/Sides: Mahogany (solid)
• Neck: Mahogany, set
• Neck profile: Round
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with mother-of-pearl dot inlays, bound
• Nut width: 43.8mm, TUSQ
• Bridge: Reverse Belly rosewood bridge with compensated TUSQ saddle
• Tuners: Grover Rotomatic
• Pickups: P-90
• Electronics: 1x Volume & 1x Tone control
• Body binding: Cream, multi-ply
• Rosette: Concentric rings
• Pickguard: Tortoise
• Finish: Vintage Sunburst high-gloss, nitrocellulose
• Scale length: 628.6mm
• Serial No.: 00458014
• Includes black Gibson deluxe hardshell case

This guitar is in very good condition and technically flawless. Visually, there is occasional minor superficial wear (see photos). The frets are still in good condition.

The instrument has been professionally set up with 12-53 Elixir 80/20 strings, and I (a long-time guitar teacher) will ship it fully insured with DHL for €49.99 within Germany or for €89.99 within the EU. Worldwide shipping available—individual shipping costs upon request.

All photos shown are of the actual instrument for sale.