mojoworking Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Pretty interesting to see the first 3 models are all long scaled - hhmmmm, , , can it be right with that 160E. Maybe. . Btw. mojow - just nail-tap the bridge to check if it's plastic. Or study the grains/missing ditto under looking glass. And yes, most cherry bursts - especially oldies - are major. Thanks, I'll do that when I get home tonight and report back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Here's a couple of pages from the 1970 Gibson catalogue. The J45 and J50 had just been revamped as square shouldered abominations That J-50 is interesting. It has the oversized stained/natural headstock like my 1974 J-50 but the adjustable bridge and teardrop pickguard. Don't think I've ever seen one of these before. I played a 1968 (I think?) J-50 at Guitar Center last winter when I got the 1965 J-50. It did not have the adjustable bridge or teardrop pickguard and the headstock was smaller and painted black, like the 1965 J-50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Man, what a pair! She's out of her league here, but with all the talk of cherrybursts, the Epi Texan reissue I picked up off ebay turned out to be quite the looker.... . Outstanding ! How does it sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 J45 lovers look away now. Here's a couple of pages from the 1970 Gibson catalogue. The J45 and J50 had just been revamped as square shouldered abominations, but on the following page the J160E is still available with the traditional round shouldered shape. The SJ and C&W got square shoulders in 1962. The first square shoulder J-45/50s appeared in late 1968 and became standard in 1969. The picture of the J-160E in the catalog was probably just a reprint from an older catalog because they also had square shoulders by 1970. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoworking Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 That J-50 is interesting. It has the oversized stained/natural headstock like my 1974 J-50 but the adjustable bridge and teardrop pickguard. Don't think I've ever seen one of these before. I played a 1968 (I think?) J-50 at Guitar Center last winter when I got the 1965 J-50. It did not have the adjustable bridge or teardrop pickguard and the headstock was smaller and painted black, like the 1965 J-50. Pretty sure the change from round to square shoulder on J45 and J50 happened in 1969 and according to the Vintage Guitar Info site, a year later on the J160E http://www.guitarhq.com/gibson6.html#j160 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoworking Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 The SJ and C&W got square shoulders in 1962. The first square shoulder J-45/50s appeared in late 1968 and became standard in 1969. The picture of the J-160E in the catalog was probably just a reprint from an older catalog because they also had square shoulders by 1970. Thanks Zomby. As I've repeated here before, I got caught out by the changeover myself. During the 60s/70s the UK Gibson distributor was a company called Selmer (famous in the UK for their amps and other things). As late as 1970 the Selmer catalogue was still showing the round shoulder J45/50, so I ordered a 45 from my local dealer. Of course when it arrived, instead of the bright cherry sunburst finish with round shoulders, it was an unappealing muddy brown with square shoulders. Luckily I was able to send it back. Back to the J160E in the catalogue above. Looks like they flipped the bridge for the last of the round shoulder models in 1969, which were also more cherry sunburst than the earlier tobacco sunburst we know and love from the Beatles. I believe they also did a J160E with a cutaway towards the end? I've seen Marc Bolan play one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 This is listed as a 1969 and it has square shoulders, a teardrop pickguard and the black headstock. The photo is very small, but it looks like it may have an adjustable bridge. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-VINTAGE-1969Gibson-J50-WC-109899690-i3627229.gc Then they also list this as a 1969 but it has the thick pickguard with Gibson logo and apparently black headstock and adjustable bridge. Somebody at Guitar Center needs to learn how to use a camera. :) There seems to be a lot of variations in the J-45/J-50s of that era. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-VINTAGE-1969Gibson-J50-109404498-i3345010.gc Looking at J-50's on their site… how about a 1953 for $1800? Must have some issues…. http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-Vintage-1953-Gibson-J50-Natural-Acoustic-Guitar-110547997-i4469987.gc Or a 1957 J-50 for $1800? Apparently the pickguard is gone… http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-Vintage-1957-Gibson-J50-Acoustic-Guitar-111203108-i4470336.gc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Outstanding ! How does it sound? Pretty darn good. Of course, I've only got Masterbilts to compare it to. Epifolks are real happy with 'em. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 That J-50 is interesting. It has the oversized stained/natural headstock like my 1974 J-50 but the adjustable bridge and teardrop pickguard. Don't think I've ever seen one of these before. I played a 1968 (I think?) J-50 at Guitar Center last winter when I got the 1965 J-50. It did not have the adjustable bridge or teardrop pickguard and the headstock was smaller and painted black, like the 1965 J-50. I have to admit, I really like the big, chunky headstock (which Guild seemed to copy??), and I kind of wish the modern Gibson headstock was bigger and chunkier. But I suppose the originals were not big and chunky at all! I wonder why they moved to big/chunky in the '70s. Maybe it was another cost-cutting, warranty-work-minimizing move. Thanks Zomby. As I've repeated here before, I got caught out by the changeover myself. During the 60s/70s the UK Gibson distributor was a company called Selmer (famous in the UK for their amps and other things). As late as 1970 the Selmer catalogue was still showing the round shoulder J45/50, so I ordered a 45 from my local dealer. Of course when it arrived, instead of the bright cherry sunburst finish with round shoulders, it was an unappealing muddy brown with square shoulders. Luckily I was able to send it back. Back to the J160E in the catalogue above. Looks like they flipped the bridge for the last of the round shoulder models in 1969, which were also more cherry sunburst than the earlier tobacco sunburst we know and love from the Beatles. I believe they also did a J160E with a cutaway towards the end? I've seen Marc Bolan play one. Pretty cool story!! Did you order yours because of The Beatles influence? Were they still ladder-braced then? I guess maybe they kept ladder-bracing them all the way through. I think the modern Gibson version is scalloped x-bracing, but I think the back and sides are still laminate. I'm not sure about that at all, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoworking Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 I have to admit, I really like the big, chunky headstock (which Guild seemed to copy??), and I kind of wish the modern Gibson headstock was bigger and chunkier. But I suppose the originals were not big and chunky at all! I wonder why they moved to big/chunky in the '70s. Maybe it was another cost-cutting, warranty-work-minimizing move. Pretty cool story!! Did you order yours because of The Beatles influence? Were they still ladder-braced then? I guess maybe they kept ladder-bracing them all the way through. I think the modern Gibson version is scalloped x-bracing, but I think the back and sides are still laminate. I'm not sure about that at all, though. I ordered the J45 because I wanted a cherry sunburst one like Donovan (cherry sunburst was the standard colour for the J45 between 1962-69). I bought the J160E and the Texan (both second-hand) because of the Beatles influence, likewise the Casino. Ideally, the Texan should have been blonde like Macca's of course, but they were hard to find back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I've been wanting a reissue ever since I read about them here. Now I want the real thing. ALSO....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 OBS - A few years back I launched the quite bizarre fact that the Hummingbird sound used as sonic blueprint for about 75 % of all Bird lovers - the Angie intro with Rolling Stones - was played on a adjustable ceramic saddled H-bird. A paradox as most guitar-people (and Bird-fans) at the point was eager to disqualify that same bridge concept as no good. Now on a similar controversial note, B) - I stand up with the theory that Yesterday from 1965 very well could have been played on a 1964 Epiphone Texan with ceramic saddle, , , , in a plastic bridge ! Over to you folks. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I have to admit, I really like the big, chunky headstock (which Guild seemed to copy??), and I kind of wish the modern Gibson headstock was bigger and chunkier. Maybe you should get a 1970's J-50? You would get the big headstock and batwing pickguard for half the price of a new J-45 and a sound that is very different. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Maybe you should get a 1970's J-50? You would get the big headstock and batwing pickguard for half the price of a new J-45 and a sound that is very different. :) I think the nut width is smaller, right? Even the 1.725" gets a teeny bit thin for me right up at the nut. Had thought about it, though! I think I am pretty well sold on a J-15 (third time's a charm? or will I think, "yeah, but what if...?" again?). I stayed up late listening to a bunch of walnut Gibsons last night (including a walnut J-45, but it also adds an Adirondack top to further confuse the issue, and probably has rosewood fretboard/bridge and mahogany neck) and was really able to kind of pick out the character of walnut. The J-15 sounds a little brighter perhaps but somehow very woody besides from what I can tell. Maybe that's why people keep saying it's a mix of rosewood and mahogany (or others say maple and rosewood...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojoworking Posted August 24, 2015 Author Share Posted August 24, 2015 Here's Donovan himself with his signature model J45. Looks good to me http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/donovan-on-claw-hammer-classic-songs-and-celtic-influences-625407 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88mmll Posted August 26, 2015 Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks Jesse, glad it's not just me. On the Gibson website they have a Brad Paisley J45 in cherry sunburst but it's 4 grand US, which converts to over $5,000 by the time it gets to Australia. The pickguard is a little too fancy for me, but it's a non-adjustable bridge which should please the purists. Would like to try a little narrow nut Paisley model, 1.625". Fast picker like a tele, I suppose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowhandhatcher Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 I know this is an old thread but I am looking at the new made in Montana epiphone Texan I live on the western slope in Colorado and there are not any Gibson dealers here I got to play one of these USA Texans it was pretty sweet. Since you have the Gibson j 45 and a Texan which do you prefer? And why? if you don’t mind me asking.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 I have a 2001 J-45 and the 2020 Texan. It's hard to say I'm being objective when I say that I prefer the Texan, since $2500 spent a few months ago means more to me than $900 spent 10 years ago. I had two Texans to choose from when I bought mine, and played the third one that the store got a few weeks ago. There was definitely a difference between the original two, but the third couldn't be directly compared to another one. My Texan is a bit sweeter than my J-45 and does not have the boomy sound that was beginning to frustrate me. It's nice to have two very similar guitars that excel in slightly different ranges of the spectrum. The Texan, of course, is 25.5" rather than the 24.75" J-45, but I personally don't find that to be a major factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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