Gibson J-50 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1949, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, brown period hard shell case.
An extremely nice Gibson J-50 from just around the dawn of the 1950's that appears to have seen little use over the years. This is a 'transitional' guitar with the new-in-1948 joined dot "modern" Gibson logo and the older 1940's bridge and wartime riveted-shaft openback Kluson tuners. The J-50 is essentially the same instrument as the J-45 with a natural spruce top and clear mahogany back and sides.
This guitar looks and sounds great with a nicely ambered blonde triple-bound top, 3-ply celluloid soundhole ring, dramatic tortoise celluloid pickguard, and straight rosewood bridge with pearl dots. The sound is very even and well-balanced with plenty of ring, working equally well as a flatpicking or fingerstyle instrument.
Overall length is 40 15/16 in. (104 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.).
Very fine overall; top seam repaired, one small back crack, and small incipient pickguard pull cracks on either side of 'guard. Unusually well-preserved finish with a good deal of shine; some checking with very light playwear. Original tuners, tuner buttons, bridge pins, nut, and saddle�all the things usually changed over 60 years. One of the nicest J-50's we've seen in a long time, with a very cool period (quite possibly original) hard case. Overall Excellent + Condition.
