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NGD- '68 J45


cunningham26

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Got this a few weeks back, even posted a pic of it with some weird stamps on the inside, but thought I'd show it off a bit. My first Gibson acoustic, scored a really great deal. It's had the tuners replaced and a refret, but is one of the best sounding guitars I've had the chance to strum. Gotta get a setup and take care of a few issues, but I think this ones a keeper

 

DSC_0074.jpg

 

The Happy Family

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Nice one, was just wondering didnt tje J-45 / SJ become a square shoulder by 68' or was that later, or was that just the 'SJ' ?

 

The SJ went square shoulder by 1964. The J-45 did not get square shoulders until 1969. The 1968 guitars though still had those real thin nuts that Gibson went to in 1965.

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Congs on that fine 6-string.

Wonder if you'll stay rosewood-saddled.

 

Guess so as you like it as you do.

 

Still a great oppotunity to play around during heavy winter evenings -

 

Bone.

 

Ceramic.

 

Tusq.

 

Wood w. bone.

 

Vintage ivory.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm thinking about switching out the rosewood for bone or tusq- any first-hand advice or suggestions? Pros or cons? with a refret and switched out tuners, and a crack to be repaired, safe to say originality is out the window on this one- time to make her sing rather than just get by on her looks

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I'm thinking about switching out the rosewood for bone or tusq- any first-hand advice or suggestions? Pros or cons? with a refret and switched out tuners, and a crack to be repaired, safe to say originality is out the window on this one- time to make her sing rather than just get by on her looks

 

My 1948 J-45 was re-topped by Gibson in '68, and used exactly the same bridge as yours, except belly-down configuration. I modified that bridge with a bone saddle about 1970, and found a significant improvement in clarity and note separation. You might find a similar result with the all-bone replacement saddles that are being made today. It's a cheap, totally reversible experiment.

 

For what it's worth, below is a picture of my old rosewood saddle modified with the bone insert back then. I've since gone back to an orginal-style non-adjustable bridge with bone saddle.

 

In my opinion, most things could benefit from a good boning.....

 

boneadjustablesaddle.jpg

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