pocaloc Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Hello, I'm pretty new to regularly posting on this site. I've been looking for a premium acoustic and I'm basically decided on a Gibson. I used to have a J-45 "Western" that I was going to keep forever. I never even thought of selling it, other than sort of wishing it was a sunburst. Anyway, financial matters forced me to sell and I ended up with a Seagull S6 to replace it. Now the time has come when I'm financially ready to spend up to $2,000 on a nice acoustic. My dream guitar of all time is a sunburst J-45, and like I said I always enjoyed playing my J-45. The deciding point for me is that I've since picked up a few 25 1/2 scale guitars and I like having that extra room on the fretboard. I'm a big guy with big meaty fingers. The Hummingbird pro has a 25 1/2 inch scale and I like the sound too. Seems like a really quality instrument. I've liked the sound of all Hummingbirds I've played, but I can't help but keep going back to the J-45 seeing as it is "the" classic in my and a lot of other people's books. Is the scale length that important? I mainly strum and accompany myself singing songs. I like to capo up to the third fret a lot too. Given this information, what would you advise me to do?
EuroAussie Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Seems to me like your set on the J-45 (perfectly understandable, going through a similar feeling). But I thought the HB pro was a shortscale? Basically a shortscale mahogany SWD? Both great guitars IMO, best to simply play both and choose. Good luck!
vincentw Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Seems to me like your set on the J-45 (perfectly understandable, going through a similar feeling). But I thought the HB pro was a shortscale? Basically a shortscale mahogany SWD? Both great guitars IMO, best to simply play both and choose. Good luck! Body Style Songwriter Dlx Body shape – comes in cutaway or non-cutaway Back, sides and neck Mahogany Top Sitka Spruce Fingerboard and bridge Indian Rosewood Scale Length Long (25 ½”) Nut Width 1.6875 Fingerboard Inlay MOP Parallelograms Available Color Vintage Sunburst, some in Heritage Cherry Sunburst Electronics Non-cutaway -- Baggs Element; Cutaway -- Fishman Prefix Plus-T
Pickax Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I played a Hummingbird Pro at a local Guitar Center and it was an outstanding example. It seemed the neck profile was a bit bigger than the 45's. Perhaps more of a C shape as compared to the 45's slight V shape. I have a J-45TV so I'm obviously biased. I have large hands and I have no trouble with the short scale. I find the short scale easier to play than my long scale Guitars. The HP has more bling if you like that sort of thing. I like the versatility of the 45 - you can play practically any style on this Guitar.
pocaloc Posted March 8, 2011 Author Posted March 8, 2011 I went and played both guitars today side by side. I brought my capo and the hummingbird pro really was better for me when using a capo. The j45 seems to have something that gets me to play really rhythmically? Or it justmseems to have something that helps me to connect to it. What are the advantages of the shorter scale?
ChrisA83 Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I find my J-45 is easier to play than my SWD, and I put this down to the shortscale. Could be nut width or something - I don't know all the size differences.
EuroAussie Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Agree with Chrisa that the SWD neck is a bit tricky to get a hang off. Not sure why but probably not scale length (at least for me) as I find the J-200 neck by far the easiest to play. Maybe its the neck profile, but nevertheless its a good point as I found the J-45 played like butter.
pocaloc Posted March 8, 2011 Author Posted March 8, 2011 Well, I've decided. I was reading another post on the forum where someone gave a heads up on the prices to be had at EM Shorts out of Witchita, KS. $1700 for a J45 standard and $2200 for a J45 TV. Can't pass a deal like that up it has tipped the scales. Is the TV worth $500 more?
EuroAussie Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 If you find the right TV then yes ... Of course best play both and make up your own mind..
Pickax Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Well, I've decided. I was reading another post on the forum where someone gave a heads up on the prices to be had at EM Shorts out of Witchita, KS. $1700 for a J45 standard and $2200 for a J45 TV. Can't pass a deal like that up it has tipped the scales. Is the TV worth $500 more? Every penny. I used to own a J-45 Standard that I sold and bought a J-45TV. Had the chance to play them side by side. The 45 was a great Guitar but my 45TV is even better. More power, more clarity and I love the tone of an Adirondack topped Guitar. The Standard and the TV have different bracing configurations so it's not really an apples to apples comparison. That said, I'm very happy with my TV and again, it was worth every penny more. Can't go wrong in dealing with E. M. Shorts. They have the best prices anywhere and they run a great shop. NFI.
Pickax Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Well, I've decided. I was reading another post on the forum where someone gave a heads up on the prices to be had at EM Shorts out of Witchita, KS. $1700 for a J45 standard and $2200 for a J45 TV. Can't pass a deal like that up it has tipped the scales. Is the TV worth $500 more? double post - sorry
Mojorule Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Agree with Chrisa that the SWD neck is a bit tricky to get a hang off. Not sure why but probably not scale length (at least for me) as I find the J-200 neck by far the easiest to play. Maybe its the neck profile, but nevertheless its a good point as I found the J-45 played like butter. Given the specs posted by Vincent, could it be the nut width (effectively 1 11/16 rather than 1 3/4)? Go on, buy that J45 and make Prague happy!
mbosaz Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 Hi all, I am new posting in this forum. I will really appreciate your guidance. I amprepearing to get my first acoustic Gibson. And here is the dilemma... I know I have to play and play them until I decide which one is my partner BUT... I love the j45 true vintage but I prefer to have a cutaway so I started looking at hummingbird pro and songwriter (although there is something I don like about songwriter...cannot say what, maybe is silly but I can't explain...) Any help on this? I don't want to get the j45 and remember the cutaway missing every time I want to get to lowest frets....but I don't want to get the hummingbird pro ec and then continue dreaming about the red spruce top...btw, is the red spruce top such a wood to be so much in love....maybe if not I can make up my mind. Thanks, M
EuroAussie Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 Get the J-45TV, you wont regret it, its aguably probably the best guitar in the Gibson linup right now. Who needs a cutaway, same note is only a cm or two away .. Welcome to the forum btw ! Hi all, I am new posting in this forum. I will really appreciate your guidance. I amprepearing to get my first acoustic Gibson. And here is the dilemma... I know I have to play and play them until I decide which one is my partner BUT... I love the j45 true vintage but I prefer to have a cutaway so I started looking at hummingbird pro and songwriter (although there is something I don like about songwriter...cannot say what, maybe is silly but I can't explain...) Any help on this? I don't want to get the j45 and remember the cutaway missing every time I want to get to lowest frets....but I don't want to get the hummingbird pro ec and then continue dreaming about the red spruce top...btw, is the red spruce top such a wood to be so much in love....maybe if not I can make up my mind. Thanks, M
GotTheSilver Posted May 28, 2012 Posted May 28, 2012 Well, I've decided. I was reading another post on the forum where someone gave a heads up on the prices to be had at EM Shorts out of Witchita, KS. $1700 for a J45 standard and $2200 for a J45 TV. Can't pass a deal like that up it has tipped the scales. Is the TV worth $500 more? Definitely get the TV! There are great sounding J-45 Standards, but the TVs are generally considered to be more consistently great guitars. The Standards are more hit and miss. This would be a consideration for me in ordering a guitar I could not play first. There are a lot of J-45TV fans on this forum, for good reason.
Markini Posted May 29, 2012 Posted May 29, 2012 Well i am still wanting to buy a "good" J-45. Played one yesterday at GC just 24 hours out of the box. Sounded ok, but played kind of stiff. I have tried out 3 different J 45s so far. All good guitars but didn't find the "one'. I will keep looking. Incidentally I did purchase a Hummingbird Pro a couple of months ago. Yep they are long scale and the body is called small shoulder.This is a different animal than the regular Hummingbirds or J-45s. Beautiful tone, excellent mid range and lows. Fine picking guitar IMO. Excellent projection unplugged.
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