Boyd

Yeah, I get your point, and it's a good question. But has anything really changed here? What was the supply of used "meat and potatoes" J-45's, like pre-pandemic? Not so sure much has changed myself. Whenever I would look at used offerings at Guitar Center, there weren't many recent models. Back in 2014, I got a used 2008 J-50 that was in terrific shape. I had been checking their site for awhile prior to that and didn't see much. I think if you can find one or two, that might just be par for the course. BTW, when I first saw that used 2020 J-50 1960's original, it was "picture coming" too. It wasn't clear from the listing whether it was the new 1960's re-issue or a real 1960's J-50. Sent them an e-mail asking, but got no answer. Kept checking and after a day or so, the pictures finally came, I confirmed it was indeed the 1960's re-issue and bought it. So, that one was only on the site with pictures for a few hours before I made the purchase. That used 1950's Original J-50 for $2200 is still there, not such a bad deal if condition is good, it's $500 less than new. But I am still very happy with my 1960's J-50 which was $700 less than new. I suppose it very well might be a sellers market at the moment, which is good, I don't mind having the value of my guitars increase. Same thing is happening in the automotive market. And the real estate market is just insane, my house increased in value 7% in the last 30 days according to Zillow! But all of these things can turn on a dime, as we have seen in the past.

Well, in that case, there are still three at Guitar Center right now: $4300 - Used Gibson 2020 Historic Series 1942 Banner J45 Acoustic Guitar $2900 - Used Gibson J45 Custom Left Handed Acoustic Guitar - LIMITED RUN, ONLY 75 J45'S WERE MADE IN THIS MAHOGANY SPECIAL $2200 - Used Gibson 1950'S J50 Acoustic Electric Guitar There are also a few Hummingbirds, didn't bother to search for other models

There were some on Guitar Center's website a couple months ago. In fact, I bought one - A 2020 J-50 1960's Original! Was very lightly used and could have passed for new to my eyes (and ears). Have been interested in these since they were introduced (2019?) and the new ones have never dropped under $2500. I got this one for $1800, really happy with it. So, I think there are used J-45's and J-50's out there but you need a bit of luck to catch one. Right now there are 6 recent used J-45's on Guitar Center's site - 2 progressives, 2 studios, a historic 1942 banner and a custom leftie. There's also one of the recent J-50 1950's Originals. If you just go to their website and enter "j-45" or "j-50" in the search box, you will see them (click the "used" button to narrow the search). In my book, seven is a lot more than "zero". 🙂

As we discussed in another thread, the inside of my 2020 J-50 1960's Original looks exactly like my 2008 J-50 Modern Classic. Same bracing, same bridge plate. The differences are: * The ADJ bridge * More narrow nut, but similar neck profile * Grover's version of 1960's 3-on-a-plate Kluson tuners * Different style of soundhole rosette * Same batwing pickguard, but darker brown plastic * Single-ply (all black) truss rod cover * No pre-installed pickup Of course, I'm talking about the J-50 version of this guitar. AFAIK, the J-45 version is the same guitar but with a different finish (either black or red wine) and white pickguard. Personally, I think the J-45 versions are really unattractive, seems odd that they don't have a 60's J-45 with a burst finish. https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACC26R79/60s-J-50-Original/Antique-Natural https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACCJ5F910/60s-J-45-Original/Ebony https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACCJ5F910/60s-J-45-Original/Wine-Red

Have had the J-50 version of this for a couple months and really like mine too. Not sure if I understand your neck comment though. The nut is actually more narrow than the standard J-45/J-50 (1-11/16"). This is the same as my real 1965 J-50, however the carve of the neck is much thicker than the real 1965. Compared to my 2008 J-50 (which should be like a J-45 Standard), the circumference of the neck is 1/4" smaller at the nut but they are the same by the time I get to the 4th fret. Overall, I'd say the necks are quite similar. Personally, I would not consider it "fuller". Anyway, it's a great guitar and I got a good deal on one that was lightly used but could have passed for new. Glad you're also enjoying yours too! 🙂

Best post in the past 13 years!!! 🤣

You might also check out the 60's Original J-45, it has a 1-11/16" nut width with a "round" profile (honestly, I never understood these neck descriptions). I recently got the J-50 version of this guitar and had been interested in it for awhile since my hands are not that large either. I also have a real 1965 J-50, and although the nut width is the same it is quite a bit thinner than the new guitar. https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACCJ5F910/60s-J-45-Original/Wine-Red Now, I have a 2008 J-50 and believe that its neck would be comparable to the current J-45 Standard. I think the circumference of the neck is the significant measurement, since that's what you wrap your hand around. The 60's Original neck circumference is about 1/4" less at the nut, but by the time you get to the 4th fret, the necks are the same circumference. Of course, if you really want a thin neck then you should look for a real vintage 1960's J-45. As I said, these are quite a bit thinner than any of the current Gibsons. The necks from the 1970's are also quite a bit thinner than current Gibsons. My first acoustic was a 1974 J-50 which I bought new. When I got the 2008 J-50, I was surprised by how much fatter the neck was.

I just got a 2020 J-50 1960's Original and it also has a similar grain pattern. I think it looks (and sounds) great and it's one of the nice things that sets it apart from my 2008 J-50 which doesn't have such a noticeable grain pattern.

There's an old thread here: I got a 1960's Original J-50 recently, which is part of that same series. Really like it, however I think this series is just the basic modern Gibson design with different details. I also have a real 1965 J-50, and it is a completely different guitar. But the new 1960's Original is much more similar to my 2008 J-50. The 50's version includes an under-saddle pickup and the 60's version does not. The 60's version has the adjustable bridge and a slightly more narrow neck. While the nut is more narrow, the carve is considerably fatter than the neck on my real 1965 J-50. Not sure what a "sonic boom" pickguard is. But on the 60's J-50, it's a standard modern batwing pickguard which is identical to my 2008 J-50. This is nothing like the thick plastic pickguard on my real 1965 J-50. Anyway, I'm very pleased with mine. However, don't assume this will be anything like a vintage Gibson. It's the modern Gibson design with (basically) some cosmetic differences. Here is the page on Gibson's site. https://www.gibson.com/Guitars/Collection/Original Acoustic

I learned about DEET the hard way. Lightly sprayed some on my t-shirt (not on my skin) and after playing a short while, it stuck to the back of my 1965 J-50 and etched a fabric weave pattern into the finish, also left it feeling very gummy. Used a liberal amount of Virtuouso cleaner on it the next day which helped, but I can still see a bit of the fabric pattern on the back of the guitar.

Be really careful if you use grease. I tried that a few years ago and it did help. But outside on a hot summer day, the grease liquified, ran down the headstock/neck and made a sticky mess that was a pain to clean up. If you do use grease, use it very sparingly (unless you always keep your guitar inside an air-conditioned room).

Thanks Sal! I really don't know anything about soundboard transducer pickups, but did like the sound. Have only used magnetic types and a couple under-saddle ones that I disliked. But I suspect this wouldn't be an issue with condenser mics like people typically use for recording, not completely sure though. I have used the same guitar with a stereo pair or Rode M5 condenser mics that were pretty close and had no problems. That's why this surprised me. The Shure Beta57a is a dynamic microphone, so the coil inside may be what is picking up the interference. Getting ready for another family concert at my little theatre in the woods next week (first time in 2 years)! 😃 I use SM-58's for vocals and Beta 57a's for guitars, they do a good job under windy conditions outdoors. I also use the Rode M5's for overall coverage, but even with windscreens they can be a problem. Anyway, glad I did a "dry tech" of my audio setup the other day, it would have sucked to have this problem during our video shoot!

Yeah, I would like to have kept it although I'm sure I'd rarely use it. But I need to use the guitar with my microphones so this was a deal-breaker. Guessing that an active pickup (with an amplifier) wouldn't have this problem since the transducer ouput would be lower. Anyway, the fact that this kind of pickup is not compatible with mic'ing a guitar might help someone in the future. BTW, wasn't sure what pickup this was until I removed it. Looked like the Pure Mini but there were no "K&K" logos on the transducers like they show here. There was a generic K&K sticker on the output jack that I couldn't see until I pulled it. https://kksound.com/products/purepickup.php Does Gibson put these in any of their newer guitars, or is it strictly an aftermarket item?

Here's a strange one, wondering if anyone else has noticed this. Have really been enjoying my 2020 J-50 60's re-issue and yesterday tried mic'ing it with a Shure Beta 57a. I was getting very weird electronic interference, a little bit like feedback, but not quite. Finally realized that the K&K soundboard transducer pickup was the cause. I did not have the guitar plugged in, was just playing acoustically with a microphone. This is a passive pickup that consists of three "dots" glued to the bridge plate inside the guitar. No electronics or battery, they are wired directly to the output jack. I got this guitar used, but it looked just like new. According to Gibson's site, it doesn't have a pickup but I have seen some conflicting info elsewhere. However, I assume that the previous owner probably had the pickup installed. I only tried using the pickup once and actually thought the sound was pretty good - not at all like the "quack" of the original under-saddle pickup on my 2008 J-50 (which I removed). Anyway, this was not good, apparently the transducers generate enough current that the wiring "broadcasts" it and a close microphone can pick that up. The interference was sporadic and varied depending on the position of the guitar, but it was really annoying. This may be somewhat microphone-specific, did a quick test with a SM-58 and that mic didn't seem to pick it up. Anyway, I removed the pickup, which wasn't easy. Those three dots were (apparently) super-glued to the bridge plate, I used a razor-scraper to get under them, but some pieces still remain. Hopefully this will fix the problem, guessing that the wires were acting like antennae and that was the main problem. Whoever installed that thing really didn't want it to be removed! The output jack was very difficult to remove also, they had put lock-tite on the threads!

FWIW, just looked at Guitar Center's website and they don't have any J-45's, but there's a 1965 J-50 for $3,100 in "good" condition and another for $2,500 in "fair" (finish is so dark on that one, it looks like mahogany!). Back in 2015, a local Guitar Center had a 1965 J-50 for $3,300. I kept checking online and after about 10 months they reduced the price to $2,400. Went there in person, played and liked it. Offered them $2,000 and (after checking with the manager) I got it with no haggling.

OK, thanks, now I see. There's a separate "Custom Shop Historic Collection" vs the "Original Acoustic Collection" of which the J-50 is a member. I was thinking all the guitars with a date as part of the name were in the same "collection"... but was obviously wrong. 🙃

I am confused over the whole torrified thing. Is this standard on all the current models now, or only certain ones? Just got a 2020 J-50 60's re-issue and the sound is quite different from my 2008 J-50. The ADJ bridge is obviously a factor, but I was wondering of a torrified top could also be part of it. There is no mention of torrified in Gibson's specs - do the specs indicate which models have this feature?

I also have a Hiscox Pro II and it fits my 1965, 1974, 2008 and 2020 J-50's perfectly. Went back and forth from Europe in the checked baggage with no problems. Got it from Elderly Instruments and they were nice enough to check the fit with a similar instument before I purchased, you might call them if you're concerned, they used to have a bunch of vintage Gibsons around. Their price was also the best, but that was back in 2014. Have you seen @jt's post here? Those Crossrock cases also sound interesting and look nice.

I'm a moderator on several forums, and this is the kind of activity that sets off my "spam dectector". 🙃

Yeah, I think "crisp and lively" is a good description of the sound. 🙂

https://forum.gibson.com/topic/163619-j45-custom-shop-adj-advice-needed/?do=findComment&comment=2106427 "Now, regarding the OP... what's up with that? What does this have to do with the Gibson Custom Shop? And why did you make an identical post in a thread about bridge pins which has nothing to do with the topic? Why did you register under a different name and make a third identical post to a yet another thread? Sorry if I'm being harsh and I'd like to be proven wrong, but this all looks pretty fishy... 😉"

I got a 60's re-issue J-50 with the new ADJ bridge a couple weeks ago and really like it. https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/ACC26R79/60s-J-50-Original/Antique-Natural Compared to my 2008 J-50, I'd say that your description of the sound is about right. But neither of these guitars sound anything like my real 1965 J-50 ADJ, which aside from the tone, is not nearly as loud. The real 1965 J-50 has the rosewood saddle and the re-issue is tusq, so that is certainly a factor too. Just had a look inside, have been meaning to do that. The bridge plate on the 2020 60's re-issue looks identical to the plate on the 2008 J-50: a thin (less than 1/8"?) piece of maple of the same size and shape. The only differences are a couple large (3/8"?) nuts with lock washers to hold the sockets for the adjusting screws and three round, thin transducers of perhaps 1/2" each for the pickup (no batteries/amplifier, they are wired directly to the output jack). Now, regarding the OP... what's up with that? What does this have to do with the Gibson Custom Shop? And why did you make an identical post in a thread about bridge pins which has nothing to do with the topic? Why did you register under a different name and make a third identical post to a yet another thread? Sorry if I'm being harsh and I'd like to be proven wrong, but this all looks pretty fishy... 😉

If that link worked, I doubt that your location has anything to do with it. Again.... try a different browser, I have seen this exact same kind of thing happen with people here in my area unable to view certain sites. You can use Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Opera on Windows or Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari on the Mac.

Could be. Here's a link to a specific guitar on that page, does it work for you? Anyway, if you aren't in the US, would it make sense to buy one of these considering shipping and import costs/issues? https://reverb.com/item/41432783-gibson-j-45-studio-rosewood-rosewood-burst-demo

I see six guitars there too. If it doesn't work for you, perhaps try a different browser?