Gibson J-45 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1957), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # U-9001-1, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator grain chipboard case.
Gibson's slope-shouldered Jumbo guitars have been very 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 and a very sweet sound. This 1957 example has seen some repair work but remains an excellent player's guitar. The J-45 is the classic sunburst-top model that has proven the favorite over the years, loved by Country, Blues and rock players alike.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 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 guitar is in excellent playing condition with some repair work but no originality issues, a very nice looking and sounding old J-45. There is a patch to the mahogany back just north of the neck block 4.5" long by 2" wide, nicely faired and finished over in but visible. There are a few large finish dings above it nearer to the waist-the rest of the back is fairly clean and crack free. The top, sides and neck are quite clean overall with some light finish wear and dings; the top center seam has been re-sealed and there is a cleanly repaired crack into the soundhole edge just off the fingerboard on the treble side. The only added finish is to the repaired area of the back. This guitar is a very smooth sounding J-45, full of sweet midst and extremely responsive. A fine player and good bargain in a 50+ year old Gibson. Overall Very Good + Condition.
