TomPhx

That's a great picture! Thanks for posting it, and Thanks to JT for helping to keep their history alive.

You shouldn't need to worry about the serial number being a year different. I have a couple of recent Gibson acoustics that have a serial number a year behind the model year, which is stamped in the headstock. (IE: 1xxx6xxx on a 2017 stamped guitar.) I haven't seen J45 Std tuners like the ones on yours, though I have seen them on Custom Shop models. The burst finish looks brighter than a standard J45 Vintage Sunburst finish. More like a Sunset Burst. Could be the lighting in your pics, but maybe you got an upgraded model from GC and because it had no label they sold it as a Standard. I'd run the serial number by Gibson and see what they have to say...

Beautiful! I like an SJ with a burst.

Congratulations on that beautiful SJ200!

Looking at the pics your fretboard looks fine, just like the one on my 2018 J45. Just wood grain and pores. Enjoy your new guitar, a good J45 will make some nice music.

Tough choice, I hope not to have to get to the point of only 2 acoustics. But if I have to... An SJ200 Western Classic and a D18 for me. 1 rosewood and 1 mahogany, should cover it.

The J29 is probably the loudest acoustic guitar I've got. It's got a rich rosewood sound and just pumps out volume. I recently put Martin Marquis strings on it to tone it down some. Trying to sing over it would have the the neighbors calling the police. :D The biggest sound comes from the SJ200 Western Classic. You can really feel the sound being created by this guitar, in a good way.

When I was a younger man Gibson guitars were the unattainable dream of someday. I got by with a Samick, and a Martin that I found on sale, for 20+ years. But now as a "gullible, oh-so-exploitable, pension-cashing baby boomer", I'm finally able to fulfill that dream of owning a Gibson acoustic guitar or two. I never realized I had to be exploited and gullible to get to this point in life, but I'm happy to be here... :)

Window shopping is a great time. The problem with sitting in a room full of Gibsons is staying focused on the mission. :D Have fun searching for your J45.

I found my 2018 J-45 at a local Guitar Center in September last year. I had been looking for a couple months and played several that didn't do it for me. This one sounded exactly the way I thought a good J-45 should. It had some light play marks in front of the pickguard but, compared to a Southern Jumbo and a used AJ I played along with it, this one sounded the best to me. It was marked down pretty well too, so I bought it. Been happy with it since it came home with me. The 1.725" nut width is about as thin as I'd comfortably go.

Hello from Arizona. I've been lurking here for about 6 months and registered recently. Been playing acoustic guitar on and off for about 30 years. Raising kids and working got in the way, but I had some guitar instruction books and learned some songs to play and sing. I guess I'm the classic marketing target for guitar makers; Recently retired baby boomer who always wanted a really nice guitar or two, but didn't have the time or money to indulge. So I've gravitated to Gibson acoustic guitars and really am enjoying learning about all the many models and variations. My gateway Gibson was a Songwriter Studio DLX that I found used at a local store last year. Love it, and of course a couple of others have joined my small group of acoustics. Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing, hearing, and learning more about all these wonderful Gibson acoustic guitars. Thanks for having me.