The Essentials to Know About the Gibson 50's J-45 Original Guitar
- Classic woods of the "Workhorse": Sitka spruce top, selected mahogany back and sides for a warm and balanced response.
- Vintage craftsmanship: hand-scalloped X bracing, nitrocellulose finish, aged binding, and 50's style "Tortoise" pickguard.
- Stage-ready electro-acoustic: discreet LR Baggs VTC system, natural amplified sound with volume and tone controls.
- Immediate comfort: short 24.75" / 628 mm scale length and round neck for smooth playability and controlled projection.
A Faithful Reissue of Gibson's 1950s Heritage
Designed as an authentic reinterpretation of the golden age J-45s, the 50's J-45 Original embraces the hallmarks that made this model famous: a sober and timeless aesthetic, tastefully aged finishes, and components chosen for durability. The J-45 body shape with its rounded shoulders offers universal comfort, while the nitrocellulose finish enhances resonance over time.
Who Is It For and What Styles?
Versatile and immediately inspiring, it suits
intermediate to advanced guitarists as well as demanding singer-songwriters. Fingerpicking, folk strumming, blues, roots rock, or vocal accompaniment: the J-45 Original stands out as an acoustic "Swiss Army knife" that maintains excellent definition both in the studio and on stage.
The Sound
The Sitka spruce top delivers attack, dynamics, and clarity, while the mahogany back and sides reinforce the midrange and warmth typical of J-45s. The
hand-scalloped X bracing optimizes responsiveness and projection without sacrificing sustain. The 24.75" / 628 mm scale length provides softer string tension and easy bends. Plugged in, the
LR Baggs VTC reproduces a natural and balanced tone, with discreet and effective volume/tone controls to adapt to the venue, mix, or preamp pedal.
Recommended Compatible Accessories
To preserve its performance and comfort, choose
phosphor bronze strings in gauge 12-53 (0.012-0.053) as originally equipped, an
acoustic capo (suited to the 12" / 305 mm radius), and a
case/guitar humidifier to stabilize humidity levels. A
strap with a headstock tie will ensure secure attachment even without a second strap button.
Technical Specifications
Body
- Shape: J-45
- Top: Sitka spruce
- Back: mahogany
- Sides: mahogany
- Bracing: traditional hand-scalloped X bracing
- Binding: multi-ply top, single-ply back
- Finish: nitrocellulose lacquer
- Pickguard: 50's style "Tortoise"
Neck
- Material: mahogany
- Profile: round
- Scale length: 24.75" / 628 mm
- Fingerboard: rosewood
- Fingerboard radius: 12" / 305 mm
- Number of frets: 20
- Frets: standard
- Nut: bone
- Nut width: 1.725" / 43.8 mm
- Inlays: mother-of-pearl "dot" markers
- Neck/body joint: glued dovetail
Hardware
- Hardware finish: nickel
- Tuners: Grover, cream buttons
- Bridge: traditional "belly-up"
- Bridge saddle: bone
- Bridge pins: Tusq
- Truss rod cover: black
Electronics
- System: LR Baggs VTC (under-saddle pickup)
- Controls: volume and tone
Miscellaneous
- Original strings: 0.012, 0.016, 0.024, 0.032, 0.042, 0.053
- Included accessories: Gibson accessory kit
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