one of those J45's...

Subject: one of those J45's...
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 08:27 PM

In an earlier thread about "vintage" J45's I mentioned one of these as the most remarkable, most bang for the buck, modern day replacements for an old J45.   

I mentioned at the time that, though I had contacted Gibson, they said it was a limited edition and it would only be by luck that I'd find one. Anyway, if you're up around Elderly's any time soon you may want to test drive this'n.

John

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: Amos
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 08:35 PM

Dang, JH, that is a pretty instrument!!

A

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 08:54 PM

Indeed it is, Amos.

Here's a link to the original thread. This thread makes more sense after being able to read the original.

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 08:58 PM

John..........you dog...........you know that I am in the area regularly and that I am going to have to take that thing for a spin.....I am not bringing any plastic with me..........

Today I was in a small shop in Grand Rapids that is going out of business..............there was a pretty nice looking vintage J45 on the rack for a thousand bucks. Anyone interested?

Mick

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 07 Jan 03 - 09:26 PM

Interesting guitar. Obviously a custom neck on it. 1-23/32" nut width, 25-5/8" scale length on a J-45? Not unless you pay the boys in Billings some extra bucks to build it that way.

Bruce

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 04:43 PM

Now why doesn't someone make a Hagstrom J45 replica - the 15 frets to the body and the slim Hagstrom neck make so much difference.

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: John Hardly
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 05:25 PM

hey Bruce, that's an interesting observation (re: scale length). 'Splains alot about why it may have sounded more lively to my ear. Note it also isn't sunburst (I like the J45 sunburst) and, though the "quilted" is a nice touch, to be honest, when seeing it in person, that Gibson stain job was too dark to see the quilting.

For those who, like me, had not heard of Hagstrom until RB sent me on a search (Gee whiz, I thought I'd been around) here's a link to their site.

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 07:41 PM

Yeh, it'd sound more lively. But what I like about the J-45 is that the reduced string tension of the standard 24-3/4" scale neck means fewer broken strings (at least for me). I've only broken one in the two years I've had my J-45, and I play hard. If I take my D-28 with 25-1/2" scale length to a session I'm almost guaranteed to break at least one string a night.

And the dark body stain obliterating the quilt is apparent even in the photos. Not a real smooth move on Gibson's part. If I'm going to pay extra for more exotic wood, I at least want to be able to see it.

Bruce

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: John Hardly
Date: 08 Jan 03 - 11:31 PM

Bruce!

two words:

Felt
Picks

(you must play REALLY hard! *BG*) I love my short scale Gibson too -- comfort for the long haul!

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: PHJim
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 10:49 AM

Since when has Gibson been making blonde J-45s? My brother and I bought a 1958 J-50 in the early sixties and I know several people who own slope shouldered J-50s and J-45s and ALL of the J-45s have sunburst finishes (except two which have been re-finished) and ALL of the J-50s have blonde finishes. In fact the only difference between a J-45 and a J-50 is the finish. They are (or were) the same guitar with a different finish.

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: kendall
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 07:18 PM

A thousand bucks? I paid $125.00 for mine brand new.

Subject: RE: one of those J45's...
From: PHJim
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:50 PM

Kendall - When did you buy that guitar?
My brother and I bought a 1958 J-50 in 1961 for $125. I`m sure that $1000 would be a steal in 2011.