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1946 Gibson J-45
A particularly open, woody, and responsive J-45 with a warm bass end, supportive midrange and rounded, bold trebles, this ’46 does everything we want a Gibson slope-shoulder to do. It’s a capable flat picker and lead guitar, and is warm and pretty enough under a light or medium right hand attack to inspire some great song writing or singing.
1946 was a transitional year for the J-45, as it morphed from its Banner version into what would become the classic post-war version of this iconic model. J-45s completed earlier in the year had wide necks, bone nuts, and sometimes the odd Banner feature, such as poplar blocks or liners. Later in ’46 and into early 1947 the J-45’s neck was narrowed to 1-11/16” at the nut, the nut was switched from bone to injection molded plastic, and the open-geared tuners were replaced with the first closed-back Kluson K-301 tuners. More subtle differences show in the finishes, too, as earlier guitars generally have thicker, more flakey lacquer that’s similar to Banner finish and sunburst tones more akin to those of 1944/45 than to those sprayed after 1947.
This example features a Banner-like neck with 1-3/4” nut and a 1st fret depth of .950”. The finish is thicker and heavily crazed like a Banner’s, the tuners are open-geared Klusons with peened crowns, and the original nut is made of bone. The bracing and top are Sitka, as are all Gibsons built from mid 1944 on, and the 2-piece back and neck are mahogany.
The guitar has a well-repaired side crack on its lower bass bout and a largely invisible repaired top crack under the pickguard. There are no other cracks, and the original bracing and bridgeplate remain in excellent condition. Original unmodified bridge, new bone saddle and replacement pins. Original tuners, nut and full-height frets. The guitar’s finish is completely original and unmodified. Set up with 12s and 5-6 64ths action.
With hardshell case.
