Well, I played a J-45 off the wall at the Washington Music Center that was the equal of any new guitar (and several vintage ones) I have had my hands on. It was hanging next to another J-45 that was, well, uninspiring, shall we say? I know most companies try for the best, but unless you're getting a boo-teek guitar, you're at the mercy of the law of averages.

You mentioned $1000 -- that's only a middling-low price for a decent instrument these days, and, if that's all you have to spend, one of the "lesser lights" among companies (Takamine, Seagull, Washburn, etc.) will probably get you a better instrument than any of the big 'uns (Martin, Taylor, Gibson). Heck, Epiphones are even making really good instruments in their Masterbilt line, at far less a price-point than Gibson or Martin.

So the only way to get a 1940s J-50 is, well, to buy a 1940s J-50, and forego your kids' college education and probably anything like a new car for the next five years, too. Or get lucky and find a 1938 Epiphone Broadway archtop for $50 in a tag sale (I played one of those not three weeks ago, so the "golden touch" still exists, rare as it is).

Bob