Gibson J-50 Adj. Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 364820, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.

This is a nice mid-60s example of the J-50, essentially the same instrument as the J-45 with a natural top finish. This was originally worth a small markup to Gibson but by 1965 both models listed at the same $175, plus case. Over the years the natural-top guitars were generally produced in smaller numbers than that familiar sunburst-top favorite, but in 1964 the J-50 was for the first time the more popular option.

By the mid-1960's all of Gibson's slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars had been popular with Folk, Blues and Pop players for about 30 years; in the early '60s Folk era they really took off as some of Gibson's best sellers. It's easy to see why; this is a very comfortable guitar to play with a sleek, round neck and a very warm, versatile sound. The neck has the slimmer nut width that had become ubiquitous by 1965, but otherwise the instrument is little changed from earlier 1960s models.

The backstrip is marked "J-50 ADJ" as the guitar is fitted with the company's adjustable ceramic saddle in the rosewood bridge, which was the only option available in 1965. While many used to consider this a sonic demerit, over the last few decades many players have come to prefer the guitar unaltered with the slightly more condensed sound this setup usually produces.

1965 was Gibson's top production year of the decade and saw a grand total of 4312 of these J-50 ADJ's ship out of Kalamazoo at a list price of $175. The J-50 was favored notably at the time by Jorma Kaukonen and Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins, among many others! This is a well used guitar but well cared for and remains a nice playing example; one of friendly guitars you just don't want to put down.

Overall length is 40 11/16 in. (103.3 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).

This just 60+ year old guitar shows general wear overall, but no serious damage or major repair. This was brought to us by the original owner's widow, who had many memories of it being played over the decades. There is checking overall with scuffs, dings and dents scattered around and some marks on the back from the finish reacting to a plastic strap long ago. The back of the neck is quite clean with only a few tiny dings.

The back seam looks to have been resealed near the endpin at some point and the bridge reglued. There is a period Gibson plastic strap button on the heel, probably added when the guitar was new. The tuners have been restored to repro Klusons, replacing '70s Schallers that changed the balance drastically; there are telltale filled screw marks from this on the headstock rear. The original owner put his name on the peghead face via a Dymotape strip, and also etched license number into the back of the headstock, as the police used to advise us all to do! This J-50 plays and sounds very nice, not the loudest or punchiest but a very sweet and friendly guitar and lovely songwriter's companion, residing in a more modern HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.