brannon67 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 With all the J45 and non J45 owners on here. I want to ask, What do you like about your J45, and what do you not like about it? For those of you who do not own a J45, Why? Why do you not like the J45? Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Man, how do you put something like this into words? I both like and dislike J-45s. I like J-45s that sound dry, woody and rather "crisp" (articulate) if you will. I don't particularly care for J-45s that sound rather damp, with a wooly low end and muted trebles. Ask someone else and they might prefer just the opposite. Hopefully people purchased their guitars (be it a J-45 or otherwise) because they love the way they sound and play. That's also implying that they've passed on guitars that don't exhibit the characteristics that they value in an instrument. Oh, I also like that you can string up a J-45 with mediums and its still plenty easy to play due to the short scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brannon67 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 Its like everything else, guitars, cars, etc. Its a matter of personal taste and how it feels and sounds to that person. Personally I love how my J45 feels and plays. I guess I got lucky, and got a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 . I've never owned a J-45. In the midst of all the J-45 fans here . . . . The often cited strength is its versatility, but too me, that's also a weakness: It has the kind of sound and tone that doesn't leap out, so it fits in just about anywhere. A fine guitar, but I'd rather spend my money on something a bit more distinctive. Okay, flame away. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 A fine guitar, but I'd rather spend my money on something a bit more distinctive. Okay, flame away. . B) . As much as I love my J-45, I can actually understand where you're coming from regarding the above statement. No flames here BK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brannon67 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 So do you think the J45 works best in a vocal/guitar setting, with just the one man player,duo, or in a band situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambler Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 So do you think the J45 works best in a vocal/guitar setting, with just the one man player,duo, or in a band situation. Either, really (well, they are versatile). Slopes can be very singer friendly, with their fulsome midrange and presence: Dylan ca. '62, James Taylor ca.'69, and Slaid Cleaves, ca. right now. Ditto for solo pickers like Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Geremia. But slopes also can work in a band setting. Bluegrasser George Shuffler played lead on a Southern Jumbo with the Stanley Bros. And it was the Beatles core acoustic sound (their J160e's were an a/e version of the J45). I question that the j45 lacks a distinctive voice. Its just not an extreme voice, at one end of the range. Its right in there in the choir with the basso-profoundos (D28) and top-tenors (O0s) and so forth, kind of like a good bass-baritone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I question that the j45 lacks a distinctive voice. Its just not an extreme voice, at one end of the range. Its right in there in the choir with the basso-profoundos (D28) and top-tenors (O0s) and so forth, kind of like a good bass-baritone. Like I've said before, it's the guitar for when you can only have one guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwheat Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I fell in love with mine the first time I picked it up in the store. It has a very distinct midrange and clear voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubee Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Oh geez...well, I've owned quite a few of the Gibson J-45 variants (three or four SJs, two or three J-50s, and probably about six J-45s) and while my main flattop lately has been my AJRI I cannot think of any thing I don't like about a good J-45. I have an old beat one I hardly play but it's like an old set of boots: I just want it around. It's strength may not be flat picking 'cut' but that sure doesn't mean I dislike it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 My 2010 J45 Standard is a little bit loud in my small 'music room' and I prefer to play my L's in that room, but in the lounge room the J45 is great. Another place I like to play the J45, and this won't interest the northern guitarists one bit at the moment, is out on this little brick patio I have behind my garage. The tone of that guitar is sensational out there, as long as the lawncutters hold off. I guess the guitar salesman will look at you a little strangely if you ask to try the guitar outside. BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 In my humble opinion: Strengths: Supple and beautiful tone that suits either solo instrumentation, vocal accompaniment or band work. Comfortable body shape Classic, timeless looks Understated in every way-a true workhorse Weaknesses: Short scale (for me, anyway, I have big hands and favour a longer scale neck) Tendency towards tonal variation from guitar to guitar (myself and my former two bandmates at one point owned a Hog J45MC each, and they were three very different guitars-one bass-heavy and a touch treble shy (mine), one with a glorious twinkly top end and a muted bass, and one which was the most perfectly balanced and sweet sounding modern J45 I've ever heard). Tonally not as 'refined' as its classic square-shoulder cousin, the Hummingbird (whereas the 'Bird is honey-sweet and gentle, the '45 sports a more agricultural tone...some will prefer the polite purr of the 'Bird to the more forthright midrange of the J45) I've owned several J45s but I've settled on an AJ as it has all of the best qualities of a J45 (for me anyway) with a long scale neck, extra power and volume, and sweet chime and chunk from the Rosewood back and sides. It's a winner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Weaknesses: Tendency towards tonal variation from guitar to guitar (myself and my former two bandmates at one point owned a Hog J45MC each, and they were three very different guitars-one bass-heavy and a touch treble shy (mine), one with a glorious twinkly top end and a muted bass, and one which was the most perfectly balanced and sweet sounding modern J45 I've ever heard). Tonally not as 'refined' as its classic square-shoulder cousin, the Hummingbird (whereas the 'Bird is honey-sweet and gentle, the '45 sports a more agricultural tone...some will prefer the polite purr of the 'Bird to the more forthright midrange of the J45) That's a pretty good summary, in my experience. Perhaps because so many have been built over so many years and so many "Gibson" iterations--70 years in production--J-45's have a remarkable variety of voices, some great, some less so. You really need to play a lot of J-45s to find the one that speaks to you. That's both a weakness, and a strength. Searching for the right one is a great deal of fun, even if it is time-consuming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markini Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Gibsons in particular are inconsistent in sound and quality from guitar to guitar. In regard to the J-45, I had a 1948 model back in 1973. She was definitely a "Singing" guitar. Simply sounded heavenly with a good singer. I visit my local GC often and have played 2 or 3 45s there and all of them had that "thud" sound, no projection or sparkle. I have run across the same thing with Birds. I own two Birds and had to play alot of them to find a 2003 and a 2010. That being said, I do have my eye out for a nice J-45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Gibsons in particular are inconsistent in sound and quality from guitar to guitar. In regard to the J-45, I had a 1948 model back in 1973. She was definitely a "Singing" guitar. Simply sounded heavenly with a good singer. I visit my local GC often and have played 2 or 3 45s there and all of them had that "thud" sound, no projection or sparkle. I have run across the same thing with Birds. I own two Birds and had to play alot of them to find a 2003 and a 2010. That being said, I do have my eye out for a nice J-45. As has been talked about here before, it's pretty hard to find a decent-sounding Gibson of any type hanging on the wall at GC. They get pretty badly neglected when it comes to basic care like string changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 whereas the 'Bird is honey-sweet and gentle, the '45 sports a more agricultural tone... I've been hanging out around this forum for a few years now. If not my favorite quote of all, at a minimum, the above has to go into my top 5 list. Brilliant! All the best, Guth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Like I've said before, it's the guitar for when you can only have one guitar. That's pretty well why I chose my Woody. (My only quality acoustic in any case - thankfully I've got a quality electric too, and my Howard Roberts is there to cover the role of the ES 335 I can't afford, which is essentially to be the electric guitar for when you can only have one electric guitar. Then of course there's the beater which everybody needs to protect the one acoustic... And maybe if I find myself gigging electric outdoors a lot, I might want a Melody Maker to protect the Howard... So, it's the guitar for when you can only have three or four guitars! Oh damn, it's like the Spanish Inquisition. I'll come in again...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Tempting to take the tagline literally too: strengths - the braced sides; weaknesses - the headstock joint and top (if you choose to stand on any of the listed). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 . I've never owned a J-45. In the midst of all the J-45 fans here . . . . The often cited strength is its versatility, but too me, that's also a weakness: It has the kind of sound and tone that doesn't leap out, so it fits in just about anywhere. A fine guitar, but I'd rather spend my money on something a bit more distinctive. Okay, flame away. . B) . I have never owned a J-45 either. So, I cannot comment from personal experience. I have nothing at all against them. The last time that I came close to owning one was in '74-'75. I was a strapping young buck of 21-22 years of age and single and living in Oklahoma City at the time. I had two things on my mind....women and guitars..in that order. I remember very well. agonizing over a NEW J-45 in a music store(priced at $435) if memory serves me, that had been 'discounted' from $499 because of 'shadow-bracing'... Remember that Norlin-era stint where Gibson tried the "light-cured" glueing of the braces? It left shadow marks on the soundboard...? Man...I am SO glad that I didn't buy that guitar...I guess [confused] But really, The J45 is the workhorse standard of Gibson...I would probably love a vintage one. Since I now have the '47-48 Southern Jumbo.....I really "have no need"...and thats the TRUTH, baby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 But really, The J45 is the workhorse standard of Gibson...I would probably love a vintage one. Since I now have the '47-48 Southern Jumbo.....I really "have no need"...and thats the TRUTH, baby... Rod, your old SJ (how I envy that find!) is just a J-45 dressed up to go to church on Sunday morning. Sounds just as dirty as a Saturday night bar underneath it all, I bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Rod, your old SJ (how I envy that find!) is just a J-45 dressed up to go to church on Sunday morning. Sounds just as dirty as a Saturday night bar underneath it all, I bet. Sure, it's the Stormy Monday guitar - 'Saturday I go out to play/Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray'. That makes it all the dirtier in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Sure, it's the Stormy Monday guitar - 'Saturday I go out to play/Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray'. That makes it all the dirtier in my opinion. Here she is on Sunday morning looking all innocent after being a Nasty 'B' in the bar last nite...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Here she is on Sunday morning looking all innocent after being a Nasty 'B' in the bar last nite...... Rod, that is one sweet guitar. What does she sound like, and what are you using for strings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Thanks Nick! A good find, indeed. I am using the D'Addario EJ16 light PB 12-53 currently. I haven,t changed them since I initially strung up after repairs. Its hard for me to describe the sound. She has bright chimey trebles and a nice thumping bass and well-balanced thru the mids. My buddy has a '52 D28 and he feels that the SJ has more bass thump than the D28. I prefer the tone and playability of the SJ myself, but I am probably a bit biased. I have a set of Ernie Ball 80/20 Earthwood 12-54 med light that I will try next. I want to take the nut slots a little lower on the E,B and G at that time also. I made the nut myself and have not tweaked the action yet. I may go 13's at some point also (John Pearse). I despise the new string sound, so I won,t change them often. I also would like something a little less bright when new. Got any reccomendations that work with your 45..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Sure, it's the Stormy Monday guitar - 'Saturday I go out to play/Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray'. That makes it all the dirtier in my opinion. Right on Mojorule... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy6SFqe7XTs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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