Red 333 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Gibson Acoustic J-45 - Antique Natural, Mahogany Top @ Sweetwater What do yo think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Gibson Acoustic J-45 - Antique Natural, Mahogany Top @ Sweetwater What do yo think? Not sure why they'd do this. Because they can I suppose. If I wanted an all hog Gibson I'd buy an LGO. Alas, I don't want an all hog Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Not sure why they'd do this. Because they can I suppose. If I wanted an all hog Gibson I'd buy an LGO. Alas, I don't want an all hog Gibson. There were quite a few all-mahogany J-45 and LG-2 models built during WW2 (banner Gibsons), since there was a shortage of instrument-grade spruce. The Gibson banner guitar registry lists a surprising number. I haven't played one of these, so I don't know how they compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Gibson built J 45's with Mahogany tops in the mid 1940's 'til the 1950's. . No doubt you already know this. All the ones I've seen are "sunburst". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy2 Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Yeah, I almost bought a 40s era all hog J45. I've had a couple all hog Martins but moved them on as the tone left me wanting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 This looks like one I'd like to test drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 It would be interesting to try out, but all mahogany usually doesn't work for me, preferring a more percussive (mapleish) tone. Duly noted that the pickguard's in the right place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 That's why they make vanilla and chocolate. Red, the hog-topped J-45's would be well worth your curiosity... the two all-mahogany dreads I'm familiar with (the Martin D-15, and the J-45) have one big thing in common: they excel at pounding out some serious chord chunking. While it still can be a singer songwriter-y J-45 all day long, the mahogany top adds a quality of warmth to the sound. But that warmth comes at a price in the form of it's tendency to "load up" when played with intensity. This can be used to some advantage, but is kind of the opposite of a dry sounding vintage blues box that allows the player to keep digging in for more and more punch and volume. It's a great sound for solid rhythm chords, and could be at home doing the rhythm guitar parts on 1940's standards. Too bad Gibson chose to differentiate the above Sweetwater linked guitar with a stain finish, but the other makers are selling similarly finished models, so why not try for some of those sales? Hopefully, you can a/b a mahogany topped J-45 next to a spruce topped one- who knows; maybe you'll be using one of these this upcoming holiday season for another one of your sublime Christmas song videos : ) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I'd be interested in hearing/playing this model. I wonder if the tone would warmer than that of my standard J45. I like the way my J45 feels and plays, and along with the tone it's pretty tough to beat. If I found something as playable with even more warmth, I'd be very interested in it. Gibson does endless variations of the J45, Hummingbird, J200. I'm not a fan of all of them, but I imagine the vast majority are "killer" guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I played one Banner with a mahogany top that somebody wanted to know if I was interested in. Even though I could have snagged it for about as cheap as I had ever seen a Banner go I passed. I much preferred the red spruce top guitars. But I would imagine mahogany is similar to Koa in that there will be a whole lot of variation in sound. While one guitar may be totally uninspiring the next might just get your juices flowing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Mahogany Top J-45 . . . . . . . . Have you seen this before? Yes, earlier this year - although I can't say exactly when they first appeared. I think it's in-keeping with some of the vintage style offerings Gibson makes, like the TV models. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 These actually sound good. a little warmer than spruce but no not bad. I would say that to my ear, they retain more clarity and top end than a Martin D15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 These actually sound good. a little warmer than spruce but no not bad. I would say that to my ear, they retain more clarity and top end than a Martin D15. Your last post as a single guy, or you gonna squeeze a few more in? 😋 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Not at that price….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I fear playing one, for want of buying one. I loved the sound of a hog-topped new LG I played this past year. I also have several 15 series, including my D15M I bought 4 years ago; I love it. The hog top makes for a generally warm sound. You do lose top end sparkle, but you gain warmth and fatness for chords and blues. Buy it Red! And know there is a great chance that if you don't like it, I - or a dope like me- will take it off your hands :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsc Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 These actually sound good. a little warmer than spruce but no not bad. I would say that to my ear, they retain more clarity and top end than a Martin D15. These have scalloped bracing, the D-15 has standard bracing. I once tried a D-17 & a D-15, side by side. There was a huge difference, in tone. The D-17 had scalloped bracing too. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer the tone of the 15 series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogsPart2 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I played one this past week at Wildwood Guitars in Colorado. Nicely put together and sounded like a "softer" version of a standard J-45. If I did not have my sights set on a J-185, I would have taken the J45 home. A very nice guitar, just do not expect a banjo killer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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