Pluckerster Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Owned many guitars over the years and still have about 6 or 7. I'm not a Gibson player though I have owned and enjoyed an epiphone Les Paul. Now a friend has asked me to sell her late husband's guitars and in there there is a J-45 Deluxe, which the serial number tells me is 1974/75 vintage. It's in pretty good order, some of the binding is rough in places but no obvious damage. Not to my taste as I have small hands and the neck is a bit chunky for me but sounds nice. I have no idea on value and was wondering if anyone can help point me in the direction of somewhere that might advise. I'm in the UK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Not a very desirable era for Gibson acoustics . The best resource I find is to go on Reverb and check their price guide. It’s based on actual sold values not listed asking prices. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Precursor to the Southern Jumbo, J45s were square shoulder back then as were H'Birds. Hard to classify..... label doesn't say anything but 'Deluxe' ? I'd guess around $2500 USD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluckerster Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Thank you Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 The "Deluxe" moniker was pretty much a marketing gimmick CMI came up with in the 1970s. These guitars, as noted, were built during what is generally considered to have been Gibson's "dark ages" when they became overly obsessed with avoiding warranty issues. As to value, I do not know anything about the market overseas. The only thing I might suggest is looking at completed eBay auctions for your neck of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75 Hummingbird Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 6 hours ago, Dave F said: Not a very desirable era for Gibson acoustics . The best resource I find is to go on Reverb and check their price guide. It’s based on actual sold values not listed asking prices. Tell that to Richard Ashcroft of The Verve . There are some great playing and sounding Gibson`s of this era . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluckerster Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Thank you, I have looked on Reverb and the prices there vary a lot but I think I'm going to attempt to sell it for around $1200 and see where it goes. The problem with trying to sell guitars like this online is that buyers would much prefer to play the guitar at that sort of price and the problem with going through a dealer is that they can charge really high selling fees. I'm impressed with the friendliness and knowledge of people on here, thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Dave in SC said: I have to respectfully disagree. J45s came out round-shouldered to start with (in 1942). Pluckerster dated this guitar to 1974-75...no way is it a J45. Square shoulder J45s started to appear towards the end of 1968 and became standard the following year. A round shoulder J45 did not re-appear until 1984. So yes, it is a J45. Edited March 14, 2022 by zombywoof 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 hour ago, 75 Hummingbird said: Tell that to Richard Ashcroft of The Verve . There are some great playing and sounding Gibson`s of this era . "Richard Ashcroft"??????? "The Verve "???????? I guess I'm showing my age. Never heard of either one. "There are some great playing and sounding Gibson`s of this era "-- to each it's own but it doesn't make them anymore valuable or help the OP with his question Reverb has the 1969 to 1982 grouped together price wise Here's the recent sales 2/10/2022 Excellent $2,974 2/8/2022 Very Good $1,387.93 2/4/2022 Good $2,200 12/29/2021 Good $1,400 12/2/2021 Very Good $2,500 11/27/2021 Fair $1,000 11/25/2021 Very Good $2,787.59 11/9/2021 Fair $995 9/27/2021 Fair $761 9/7/2021 Very Good $1,850 9/1/2021 Good $1,680 8/27/2021 Excellent $2,000 8/15/2021 Good $1,200 8/10/2021 Fair $1,135 8/7/2021 Excellent $1,274.99 7/9/2021 Very Good $1,800 5/14/2021 Very Good $1,150 5/12/2021 Good $1,550 4/27/2021 Fair $1,000 4/3/2021 Good $1,800 3/30/2021 Excellent $2,500 3/18/2021 Very Good $1,450 1/31/2021 Good $1,300 1/6/2021 Good $1,135 1/1/2021 Good $1,100 12/27/2020 Good $1,400 11/23/2020 Good $1,550 11/21/2020 Very Good $1,099.95 11/10/2020 Good $1,750 11/5/2020 Very Good $920 11/2/2020 Very Good $1,800 10/19/2020 Good $1,350 10/17/2020 Good $1,200 10/8/2020 Good $1,311.13 9/17/2020 Very Good $1,175 9/14/2020 Good $30 9/1/2020 Very Good $2,357.49 7/11/2020 Excellent $3,700 6/18/2020 Good $1,125 6/3/2020 Very Good $1,800 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluckerster Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Thank you for all that detail! Very useful. I didn't know about the price guide on Reverb before today, it's very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in SC Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 hour ago, zombywoof said: Square shoulder J45s started to appear towards the end of 1968 and became standard the following year. A round shoulder J45 did not re-appear until 1984. So yes, it is a J45. 😮 You are absolutely right! *blush* Not only that, but my research (which should have been done before opening my big mouth) shows that the square-shouldered version also had a 25-1/2" scale length. Learn something new every day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 5 hours ago, Dave F said: "Richard Ashcroft"??????? "The Verve "???????? I guess I'm showing my age. Never heard of either one. They had a big hit in the 90s - Bittersweet Symphony - and R.A. became a bit of an outlaw symbol. I didn't know he could play guitar above mid-level. Paul Weller had one of these too. He used it a lot live in the post millennium phase before goin' to Guilds. Suited his tight focused punchy style. Btw. so did I. My second Gibson in 1979/80 bought new. Didn't know a f... about braces and Norlin-era, but the guitar didn't deliver what I wanted from an acoustic Gibson. Heaven knows I tried to lOVE it, , , , , , , , time soon said nope. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 19 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: They had a big hit in the 90s - Bittersweet Symphony - and R.A. became a bit of an outlaw symbol. I didn't know he could play guitar above mid-level. Here's the Ashcroft I recall. With what could be a Gibson J-185. A good singer - but playing just 1 step above beginners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 15 hours ago, Dave F said: "Richard Ashcroft"? "The Verve "? Never heard of either one. Me either. It's not my age, it's mostly apathy. He's never heard of me, either. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 10 minutes ago, Murph said: Me either. It's not my age, it's mostly apathy. He's never heard of me, either. After the reviews above, I doubt I’ll look him up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Original Poster: Good conditions going for about $1400. Maybe make that a starting point. No, you folks cannot have my 74 Southern Jumbo DEEEluxe, my 78 The Paul or return man Murphy's 78 SG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
75 Hummingbird Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 (edited) On 3/15/2022 at 12:19 AM, E-minor7 said: Here's the Ashcroft I recall. With what could be a Gibson J-185. A good singer - but playing just 1 step above beginners. That`s the beauty of being a great song writer ...you don`t have to be a great guitar player . Chords ,melody, a story , some sex appeal ,some mojo ,and confidence .. Speaking on behalf of this under rated era of Gibson flattops , i think Gibson should release a series of signature 70`s styled ,single x braced acoustics. John Mellencamp Dove , Paul Weller - Richard Ashcroft j 45 , Stuart " Woody" Wood Hummingbird . I think they would put smiles on peoples faces . Edited March 16, 2022 by 75 Hummingbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 10 hours ago, 75 Hummingbird said: That`s the beauty of being a great song writer ...you don`t have to be a great guitar player . Chords ,melody, a story , some sex appeal ,some mojo ,and confidence .. Afraid it's not enough for me. Even Dylan had some real playing goin'. . But let's hear the great hit from 1997 - 10 hours ago, 75 Hummingbird said: Speaking on behalf of this under rated era of Gibson flattops , i think Gibson should release a series of signature 70`s styled ,single x braced acoustics. John Mellencamp Dove , Paul Weller - Richard Ashcroft j 45 , Stuart " Woody" Wood Hummingbird . I think they would put smiles on peoples faces . Yeah, , especially over in Nazareth. . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 11 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: Afraid it's not enough for me. Even Dylan had some real playing goin'. . But let's hear the great hit from 1997 - Just re-heard it for the first time in 25 years. Still a strong tune - and I still dislike the video, , , and his shoes. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 On 3/15/2022 at 2:36 PM, Hall said: Murphy's 78 SG. What? You mean this one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Wait... My SG is a 79... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted March 23, 2022 Share Posted March 23, 2022 On 3/17/2022 at 11:26 PM, Murph said: Wait... My SG is a 79... Yes, I mean that one. But, WAIT! My The Paul is 79 also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Reid Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 I have a 1970-74 square shoulder deluxe its having a refurb with my luthier, I swapped it for a pretty much new Taylor 214e which cust me £720 , its costing me around £500 to refurb the gibson I hope its money well spent and sounds good but we will see!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 My first acoustic was a 1974 Gibson J-50 Deluxe that I bought new. Really didn't take care of it over the years and by 2012 it became unplayable so I took it to the luthier. He was able to avoid a neck reset by planing down the fingerboard and doing a re-fret, also fixed a variety of smaller issues. I had mostly lost interest in that guitar, due to its poor condition, but the refurb made a HUGE difference - it literally played and sounded better than it did new. It was funny, when I picked it up I asked the luthier if he had any problems and he said the only "problem" was that he didn't want to give it back to me because he'd been having so much fun playing it himself! It was always my son in law's favorite whenever he visited, so I gave it to him and he's still loving it. For one thing, it has really strong bass and is just louder than any of my other acoustics. Of course, louder does not necessarily mean "better". 🙂 But, unless there's some serious problem with yours, I think you'll be happy when you get yours back from the luthier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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