Up for sale, a 1961 Gibson J-45 ADJ in excellent condition, complete with a hardshell case. A golden age example of Gibson’s quintessential dreadnought model, this well-kept J-45 features a classic early ‘60s slender neck profile carve and adjustable ceramic saddle.

Tonewoods include a solid Sitka spruce top, Honduran mahogany back and sides, and a one-piece mahogany neck capped with a notably dark Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Offering a bold, punchy soft shoulder dreadnought sound with ample projection, this J-45 is delicate when lightly strummed and provides plenty of bass register kick and round treble sparkle when played with authority, with terrific sustain and note detail. Perfectly suited for any situation from studio to stage to bedroom and back, this guitar is dynamic, highly responsive, and lively. Weighing 4lbs 9oz, this J-45 ADJ has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Honduran mahogany
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .825” 1st fret, .885” 9th fret
• Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, dot inlays, faint finger wear behind frets 1-3
• Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
• Scale Length: 24 3/4”
• Nut: 1 11/16", nylon
• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe single line strip
• Serialization: Five-digit stamp dates to ‘61

Body Specs:

• Wood: Sitka spruce, Honduran mahogany
• Bracing: X
• Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, ceramic adjustable saddle, maple plate
• Plastics: Tortoise pickguard

The original Cherry Sunburst nitro lacquer finish exhibits tight “shattered glass” lacquer checking, and there are a couple repaired splits along the bass-side edge of the pickguard, with a similar repair at the treble side waist just beyond the guard, attributable to the usual shrinkage of the plastic tortoise material. The Honduran mahogany back and sides are particularly nice cuts of this tonewood, with only one crack repair on the bass-side upper bout on the back. Cosmetic wear is otherwise limited to some pick wear across the soundhole and minor dings and scuffs consistent with decades of careful use. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth to the palm.

A vintage Gibson-brandel black tolex hardshell case is included.