1945 Gibson ‘Banner’ J-45
An exceptional guitar, this refinished all-mahogany Banner J-45 is a perfect choice for someone who values tone and playability above original lacquer. The guitar sounds incredible and maintains all the hallmarks of a great Banner – open, bold and present bass, aggressive and quick response to pick attack; thick, full, and powerful trebles; and a beautifully focused mid range to tie it all together.
This J-45, while refinished, retains its original top and back thicknesses, full neck carve, and original bracing – all important ingredients of Banner Gibson tone. We don’t know why the guitar’s finish was redone as there are no repairs evident that would normally warrant a full refin, but given the guitar’s silkscreened Gold block logo and woven Micarta nut, we suspect that this work was perhaps done at Gibson in the late 1960s or 1970s. Since then, the pickguard, bridge and bridge plate have been replaced and various braces have been reglued.
The tuners are original, as are the bindings, and rosette. There are a handful of repaired cracks in the one-piece top, one repaired crack on the one-piece back, and one on the treble side. The replacement bridge plate was sensitively made, with thin hard maple that’s not much wider than the original would have been. The bridge is a 40’s SJ style belly-down replacement that’s nicely made. The neck has been cleanly reset, the frets are fairly recent and perfect, and the action measures 5-7 64ths with a full height saddle.
The neck is a 5-piece laminate with a Gumwood fingerboard and truss-rod, as is typical of the later Banner period towards the end of 1945. It has a big and full C carve but isn’t near as large as earlier Banner necks. The nut measures 1-3/4”, scale is 24.75” and string spread at the saddle is just shy of 2-1/8”.
All told, this is a guitar that’s not to miss. Despite its repairs, it’s in very good structural shape, plays perfectly, and offers some of the best J-45 tone we’ve heard in a long time.
With hardshell case
This J-45, while refinished, retains its original top and back thicknesses, full neck carve, and original bracing – all important ingredients of Banner Gibson tone. We don’t know why the guitar’s finish was redone as there are no repairs evident that would normally warrant a full refin, but given the guitar’s silkscreened Gold block logo and woven Micarta nut, we suspect that this work was perhaps done at Gibson in the late 1960s or 1970s. Since then, the pickguard, bridge and bridge plate have been replaced and various braces have been reglued.
The tuners are original, as are the bindings, and rosette. There are a handful of repaired cracks in the one-piece top, one repaired crack on the one-piece back, and one on the treble side. The replacement bridge plate was sensitively made, with thin hard maple that’s not much wider than the original would have been. The bridge is a 40’s SJ style belly-down replacement that’s nicely made. The neck has been cleanly reset, the frets are fairly recent and perfect, and the action measures 5-7 64ths with a full height saddle.
The neck is a 5-piece laminate with a Gumwood fingerboard and truss-rod, as is typical of the later Banner period towards the end of 1945. It has a big and full C carve but isn’t near as large as earlier Banner necks. The nut measures 1-3/4”, scale is 24.75” and string spread at the saddle is just shy of 2-1/8”.
All told, this is a guitar that’s not to miss. Despite its repairs, it’s in very good structural shape, plays perfectly, and offers some of the best J-45 tone we’ve heard in a long time.
With hardshell case