Gibson J-50 Adj. Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964)
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Gibson J-50 Adj. Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 232751, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator chipboard case.
We very rarely describe vintage instruments as "Near Mint" but this nifty J-50 pretty much fits the bill. Just over 3600 of these blonde beauties were shipped in 1964, but few will have survived the ensuing decades as near-perfectly as this one. It shows minor handling wear but really little indication of being played much since LBJ was in the White House.
The J-50 is essentially the same instrument as the J-45 with a natural finish and an extra layer of top binding, originally worth a small markup to Gibson but by 1964 both models listed at the same $175, plus case. Over the years they were generally produced in smaller numbers than that familiar sunburst-top favorite, but in 1964 for the first time the J-50 was 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.
This one is marked "J-50 Adj. bridge" on the backstrip as it is fitted with the company's adjustable ceramic saddle in the rosewood bridge, which was the only option in 1964. While this used to be considered a sonic demerit, over the last few decades many players have come to like the slightly brighter sound this setup usually produces. The J-50 of this period was favored notably by Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins, among many others! This is as nice an example as we would ever expect to find six decades along, a stunningly clean guitar.
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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 60+ year old guitar shows only light handling wear overall, one of the cleanest mid-60s Gibsons we have seen in decades. There are some very small scuffs here and there and a couple of tiny dinks on the lower rim, that's about it. There are no repairs visible and no evidence of any prior damage or alterations. It also plays and sounds great, a very sweet and friendly guitar. This one seems to have come straight from a Kalamazoo time bubble, housed in the original '50s style alligator grain chipboard case which appear to be just getting finally used up in 1964. The case shows some general wear (it is 60+ year old cardboard, after all) so a good modern HSC is included as well. Overall Near Mint Condition.
We very rarely describe vintage instruments as "Near Mint" but this nifty J-50 pretty much fits the bill. Just over 3600 of these blonde beauties were shipped in 1964, but few will have survived the ensuing decades as near-perfectly as this one. It shows minor handling wear but really little indication of being played much since LBJ was in the White House.
The J-50 is essentially the same instrument as the J-45 with a natural finish and an extra layer of top binding, originally worth a small markup to Gibson but by 1964 both models listed at the same $175, plus case. Over the years they were generally produced in smaller numbers than that familiar sunburst-top favorite, but in 1964 for the first time the J-50 was 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.
This one is marked "J-50 Adj. bridge" on the backstrip as it is fitted with the company's adjustable ceramic saddle in the rosewood bridge, which was the only option in 1964. While this used to be considered a sonic demerit, over the last few decades many players have come to like the slightly brighter sound this setup usually produces. The J-50 of this period was favored notably by Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins, among many others! This is as nice an example as we would ever expect to find six decades along, a stunningly clean guitar.
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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 60+ year old guitar shows only light handling wear overall, one of the cleanest mid-60s Gibsons we have seen in decades. There are some very small scuffs here and there and a couple of tiny dinks on the lower rim, that's about it. There are no repairs visible and no evidence of any prior damage or alterations. It also plays and sounds great, a very sweet and friendly guitar. This one seems to have come straight from a Kalamazoo time bubble, housed in the original '50s style alligator grain chipboard case which appear to be just getting finally used up in 1964. The case shows some general wear (it is 60+ year old cardboard, after all) so a good modern HSC is included as well. Overall Near Mint Condition.