Gibson J-45 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 4689-25, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, molded plastic hard shell case.
Gibson's signature slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars have remained extremely popular since the 1940's with Folk, Blues and Pop players and picking this one up it's easy to see why. This is a very comfortable guitar with a sleek, round neck-much less chunky than the late '40's versions- and a very powerful but still sweet sound. This 1950 example has seen some light repair work but remains amazingly new looking an also excellent player's guitar. It has several era-specific features including the early style small pickguard, tapered-depth headstock with "joined-dot" decal logo and early-pattern Kluson deluxe tuners with no shaft hole on the inner edge of the casing. The sunburst top finish has the darker look typical of the period as well. The J-45 is the absolutely classic Gibson Jumbo that has proven the company's favorite flat top offering over the years, loved by players in many styles.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 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 super clean and very fine playing guitar overall; there are a few minor repairs but very little play wear anywhere. The original bridge has been reglued, and lowered slightly from the front end with a new bone saddle. The nut is replaced as well, as are the plastic buttons on the original tuners. There is one repaired grain split on the top edge of the pickguard, running into the soundhole-tight but visible. A spot on the top of the rim on the upper treble bout shows patched-in finish where the lacquer rubbed away against the case fittings; again minor but noticeable on close inspection. The back of the neck shows some similarly patched-in spots behind the first few frets from capo wear. The finish still retains its original patina and shine with typical light checking mostly to the top-despite this litany of small issues this is a VERY sweet looking and great sounding guitar, one of the nicest we have seen in a while. Excellent Condition.
