Pimouss Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Hi, I can't find the model of my J45. It is from 2008 and the label only says J45. I bought it two years ago and the seller said it was a vintage model. I think it is a true vintage. The serial number is inside the guitar, not on the headstock. Not a big deal for me but just to know what I have 🙂 I've put some pictures if someone can help me. Thank you very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Yes, it's a True Vintage. Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Orange label- True Vintage- at that time. I have one too. It’s a lifer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 I've got an H'Bird version of the True Vintage series. I've never heard anything bad about this run - I believe they also made some SJ200s. Hold on to it. Like Will Rogers said - "Buy land, they're not making anymore of it." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Yep, normally Bozeman would have added a TV, but apparently forgot. No problem though - everything signalizes True Vintage. And the year tells us it's from the early wave (which isn't better btw.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Well, the tuners may be different too - here's a 2009'er. https://reverb.com/item/3609955-2009-gibson-j-45-true-vintage-antique-vintage-sunburst It has the headstock decal. Is your case blue ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 Looks like a fake to me. I'll give you a $100 for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimouss Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 Thank you all for your answers. Probably a TV then 1 hour ago, E-minor7 said: Is your case blue ? No, it's pink. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 2 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Yep, normally Bozeman would have added a TV, but apparently forgot. No problem though - everything signalizes True Vintage. And the year tells us it's from the early wave (which isn't better btw.). I don't believe Gibson put True Vintage or TV on the labels initially. I have two, and they both simply say J45 and Southern Jumbo. The signifier that the model is True Vintage was: 1.) The unique mix mix of features (including the Banner decal). 2.) The orange label itself. At that time, Gibson was using a white label. The orange label (at that time) was one of the mix of historic features. Mine's wonderful. I hope the OP's is too. Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 1 hour ago, Red 333 said: I don't believe Gibson put True Vintage or TV on the labels initially. I have two, and they both simply say J45 and Southern Jumbo. You may be right - could be added a few years later. Another J-45 True Vintage benchmark was and (still is ?) the adirondack top, , , if I'm not too far off. . And of course the slightly alternative bracing pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 (edited) When looking closer into this flying (or is it burning ?!) 2008 TV (1 of the 167) - which has now gone further, there are extra letters after the Hummingbird. Could say TV - could say VOS (vintage original specs). I simply don't recall. Edited April 15, 2023 by E-minor7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimouss Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 4 hours ago, Red 333 said: Mine's wonderful. I hope the OP's is too. Yes it is, for me at least that's all that matters 🙂 The only complaint is the one I have with every Gibson, the nitro finish !! I must have acid in my body because I change strings as often as my sockets and I can't keep a Gibson in mint condition whatever I do..... The nitro on the neck has really suffered and I made sort of "clouds" where my shoulder rests. Bad for sale value but that's ok I'll keep it !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jchabalk Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 I've got one of these too - mine's about 2.5 months younger than yours, I can concur with all the rest. What i heard is that these guitars were True Vintage models made before they figured out that they were going to call them "True Vintage." Mine has a red spruce top and is my favorite acoustic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Striker6 Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Does anyone recall what these “early” TV J-45’s cost in ‘07, ‘08, ‘09…? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimouss Posted April 17, 2023 Author Share Posted April 17, 2023 On 4/16/2023 at 6:15 AM, jchabalk said: I've got one of these too - mine's about 2.5 months younger than yours, I can concur with all the rest. What i heard is that these guitars were True Vintage models made before they figured out that they were going to call them "True Vintage." Mine has a red spruce top and is my favorite acoustic. So that explains why they wrote J45. I guess all TV have the same top no ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jchabalk Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 That's my understanding, at some point (possibly right out of the gate) they also had a model called the J-45 Legend which was a variant of the TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 On 4/15/2023 at 5:56 PM, Pimouss said: Yes it is, for me at least that's all that matters 🙂 The only complaint is the one I have with every Gibson, the nitro finish !! I must have acid in my body because I change strings as often as my sockets and I can't keep a Gibson in mint condition whatever I do..... The nitro on the neck has really suffered and I made sort of "clouds" where my shoulder rests. Bad for sale value but that's ok I'll keep it !! Just saw this post- the clouded finish where the shoulder/arm drapes over the lower bout is something that is easily remedied with Virtuoso polish- it's formulated for nitro finished guitars... Gibsons love it. Just wanted to make sure you knew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimouss Posted April 18, 2023 Author Share Posted April 18, 2023 Thank you very much. I just searched but saddly I can't find it in French sites... On the official virtuoso site it costs 45$ just for delivery, not counting the product price..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 2 hours ago, jchabalk said: That's my understanding, at some point (possibly right out of the gate) they also had a model called the J-45 Legend which was a variant of the TV The True Vintage J45 and Legend J45 are two very different models. The TV is an amalgam of never-combined J45 features from over several decades. It's the greatest hits compilation of J45s. The Legend is a painstaking recreation of one specific 1942 J45, which was, if I remember, owned by Gibson historian and author Eldon Whitford. Having one is like having an unplayed 70 year old guitar that was found in some closet. Red 333 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 12 minutes ago, Red 333 said: The True Vintage J45 and Legend J45 are two very different models. The TV is an amalgam of never-combined J45 features from over several decades. It's the greatest hits compilation of J45s. The Legend is a painstaking recreation of one specific 1942 J45, which was, if I remember, owned by Gibson historian and author Eldon Whitford. Having one is like having an unplayed 70 year old guitar that was found in some closet. Red 333 Ditto on this. I've had both models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 4 minutes ago, Dave F said: Ditto on this. I've had both models. I still do! Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 Just now, Red 333 said: I still do! Red 333 I think I miss the Legend more than the TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustystrings Posted April 18, 2023 Share Posted April 18, 2023 14 hours ago, Red 333 said: The True Vintage J45 and Legend J45 are two very different models. The TV is an amalgam of never-combined J45 features from over several decades. It's the greatest hits compilation of J45s. The Legend is a painstaking recreation of one specific 1942 J45, which was, if I remember, owned by Gibson historian and author Eldon Whitford. Having one is like having an unplayed 70 year old guitar that was found in some closet. Red 333 Your memory is right on! It was Eldon Whitford's guitar, and if memory serves they replicated it right down to the saw marks on the braces! My memory is that 2008 was the year Gibson split what had been the J-45 into the Modern Classic and the True Vintage models. I could be wrong, but it seems to me there were rolling changes to the TV as they went along - like maybe some early examples were built with Sitka before they went to Adirondack, and greater amounts of hide glue were used instead of titebond, etc. The label colors from around 2008 on do appear to signify whether the instrument is a standard or modern version vs. a vintage-esque guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimouss Posted April 19, 2023 Author Share Posted April 19, 2023 One more question, do you know if there was a COA for this model ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 On 4/19/2023 at 6:37 AM, Pimouss said: One more question, do you know if there was a COA for this model ? There may or may not have been. Gibson is not necessarily consistent in this. If you did not get one, assume it doesn't exist. As a rule, Gibson does not issue a new COA to a subsequent owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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