Gibson J-45 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # V8669-8 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Gibson's slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars have been very popular since their introduction with folk, blues, and pop players, and as always picking this one up it's easy to see why. This is 1956 J-45 shows some wear for its 70 years on earth but remains a superb player with a comfortable round-backed neck, slightly slimmer in feel than some mid-'50s examples. These 1950s Gibson Jumbos are pretty much universally great-sounding instruments, with a big, warm sound that can still cut through the mix when pushed.
This example was one of the very first J-45's issued with the then new adjustable bridge saddle, introduced in 1956. The saddle itself has been replaced with a large compensated bone saddle, but the hardware on the bridgeplate underneath is still intact. Apart from this the guitar shows typical period features including the fairly dark sunburst top with a "top belly" style rosewood bridge and larger post-1955 tortoise celluloid pickguard. The headstock is fitted with Kluson Deluxe strip tuners and gold decal "modern" Gibson script logo on the face.
We love J-45s from this period. Whether near mint or heavily worn, they are always classics in both looks and sound. This model really exemplifies Gibson's "workingman's Jumbo" with no frills but plenty of splendid tone, an excellent player with a big, rich, but still well-defined sound. It is set up as a gigger with an added pickup system consisting of an L.R. Baggs Anthem unit added under the bridgeplate, with a volume control under the soundhole rim and endpin jack.
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.).
Overall this is a great-playing and sounding example of this 1950s Gibson stalwart, with some typical wear and minor repair. The finish over the entire instrument shows an assortment of small dings, dents, and scrapes with fairly heavy pickwear into the wood on the face on both sides of the strings, off the back edge of the pickguard and all around the soundhole rim. The back has some scratching but none of the heavy belt buckle wear often found on these "cowboy" guitars! The back of the neck has mostly fairly light wear with a couple of deeper dents behind the 6th fret.
There is a tight sealed grain split off the upper edge of the pickguard to the soundhole rim just below the fingerboard; mahogany cleats were added underneath to stabilize this area. There are no other cracks to the top or back. The bass side edge of the body shows some repair along the back/side seam, more visible from the inside than out; there are some long check lines along the upper side that look like cracks but are not into the wood. There is a neatly patched strap button hole on the rim above the neck heel.
The neck has not had or needed a reset, the original rosewood bridge, maple bridge plate and bolt hardware remain intact with a later large bone compensated saddle replacing the adjustable one. There is some evidence of brace regluing as is common on old Gibsons. The original frets have been lightly crowned but have little subsequent wear and playability is excellent. The tuners are original as well. While not mint this is still a nice old J-45's playing very nicely with sound to spare acoustically and with a very functional modern pickup installed for stage use. It rests in a modern HSC. Very Good + Condition.
