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Published on 12/07/11 at 19:19The Gibson J-45 rosewood is a recent model reissue of the famous "slope shouldered" dreadnought made popular from the 1940s through to now. Its design was unique and offered a bit more comfort for musicians who didn't care for the typical dreadnought design. The J-45 has always been a popular rival for Martins and it's no surprise why, as its clear and punchy tone is perfect for country, bluegrass and rock stylings where a loud and distinct acoustic tone is key. This guitar features a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, an ebony bridge. Some models are equipped with an onboard pickup as well. They're currently built in Gibson's Montana plant in the US of A.
UTILIZATION
The design of this guitar is fairly ergonomic considering the size and the fact that it's not a smaller cutaway model acoustic. It might be a bit daunting for someone who is used to electric or smaller acoustic guitars, but overall it's fairly easy to play. The slope shouldered design offers comfort and a nice playing surface, the neck has a nice profile which is a good balance between thick and thin, and the overall feel is very polished, yet rugged at the same time. The upper fret access isn't bad, but considering it's a non-cutaway acoustic I can't be too harsh on it in that department.
Getting a good sound out of this guitar is pretty simple. It has its own voice that has made it a very popular acoustic guitar for many years. It's not quite as boomy as a comparable Martin; it seems to have a bit more articulation and a bit more punch for chord and lead work. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's rawer sounding, but it definitely has a little less of the pretty factor than some of the Martins do.
SOUNDS
The guitar sounds really quite good upon first strum. Granted, Gibson can be a bit inconsistent, and some of the J-45s I've tried weren't particularly to my taste. However when I've found one that I liked, I was pleased as punch. As stated, they seem to have a clearer and thicker tone that is very unique and all its own. It works particularly well for things like country or bluegrass styles where articulation is a must-have trait in a guitar. The onboard pickup sounds decent too. It's not ridiculously fancy but it reproduces the guitar's natural tone quite well and is a good match for the instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
The Gibson J-45 rosewood is a great guitar for anyone looking for a reissue of the classic instrument that defined a certain acoustic sound. It feels great, has a classic look and has that cannon-esque sound that only a slope shoulder can deliver. They sell for about $2,300 on average which is a pretty good price considering the quality of tone that you're getting. If you're a serious acoustic player and want one of the iconic tones of this past century for acoustic guitars, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with a J-45!
UTILIZATION
The design of this guitar is fairly ergonomic considering the size and the fact that it's not a smaller cutaway model acoustic. It might be a bit daunting for someone who is used to electric or smaller acoustic guitars, but overall it's fairly easy to play. The slope shouldered design offers comfort and a nice playing surface, the neck has a nice profile which is a good balance between thick and thin, and the overall feel is very polished, yet rugged at the same time. The upper fret access isn't bad, but considering it's a non-cutaway acoustic I can't be too harsh on it in that department.
Getting a good sound out of this guitar is pretty simple. It has its own voice that has made it a very popular acoustic guitar for many years. It's not quite as boomy as a comparable Martin; it seems to have a bit more articulation and a bit more punch for chord and lead work. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's rawer sounding, but it definitely has a little less of the pretty factor than some of the Martins do.
SOUNDS
The guitar sounds really quite good upon first strum. Granted, Gibson can be a bit inconsistent, and some of the J-45s I've tried weren't particularly to my taste. However when I've found one that I liked, I was pleased as punch. As stated, they seem to have a clearer and thicker tone that is very unique and all its own. It works particularly well for things like country or bluegrass styles where articulation is a must-have trait in a guitar. The onboard pickup sounds decent too. It's not ridiculously fancy but it reproduces the guitar's natural tone quite well and is a good match for the instrument.
OVERALL OPINION
The Gibson J-45 rosewood is a great guitar for anyone looking for a reissue of the classic instrument that defined a certain acoustic sound. It feels great, has a classic look and has that cannon-esque sound that only a slope shoulder can deliver. They sell for about $2,300 on average which is a pretty good price considering the quality of tone that you're getting. If you're a serious acoustic player and want one of the iconic tones of this past century for acoustic guitars, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with a J-45!