Why the Gibson J-45 Changed the World ★ Acoustic Tuesday #120

The Gibson J-45 is one of the most iconic acoustic guitars in the world.
I'm going to give you 5 reasons why you NEED a Gibson J-45, plus so much more.

Before I continue...THANK YOU for leaving a #guitargratitude in our Thanksgiving episode. It is TRULY inspirational to read your comments.

To kick things off, I'm giving you the 5 reasons why the Gibson J-45 belongs in your guitarsenal. From the excellent craftsmanship to the storied history, the J-45 is on-par—if not more iconic—than a Stratocaster or Les Paul.

Second, I'll give you a sneak peek at "American Workhorse: A Documentary Film on the J-45." It's currently in production, but I am so stoked to see a film dedicated solely to the Gibson J-45.

Too often guitars are just a part of a documentary—never the focus on a documentary. Let me know if you hear anything more about the release of this film!

Next, I'll feature Russ Barenberg. Russ is unique in that he uses a Gibson J-45 to play songs that don't traditionally require the twang and tone of the J-45.

Finally, we're going to talk about 5 alternatives to a Gibson J-45.

Why?

While they're iconic, Gibson J-45s aren't for everyone. I created a list of 5 Gibson J-45 alternatives that I've played and reviewed myself. Here's the list:

5) Eastman E10SS
4) Bourgeois Slope D
3) Collings CJ35
2) Kopp K35
1) Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner

All of these guitars give the Gibson J-45 a run for its money. And, I'm not saying they're *better*...I'm just saying they're different ;)

[scrambi]

When my grandpa passed away he left me his ‘57 J45 and it’s just a gem. It’s better than any piece I’ve played in my entire life.

[jerrynoble]

Over the years I’ve owned Martins, Taylors and then back to Martins. At my age - 70, I now find that Gibson J-45 is the most comfortable for my old hands. Something about the scale length, string spacing and the neck profile. The warmth of the mahogany tone in the J-45 has become a personal preference. So glad you featured this theme.

[jsenear]

I have been playing guitar for over 60 years. My acoustics ( I own six as we speak) have always been living entities to me. The only inanimate objects I have ever looked at as having lives of their own. My Son bought me a Fender Telecaster for Christmas 2022 and I just ordered a VOX Headphone Amp. Wish me luck. I am 82 years old.

[troyelliott]

Hi
Great show - so looking forward to the Film on the J45. I’ve been a semi professional musician for 25 years and since the early 90’s I used many different guitars but when I bought my Gibson J45 in 2006 I’ve never looked back - it’s been my go-to-workhorse guitar for gigs, songwriting and recording, even had colleagues in music production that wanted to borrow it for sessions. It plays and sounds fantastic. Reluctantly I sold it in 2013 when I had to relocate from my home town in the UK to Sweden due to divorce and I always regretted it, not just because it was a great guitar but because I had a lot of fond memories attached to it .

Luckily I had sold it to a friend and in 2014 I was in a position to buy it back and I didn’t hesitate. Since then I feel the guitar has not only helped to write, record and perform some of my best songs, but it is a reliable, familiar friend that has been on a journey with me and seen me through some low points in my life. Perhaps silly to say about an inanimate object but as my luthier once said when describing the nature of how the woods in guitars are effected and manipulated by its environment “oh no guitars are alive...”

Many thanks
Troy

[scottl]

Idk how it took me so long to find this show. Was recently gifted a vintage J-45 by my wifes great grandaddy after he asked me to change the strings and to play him a song on it. Used to be my dream guitar until finally owning one.

[paulm]

The feel!!! I have had 2 J45s, a 65 and now an 03. They just feel right ...very huggable.

[MeganNisbet]

Celtic Connections is a yearly festival of shows held in Glasgow, Scotland (my home city) showcasing artists playing traditional folk music as well as all sorts of other genres (Americana, World, Blues, etc). Just putting this here for Tony and anyone else who might be interested, there are always so many fantastic artists to discover at the festival.

[aaronmaguire]

My J-45 Big Leaf Maple is most amazing acoustic guitar I've ever owned. Angels fly out of it.

[tobywilliams]

$2999 for a Standard. I just purchased one 2 days ago. Its always been my “Dream Guitar”. I'm 52 and finally In a financial position to own one. Excited to get it from Sweetwater.

[barrieglenn]

Had a ‘70’s Martin D28 and a J50, same era, I played the Gibson the whole time 6 nights a week, beat the Martin in every way, sound, playability and intonation. Still have and love it.

[frankcline]

I've been a Martin owner for 30 years in which over the years I've owned 10 of them. I walked into my local guitar store last week, they had a new J45 in. For some reason I picked it up, strumed my pick across the strings without even touching the neck to chord it. To my surprise the tone from the strings were perfect. So as usual I started playing some of the songs I perform every week on stage. I guess people laughed as they walked by as I set there with my mouth wide open in awe. Immediately I traded my Martin HD28 I've had for the last 7 years for the J45. Playing is believing! I can't believe all the years I've walked by many J45's and headed straight for the Martin's. That's why they say "you live and learn." Bravo

[araphelt]

I was looking into J-45's and came across the G-45 review from Premier Guitar. This eloquent sentence pretty much sums up my view of a J-45. "If a venerable and dusty old barn could sing in soft summer evening light, well, that might just be the voice of a J-45." Beautiful instrument.

[DoDifferent]

Wow. Great show. My Mom worked at Gibson in the 50's and 60's in Kalamazoo so this one was special. :-)

[sjmuffler]

I shopped for mine for a very long time, but when I found the "one" it was a no brainer. The guitar is so forgiving that you will find it a joy to play giving you sounds you never thought were there.

[johnnyennis]

The first classic iconic acoustic I ever bought was a 2012 J45. It's a gem that I purchased from the rental department from a local guitar store, so it had a lot of play on it when I got it (and I got it for about 40% Canadian retail). It doesn't have the volume of other guitars, but it is such a sweet sounding instrument. It's so balanced and woody (ha - pun intended), and it records really well! It gave me a much better understanding of what a higher-end instrument has to offer.

I went guitar shopping in Feburary 2016 after repeatedly binge watching all of your Acoustic Letter guitar reviews, so thank you for the help! I had several ideas in mind when I went shopping, but knew that a certain shop had a former rental J45 for sale, and in the end that guitar beat everything hands-down. I suppose I liked it more because it had 3-4 years of use and wear on it, so it sounded much more mature than the other guitars on the wall. Everything else sounded more compressed or choked in comparison. It was the first time I really remember noticing how much the back of a guitar could move while playing - the J45 just danced, and it still does to this day.

I'd always been quite partial to the look of the J45, but heard a lot people speak of them with dismay, so I was hesitant to consider them. Then, with help from your reviews, and after seeing TIm O'Brien and Russ playing 45s on the Transatlantic Sessions, I figured I should take a serious look at one. I mean, if they were good enough for those guys... come on!

[michaelwoods]

I just bought a Epiphone inspired by Gibson J45 and it’s my favorite guitar by far. Can’t go wrong with a J45

[TheEedjit]

8:02 - I was sitting just watching and then he started talking I swear I thought after the first sentences he was gonna start with the -
'She grew up with the children of the stars
In the Hollywood hills and the boulevards'. 😂

[scaredypicker]

It's my dream guitar, and I've wanted to own one for so long. I've been playing guitar for 17 years, and the first guitar I got bought by my parents was a Blueridge J-45 copy. It's only a £300 chinese guitar, but I've broken it in and over the years its tone has mellowed so much. I got a raise at work, and my first thought was that soon I'd be able to justify buy a real J-45. Sometime over the next 12 months I'll treat myself.

[kcsprig]

Here's an upvote for the Huss and Dalton DS. I own a 2006 DS Custom and it has become a go-to guitar for me. This guitar helped launch my guitar geekiness to extraordinary levels. The team at Huss and Dalton have very high standards for their guitars and also care greatly about their customers. Amazing guitars, fantastic people!

[acadianflatpicker]

Here is my J45 story. I am a Martin D35 owner and wanted a D18 to have both tones. Rosewood & Mahogany. Being in a Bluegrass band the rhythm guitar player had a Martin D16RGT also rosewood. With two rosewood guitars the sounds would blend to much and my flatpicking wouldn't pop out. So I'm like I need a D18!!! When I was ready to pull the trigger, the first store I went to was a Gibson rep. Had no Martins in the store. Tried a few Gibson for fun. Actually 3. A Hummingbird, J15 and a J45 Standard. When I played that J45 I was hooked!!! Told my self why not. Instead of having something similar this was a totally different beast. So I bought it then and there. A few years later I found a Taylor GS Mini second hand and now I have one each of the big 3. :)