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GIBSON J45 STANDARD - ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR
HERITAGE CHERRY SUNBURST
SERIAL#20495160 / PRODUCT# MCRS45HCS
BRAND NEW UNPLAYED

AUTHORIZED GIBSON DEALER
OPEN FOR PICS AND INSPECTION ONLY.


The Standard for Acoustic Guitars

A veritable icon of American craftsmanship, the Gibson Acoustic J-45 Standard’s storied legacy traces back to 1942 and its ensuing status as “the workhorse” of acoustic guitar designs. Originally named after its modest $45 price tag and “jumbo” body, the J-45 has inspired generations of guitarists and fueled the sounds of countless classic recordings — if you’re even tangentially familiar with the classic rock, pop, and country music of the 20th century, you’re already well-acquainted with the J-45’s inimitable drawl. This slope-shouldered dreadnought guitar’s Sitka spruce top, hand-scalloped X-bracing, and mahogany back and sides deliver a midrange-minded projection, deep bass, and crisp decay, supplying what many guitarists consider to be the defining sound of a steel-string acoustic guitar. On the opposite end, the J-45 Standard modernizes its historic formula with an easy-playing mahogany neck in Gibson’s SlimTaper profile, topped with a sleek 12-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard. What’s more, this J-45 is ready to take on any stage, anywhere, thanks to its onboard LR Baggs VTC electronics. Lastly, the Gibson J-45 Standard comes crowned with Grover Rotomatic tuning machines and draped in a nitrocellulose lacquer finish that will gracefully age the more you play. When you pick up a Gibson J-45 Standard, you’re not just playing any acoustic guitar; you’re playing a true piece of American musical history.

Gibson’s steel-string “workhorse”

The Gibson J-45 debuted in 1942 during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history, striking just after the Great Depression and right at the beginning of World War II. Thus, it’s no surprise that the J-45 was initially intended to be an affordable “workhorse” instrument, forgoing the exquisite aesthetic adornments of the brand’s higher-end models to provide working musicians with an affordable, reliable, and acoustically outstanding guitar. In the decades to follow, the J-45 found its way into the hands of countless country, rock, and pop musicians, forever changing the course of popular music with its dry and thumping drawl.

American craftsmanship at its finest

While the Gibson Acoustic factory in Bozeman certainly leverages the power of modern construction technologies when required, the truth is that guitars like the J-45 Standard are still largely handbuilt by a statured team of skilled craftspeople. Gibson is renowned for flat top guitars, but the J-45’s top actually boasts a 28-foot radius with a 12-foot radius on the back. The hand-scalloped internal bracing is flexed to match the back and top, allowing the strings to vibrate in concert with the top, delivering an exceptionally even string response. From the binding installation, fingerboard fretting, neck setting, and laborious finishing to the intensely manual process of bending the instrument’s side with old-school presses, Gibson Acoustic guitars epitomize the ideal of a traditionally made American instrument. Every step of the process relies on the expertise and experience of the Bozeman team, with the process largely mirroring the methods that Gibson built its 6-string reputation upon in the 20th century.

Of course, Gibson Acoustic’s PLEK-treated frets represent one significant deviation from vintage protocol. This process utilizes a computer-controlled machine that evaluates and surgically levels your frets to a perfect plane. Not only does the PLEK process eliminate the potential for fret buzz from uneven frets, but it also ensures that every note on the fingerboard rings true with easy-playing action. Rest assured, every guitar crafted in the Bozeman factory undergoes this process, providing you with optimal playability from your very first strum.

Built in Bozeman in the handcrafted Kalamazoo tradition

For more than eight decades, Gibson’s acoustic instruments were crafted in the historic Parsons Street Factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gibson’s acoustic and electric guitars were built side-by-side there for much of the company’s history. Subsequently, production was relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, over the course of several years between the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Although this change of scenery worked brilliantly for Gibson’s electric lineup, it was quickly discovered that the hot and humid climate of the American South was perhaps not the ideal setting for acoustic guitar building.

Gibson’s acoustic division ultimately packed up its side presses and chisels and journeyed off to the picturesque city of Bozeman in 1989. The move was preceded by Gibson’s purchase of the Flatiron company in 1987; the latter’s immaculate mandolins demonstrated that The Treasure State’s semi-arid climate was the perfect setting to craft Gibson’s historic acoustic instruments. More than three decades down the line, the Bozeman factory comprises a well-seasoned workforce of master craftspeople — many of whom are multi-decade Gibson veterans — and produces what many musicians consider to be among the company’s finest creations.

Gibson Acoustic J-45 Standard Features:

  • The highest-selling acoustic guitar model in Gibson’s history, with a legacy that stretches back to 1942
  • Handbuilt by Gibson’s veteran team of craftspeople in Bozeman, MT
  • Iconic slope-shouldered “jumbo” dreadnought body delivers ample acoustic projection and deep, lush bass
  • Sitka spruce top with hand-scalloped X-bracing offers a remarkably resonant and responsive voice
  • Mahogany back and sides provide a clear, dry, and midrange-rich tonality
  • 24.75-in. scale length provides a slinkier feel and a crisp decay
  • Easy-playing mahogany neck in Gibson’s SlimTaper profile
  • Elegant rosewood fingerboard, planed into a 12-in. radius
  • Rock-solid Grover Rotomatic nickel tuners
  • Nitrocellulose lacquer finish will continue to age and develop the more you play, true to a vintage Gibson guitar
  • Stage-ready LR Baggs VTC electronics
  • 1.725-in. nut width is slim enough for strummers while simultaneously providing fingerpickers enough room to maneuver

ConditionBrand New (New)
Brand New items are sold by an authorized dealer or original builder and include all original packaging.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • J-45 Standard
Finish
  • Heritage Cherry Sunburst
Categories
Made In
  • United States
Fretboard Material
  • Rosewood
Fretboard Radius
  • 12"
String Type
  • Steel
Model Sub-Family
Right / Left Handed
  • Right Handed
Active Preamp
  • Yes
Number of Strings
  • 6-String
Neck Material
  • Mahogany
Offset Body
  • Non-Offset Body
Wood Top Style
  • Plain
Body Shape
  • Dreadnought
Finish Pattern
  • Sunburst
Color Family
  • Red
Sides Material
  • Rosewood
Finish Style
  • Gloss
Top Material
  • Spruce
Model Family
Series
Back Material
  • Mahogany
Scale Length
  • 24.75"
Pickup
  • Undersaddle Piezo Pickup
Number of Frets
  • 20

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BERT MURDOCK MUSIC

Orem, UT, United States
Joined Reverb:2016

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