Gibson J-45 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1953)
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Item # 13595
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Gibson J-45 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1953), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # Y4396-34, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, molded plastic hard shell case.
Gibson's slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars have remained popular since their introduction in the early 1930s with folk, blues, and pop players, and picking this one up it's easy to see why. This 1953 J-45 is a superb player with a comfortable slim-profile neck, much sleeker than the chunky wartime spec that was continued up through the late 1940s. These early 1950s Gibson jumbos are generally great-sounding instruments, with a big, warm sound that can still cut through the mix when pushed; this one is no exception.
This example shows only fairly light wear and remains in original and fine-playing shape, with typical period features including the "top belly" rosewood bridge, small tortoise celluloid pickguard, tapered headstock fitted with the earliest pattern Kluson Deluxe strip tuners, and gold decal "modern" Gibson script logo on the face. The top is nicely even-grained spruce, triple bound and finished in the classic warm dark Gibson sunburst.
We love J-45s from this period. They are true classics in both looks and sound and really exemplify the best of Gibson's "workingman's jumbo" with no frills but plenty of splendid tone. This is a particularly nice example from the early '50s with a big but still well-defined sound.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 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 is a beautifully original and clean guitar overall with some typical light wear but far better preserved than many period Gibson flat-tops. The all-original finish shows small scratches and dings scattered around but none of the deep scratching or heavy pick wear these old J-45 often display. The back of the neck is very clean, no capo marks to be found there. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners are intact, with newer buttons and moderately heavy corrosion to the casings.
The original rosewood bridge has been lowered just a bit in front of the pins. Otherwise, the guitar appears original with no notable repairs or modifications; the neck has not bee reset and the original frets and fingerboard show light wear but still play fine. There are no visible cracks anywhere except the beginnings of a pull to the spruce along the bottom edge of the pickguard that is not through to the inside. The inside is unaltered with an untouched original bridgeplate; the bridge mounting bolts are still intact. There is some very old random glue marks but it's hard to tell if they represent a few reglues or simply sloppy work at the factory in '53, not all that unusual for Kalamazoo. From the outside anyway this guitar looks fantastic and sounds even better; one of the nicest '50s J-45s we have seen in a while! Overall Excellent - Condition.
Gibson's slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars have remained popular since their introduction in the early 1930s with folk, blues, and pop players, and picking this one up it's easy to see why. This 1953 J-45 is a superb player with a comfortable slim-profile neck, much sleeker than the chunky wartime spec that was continued up through the late 1940s. These early 1950s Gibson jumbos are generally great-sounding instruments, with a big, warm sound that can still cut through the mix when pushed; this one is no exception.
This example shows only fairly light wear and remains in original and fine-playing shape, with typical period features including the "top belly" rosewood bridge, small tortoise celluloid pickguard, tapered headstock fitted with the earliest pattern Kluson Deluxe strip tuners, and gold decal "modern" Gibson script logo on the face. The top is nicely even-grained spruce, triple bound and finished in the classic warm dark Gibson sunburst.
We love J-45s from this period. They are true classics in both looks and sound and really exemplify the best of Gibson's "workingman's jumbo" with no frills but plenty of splendid tone. This is a particularly nice example from the early '50s with a big but still well-defined sound.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 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 is a beautifully original and clean guitar overall with some typical light wear but far better preserved than many period Gibson flat-tops. The all-original finish shows small scratches and dings scattered around but none of the deep scratching or heavy pick wear these old J-45 often display. The back of the neck is very clean, no capo marks to be found there. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners are intact, with newer buttons and moderately heavy corrosion to the casings.
The original rosewood bridge has been lowered just a bit in front of the pins. Otherwise, the guitar appears original with no notable repairs or modifications; the neck has not bee reset and the original frets and fingerboard show light wear but still play fine. There are no visible cracks anywhere except the beginnings of a pull to the spruce along the bottom edge of the pickguard that is not through to the inside. The inside is unaltered with an untouched original bridgeplate; the bridge mounting bolts are still intact. There is some very old random glue marks but it's hard to tell if they represent a few reglues or simply sloppy work at the factory in '53, not all that unusual for Kalamazoo. From the outside anyway this guitar looks fantastic and sounds even better; one of the nicest '50s J-45s we have seen in a while! Overall Excellent - Condition.