Gibson J-45 60s Wine Red or Ebony - Thoughts?

[waterlooz]

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Thank you team.

Sal, I ordered one through Wildwood during the pandemic but ended up sending it back. It did not sound as great as my buddies standard J-45 but I also did not have the time to let it open up, etc. Good luck!

[SalFromChatham]

Thanks guys…

[Sadie-f]

I can't see the screw adjusted saddle on an acoustic, deal breaker.

[Mandobart]

Since you asked....

I'm turned off by painted guitars. I dislike the look of most sunbursts too. I like natural wood.

Fortunately they're making enough of most every type to keep most of us happy.

[Elrathia]

Originally Posted by abn556

I played a Custom Shop J-45 recently at Fullers with an adjustable bridge. I thought it sounded great.

I miss Fullers! Is Rockin Robin still open?

[mbrewer]

Originally Posted by Elrathia

I miss Fullers! Is Rockin Robin still open?

They're still open but it's been a minute since I've stopped by. Last time I was there they had very little new inventory and seem to sell mostly used gear.

[mbrewer]

Originally Posted by Sadie-f

I can't see the screw adjusted saddle on an acoustic, deal breaker.

I turned my nose up to the adjustable bridge Gibson's with no good reason other than that seemed to be a common opinion. I found a vintage 62 J45 with the adjustable bridge on this forum and it's become my favorite guitar. It sounds similar to my more modern J45 standard but has a bit more punch.

[DanR]

please delete, duplicate post

[DanR]

I once had a nice '64 J-45. It had the adjustable bridge and sounded great. I now have a J-45 from Fullers ('68 reissue) and it's a terrific guitar.

[cip]

What adjustable saddles are you guys talking about?

[Jeffreykip]

There is a Guitar World issue with Keith Richards on the front holding a black J-45 and he is so cool looking I have wanted one ever since. I know people say black shows fingerprints, but if you could see how beat-up my guitars look, a few finger prints are nothing.

But then again, Bradly Cooper with that wine red one in A Star is Born - he's a rock and roll meteor burning out in the atmosphere of life, and that red J-45 is his wings of wax. To quote the lines U2 had the righteous audacity to tag on to Bob Dylan, "All I've got is a red guitar, three chords and the truth..." That's cool.

Floating bridge, nut size, bla bla whatever - the J-45 is an amazing sounding guitar. Amazing. A-maz-ing. If you can afford one, get it. You are right to pare it down to the only real decision you have to make- the color.

Oh, but the wiskey sunburst...

[SalFromChatham]

Well,

I pulled the trigger… I bought a used one from an online store in Iowa, and it should be here early next week. I chose wine red, but my bigger concerns were whether or not I’m ready for a larger guitar after moving down to 000s, as well those adjustable bridges. If my arm and shoulder still have issues, I’ll work harder at PT. I miss having a Gibson.

Anyways thanks for all the great posts.

[WolfmansBrother]

Originally Posted by cip

What adjustable saddles are you guys talking about?

Here is a video of the 60s J-45 model. At 9:10, it shows a close-up of the adjustable saddle.

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Well,

I pulled the trigger… I bought a used one from an online store in Iowa, and it should be here early next week. I chose wine red, but my bigger concerns were whether or not I’m ready for a larger guitar after moving down to 000s, as well those adjustable bridges. If my arm and shoulder still have issues, I’ll work harder at PT. I miss having a Gibson.

Anyways thanks for all the great posts.

Congrats on the new guitar! I like the wine red.

Regarding the adjustable saddle, I haven't played one of these newer 60s model J-45s, but I own a '64 J-50 with the adjustable saddle, and I love the sound of that guitar. I have also owned other vintage J-45/J-50 guitars that had fixed bridges, and I chose to keep the '64 over them because I liked the sound on that one the most. I don't know how much the adjustable saddle contributes to the overall sound, but on this guitar it is working fine, and I don't plan to change it out for a fixed bridge.

[SalFromChatham]

Oh how I pray my guitar sounds like his… man he plays so wonderfully too.

[TiffanyGuitar]

I owned a '60s reissue J-50 - they have discontinued that model. The same guitar - just natural top. I did not like the way it sounded. I did not like the neck shape or slender nut width. It also had a maxed out truss rod, and just a little too much relief in the neck. Way too young a guitar to have a maxed out rod.

I had a ebony '50s reissue J-45 (in ebony) prior to the J-50. It had buzzing and sitar sounds that neither I nor a tech could figure out. It also had a maxed out rod with a little too much relief. It was a 2020. I liked the neck shape on the 50s model. But, again, way too young a guitar to have a maxed out rod and the weird buzzing and sitar sounds. That was probably why someone had sold it to the online store I bought it from.

I am not a Gibson hater. But, I won't buy another one without being able to check it out in person first.

Check yours out thoroughly when it arrives. I do hope you like it.

Pete