Gibson J-45 DELUXE Sunburst 1974 Acoustic Guitar
Description
Since production began in 1942, the J-45 has been beloved by countless musicians throughout the ages, capturing the sound of countless classic albums. While undergoing numerous minor changes throughout its long history, the J-45 remains a beloved Gibson staple, and its longevity is due in large part to the various appealing features of each era and spec. This particular model is from around 1974. Gibsons from the 1970s tended to shy away from this guitar due to its double-X bracing construction and, in the case of the J-45/50, square shoulders. However, playing it will surprise you with its well-balanced sound!
Features include a spruce top, mahogany sides and back, a three-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, double-X bracing, a 43mm nut, and a 25.5-inch scale length with 16-inch square shoulders. The teardrop-shaped PG J-45s from the early '70s certainly look uncool (lol), but I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks the square-shouldered design that came with the return to the large guard from the mid-'70s onward is unique and cool! This square-shouldered J-45 was also known as Paul Weller's favorite guitar, so I'm sure there are people looking for this look and these specifications!
The sound is well-balanced from high to low, with a powerful sound that's full of volume! Many people generally think that '70s Gibsons don't produce much sound, but that's not true at all. The double-X bracing structure tightens the lows a bit and tames the typical Gibson wildness, which tends to put off Gibson fans, but the sound is very well-balanced, has a good overall cohesion, and in terms of volume, it's comparable to a '60s Gibson. Compared to the distinctive sound of '60s Gibsons, this one sounds a little too goody-two-shoes, but it also has a versatile sound that can be adapted to a variety of genres. Once you try it out, you'll find it surprisingly easy to use! When strumming with a flat pick, you get a fairly cohesive sound, but with just the right amount of wild, rough edge that's characteristic of Gibsons. When strumming with your fingers, it responds well and produces a sound with a good balance of high and low sustain, making it a surprisingly versatile sound suitable for all genres!
The condition of the instrument shows some scratches, signs of use, and aging, but it's in perfect condition for playing! First of all, the tortoiseshell binding, which is a common problem with J-45s of this vintage, tends to fall apart, but it appears to have been completely rewound. The rewound marks are a little noticeable, but it's nice to know that there's no risk of it falling apart over time. There is a roughly 8cm crack repair on the bulge on the 6th string side of the top, just where it is hidden by the arm when playing. Also, a crack along the inside line of the PG, common on Gibsons of this vintage, runs from the side of the fingerboard to the soundhole and has been repaired with glue. There are no cracks between the soundhole and bridge. Each crack has been firmly glued, and a reinforcing cleat has been installed on the back, so there are no concerns about strength. The endpin is an endpin jack, and a stick-on pickup is installed, but it does not appear to be powered, so please consider it a dummy jack. The strap pin attached to the neck heel appears to have been moved at some point, as there are traces of the screw hole being filled on the back of the neck heel. The frets have been refretted, and the fingerboard from the 14th fret onwards appears to have been significantly worn down during this process, with the side positions at the 15th and 17th frets now protruding onto the fingerboard. There are also some minor scratches and weathering, but the scratches are relatively minimal considering the age of the guitar.
The neck is in good condition and nicely straight, with the current string height at the 12th fret being approximately 2.5mm on the 6th string side and 2.0mm on the 1st string side, which is the ideal setting. There is a little more room in the saddle. The frets appear to have not been used much since being refretted, and almost 100% of their height remains.
This '70s Gibson is surprisingly usable once you play it. Even if you've been reluctant to try it, we highly recommend giving it a try! In the US, the reputation of '70s Gibsons is on the rise and prices are starting to rise, so now is the time to buy one from this era!
A general-purpose hard case is included.
Product Details
Gibson J-45 Deluxe, circa 1974
Color: Sunburst
Condition: B+: Excellent for normal use
Year of Manufacture: 1970s
Top Material: Spruce
Side Material: Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany
Body Size: Dreadnought
Accessories: Hardshell Case
Features include a spruce top, mahogany sides and back, a three-piece mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, double-X bracing, a 43mm nut, and a 25.5-inch scale length with 16-inch square shoulders. The teardrop-shaped PG J-45s from the early '70s certainly look uncool (lol), but I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks the square-shouldered design that came with the return to the large guard from the mid-'70s onward is unique and cool! This square-shouldered J-45 was also known as Paul Weller's favorite guitar, so I'm sure there are people looking for this look and these specifications!
The sound is well-balanced from high to low, with a powerful sound that's full of volume! Many people generally think that '70s Gibsons don't produce much sound, but that's not true at all. The double-X bracing structure tightens the lows a bit and tames the typical Gibson wildness, which tends to put off Gibson fans, but the sound is very well-balanced, has a good overall cohesion, and in terms of volume, it's comparable to a '60s Gibson. Compared to the distinctive sound of '60s Gibsons, this one sounds a little too goody-two-shoes, but it also has a versatile sound that can be adapted to a variety of genres. Once you try it out, you'll find it surprisingly easy to use! When strumming with a flat pick, you get a fairly cohesive sound, but with just the right amount of wild, rough edge that's characteristic of Gibsons. When strumming with your fingers, it responds well and produces a sound with a good balance of high and low sustain, making it a surprisingly versatile sound suitable for all genres!
The condition of the instrument shows some scratches, signs of use, and aging, but it's in perfect condition for playing! First of all, the tortoiseshell binding, which is a common problem with J-45s of this vintage, tends to fall apart, but it appears to have been completely rewound. The rewound marks are a little noticeable, but it's nice to know that there's no risk of it falling apart over time. There is a roughly 8cm crack repair on the bulge on the 6th string side of the top, just where it is hidden by the arm when playing. Also, a crack along the inside line of the PG, common on Gibsons of this vintage, runs from the side of the fingerboard to the soundhole and has been repaired with glue. There are no cracks between the soundhole and bridge. Each crack has been firmly glued, and a reinforcing cleat has been installed on the back, so there are no concerns about strength. The endpin is an endpin jack, and a stick-on pickup is installed, but it does not appear to be powered, so please consider it a dummy jack. The strap pin attached to the neck heel appears to have been moved at some point, as there are traces of the screw hole being filled on the back of the neck heel. The frets have been refretted, and the fingerboard from the 14th fret onwards appears to have been significantly worn down during this process, with the side positions at the 15th and 17th frets now protruding onto the fingerboard. There are also some minor scratches and weathering, but the scratches are relatively minimal considering the age of the guitar.
The neck is in good condition and nicely straight, with the current string height at the 12th fret being approximately 2.5mm on the 6th string side and 2.0mm on the 1st string side, which is the ideal setting. There is a little more room in the saddle. The frets appear to have not been used much since being refretted, and almost 100% of their height remains.
This '70s Gibson is surprisingly usable once you play it. Even if you've been reluctant to try it, we highly recommend giving it a try! In the US, the reputation of '70s Gibsons is on the rise and prices are starting to rise, so now is the time to buy one from this era!
A general-purpose hard case is included.
Product Details
Gibson J-45 Deluxe, circa 1974
Color: Sunburst
Condition: B+: Excellent for normal use
Year of Manufacture: 1970s
Top Material: Spruce
Side Material: Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany
Body Size: Dreadnought
Accessories: Hardshell Case