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Great stuff as always, Tom! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and guitars with us!

Good timing. I'm about to go back into the diagnostic imaging department to x-ray and CT-scan guitars. I'm doing this for my upcoming book (The Acoustic Guitar: Inside the World’s Most Popular Musical Instrument (Oxford University Press, 2023), the publisher of which will also curate a companion website. At the same time, I'm working on a related project with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, called Fretology, that will conduct sonic studies on the guitars I X-ray and CT-scan and will make all the information publicly accessible. The website (yeah, currently under WPI's electric guitar heading, but it's an all acoustic guitar project) presents examples of the images I've already obtained. Both projects will be examining a number of vintage guitars from Gibson, Martin, and the Larson brothers, among other, as well as modern guitars. Stay, uh, tuned. 🙂

I have my vintage SJs housed in a Calton and a Hiscox. I have had Ameritage cases in the past. Gorgeous ... but my least favorite cases. They are heavier than a Calton but not sufficiently sturdy for use on airplane travel.

Thanks Anne and Nick! Assembling the birthday tribute was a labor of love. I plan on sleeping for about 48 hours now. 🙂 Here's the permanent link:

I invite you to a virtual celebration this Sunday evening, January 30, at 7 pm eastern US time. Irene Stearns, the last surviving of the “Kalamazoo Gals” who worked Gibson during WWII, will be turning 100. I’d planned an in-person celebration in Kalamazoo. Alas. So, beginning about a month ago, I set about organizing a virtual event. Coming attractions for the 30 minute-ish event: I convinced Kalamazoo’s mayor to declare the day the official “Irene Stearns Day” and hired a video crew to record the mayor and city commission’s reading of the proclamation (that I drafted) to Irene and her family. The Michigan legislature is working on making the day a state-recognized event, but I’ve not heard whether it has accomplished this, yet. Jennifer Nettles (of the band Sugarland and of movies like “Harriett”) and Emily Saliers (of the band the Indigo Girls) have recorded a video duet of Irene’s favorite song, “I’ll Fly Away.” The granddaughter of the song’s composer (Albert Brumley) has recorded a tribute to Irene that I’ll use to introduce the performance. Gibson executives JC Curleigh and Cesar Gueikian have contributed a heartfelt video tribute to Irene and the Kalamazoo Gals Over 100 musicians from over a dozen countries have recorded video birthday wishes. Sunday’s program will feature a handful of these videos, including videos from Rosanne Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, and Waddy Wachtel), and other well-known folks. I'm assembling a longer version that includes all of the video birthday wishes that the Michigan Music Alliance and I will host on our YouTube channels. Other cool stuff, too. The Michigan Music Alliance will host the event. It will run live on these links: Direct link to Michigan Music Alliance's Facebook event Michigan Music Alliance's YouTube channel Here’s a short Michigan National Public Radio story about the event. “See” you all tomorrow evening.

Thanks! I suppose I have improved the audio ... a bit. I recorded the SJ a few years ago using the Blue Snowball USB mic. I've since switched to a Shure iPhone mic, which is easier and sounds better.

This certainly is not my experience. Plus, the LGs featured the same bracing pattern and brace sizes as the J-45. The same top, back, and side thicknesses, too (I have copies of the original specifications). This simply cannot be true. My experience, though, is only with the WWII, Banner-era examples. Here's an LG-2: Here's an SJ, which is just a fancy J-45:

Mark is the best when it comes to vintage Gibsons.

Thanks! Yes, The city of Kalamazoo has responded splendidly (and even used the proclamation I wrote for the mayor!).

Yes. At Gibson's request, I sent 5 guitars: an SJ, 2 J-45s (one with maple back and sides), and an LG-1. Gibson produced reissues on the SJ, the mahogany J-45, and the LG01 (though labeled it an LG-2).

Nice! Congratulations!

The story continues. This happened today: Kalamazoo declares January 30, 2022 the official Irene Stearns Day.

Fabulous! Thanks! Details on time and platform for the virtual event soon.

Got it! Fantastic. Thanks! Details on time and platform for the virtual event soon.

Thanks! Videos are coming in from around the globe. Please consider contributing.

Hello, fellow Gibsonians. I’m seeking a favor from my guitar-playing friends. On January 30, Irene Stearns, the last surviving Kalamazoo Gal, turns 100. I’m organizing a virtual celebration. The Kalamazoo mayor has issued a proclamation declaring the day the official Irene Stearns Day (but I can’t share the video of that until next Tuesday when the city will make the proclamation official). I’m recruiting musicians to record a simple 15-30 second selfie video wishing Irene a Happy 100th. Something like, “I’m John from Connecticut, USA. Happy 100th, Irene!” Might you be willing to participate? I’ll string together the video clips. Please send your clip to johnthomasguitar -at- gmail -dot-com. Let’s make this a worldwide celebration! Here's an example of what I'm looking for: https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipOCOeBdgRIFD4td6JbC_WJvDaQSz0IxZruI4-UI Humbly yours, John.

Yes, based on my went-to-WWII SJ. I gave Dale some maple that came from the Gibson factory during WWII to use to craft bridgeplates.

Thanks! I'm not sure if that is the same guitar in the Fabulous Flattops book (which is a fabulous book).

Fabulous! I look forward to your report on the guitar. It's a replica of one of my personal guitars. I sent the guitars and X-rays and CT-scans of the guitars to Gibson Montana.

Thank you, kind sir!

Well stated. To clarify, I think that only the top may have been refinished, subject to 2 caveats: 1. Gibson being Gibson, never say never. It's certainly more than possible that Gibson produced a natural topped J-45 circa 1943. 2. I certainly cannot conclude anything definitively from photos. And, again, thanks for sharing your cool guitar with us, OP.

Thanks! It's a very cool guitar. Thank you for sharing it with us. Here's a short read about the women who built your guitar.

The fancy rosette and single ply binding point to 1943. IMHO, we can't make much of the absence of an FON. Sometimes they fade to oblivion and I'm convinced that sometimes the Gals simply forgot to stamp a number on the neck block. So, my best guess: a refinished 1943 J-45. Cool guitar!

Thank you!

Gorgeous! I believe it's a refinished Banner J-45 (J-50s all had multiple purflings on the top and back). Is there a number stamped on the neck block (inside, where the neck comes into the body)?