1994 Gibson Centennial Collection 1951 J-185 — No. 67 of Only 100 Made

Offered here is an exceptionally well-preserved 1994 Gibson Centennial Collection 1951 J-185, individually numbered 67 of only 100 produced.

Gibson created its Centennial Collection in 1994 to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary, selecting 12 historically significant acoustic models for limited reproduction. Only 100 examples of each model were handcrafted at Gibson’s acoustic facility in Bozeman, Montana, making this a genuinely scarce and desirable Gibson collectible.

The Centennial J-185 recreates Gibson’s original 1951 model, combining the presence and projection of a jumbo with a comfortable, well-balanced 16-inch body. It features a spruce top with especially beautiful flamed and highly figured maple back and sides, a rosewood fingerboard with double-parallelogram inlays, and the distinctive rosewood bridge with Maltese-cross inlays associated with the classic J-185. Period-style details include the smaller headstock, dark holly veneer and traditional crown inlay.

I purchased this guitar new in 1994 from Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California. It was one of several acoustic guitars I owned and has been played only sparingly. It shows virtually no fret wear and very few signs of actual use.

The lacquer on the top has developed some fine checking and several thin finish lines. These are usually quite subtle, but quite visible upon close examination when the surface is placed under strong or carefully angled lighting. They are not noticeable from any normal viewing distance as you can see in the main photos. However, I have included close-up photographs taken under direct lighting specifically to make the checking visible and accurately disclose the guitar’s condition.

I am not sure why this particular guitar developed checking, as it was kept in the same insulated storage space as several of my other guitars that did not. Such checking can occur naturally in a nitrocellulose lacquer finish as it ages. It does not detract from the guitar’s striking overall appearance and, in my opinion, gives it some additional vintage character and mojo.

The figured maple back and sides are especially attractive, and the guitar remains a beautiful, seldom-played example of this rare Centennial model.

Included are its original deluxe lined Gibson hardshell case and its original numbered Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Larry English, then General Manager of Gibson Acoustic, and renowned Gibson master luthier Ren Ferguson.

With its low production number, excellent provenance, minimal playing wear, original case and signed certificate, this is a special opportunity to acquire No. 67 of only 100 Centennial J-185 guitars produced.