Gibson J-45 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar  

Nicknamed "The Workhorse" and first introduced in 1942, Gibson's most popular round-shoulder dreadnought guitar is world-renowned for its full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Subtle changes to the bracing of its predecessor—the J-35—made Gibson's J-45 Standard one of most technically advanced acoustic electric guitars of its time.

Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the Gibson J-45. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets you regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gearbox provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)

The top of the Gibson J-45 acoustic electric guitar is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern-grade Honduran mahogany, giving the J-45 guitar its world renowned full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out are two of the most pivotal processes in Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with "the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities," and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic maintain that standard.

Pickguard

The pickguard for the J-45 acoustic electric guitar is Gibson's standard plain tortoise tear drop shape, which has been used on the J-45 since its introduction in 1942. As with all of Gibson's pickguards, the coloring, inlay, and binding are all done by hand.

Rosette

The rosette on this Gibson acoustic guitar is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the Gibson J-45 Standard.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Dot Inlays

The fingerboard of Gibson's J-45 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45 guitar's dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, measuring approximately 1/4-inch in diameter, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck. Gibson Acoustic's rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the J-45.

L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System

Gibson Acoustic's J-45 comes equipped with the popular Element Active Acoustic Pickup System from L.R. Baggs, which features a low-profile undersaddle element—or transducer—that's proven more stable and durable than many standard ribbon-type pickups. Combined with an onboard preamp with an unobtrusive and removable volume control mounted just inside the soundhole, the Element delivers performance not previously attainable from an undersaddle pickup. Its sleek and effective design removes unnecessary internal components to enhance the coupling between the pickup and the guitar, and improve the sensitivity of the transducer for a robust, lively, and natural acoustic sound with excellent dynamics and delicate high end. The Element works with a standard 9V battery, which is housed inside the guitar in L.R. Bagg's new "Battery Bagg."

Bracing

Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instrument's sound projection. The Gibson J-45 Standard guitar features a variation of Gibson's "X" bracing pattern situated behind the soundhole, with a set of tall and thin braces for the back, and scalloped tall and thin braces for the top. This legendary bracing design delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. When pushed for more volume, the Gibson J-45 projects a natural compression, which helps it blend nicely with any accompaniment.

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