A very early Banner from the 907 Factory Order Number batch, this J-45 was most likely built late in 1942 and shipped at the start of 1943. It features a bevelled neck block, which is a hold-over from the pre-WWII era, and a neck that was carved from a 5-piece blank, which would have originally been prepared for a Recording King model.

First-year J-45s were few in number and somewhat inconsistent in specs, with some having angled-wing bridges or double-ring rosettes, and either tortoise or firestripe celluloid pickguards. This example has a 1943/44 bridge and an attractive firestripe pickguard. It was long-ago refinished with a unique cherry edgeburst, and a marquetry strip was carefully inlaid along the top’s centreline. As there is no evidence of a crack or open center-seam under the top along its centreline, it seems the strip was inlaid for purely decorative reasons.

The guitar presents well and is in very fine and original condition apart from the changed lacquer. There are repaired top cracks along the edges of the fretboard extension, and a very close look will show short hairline top cracks heading south from each bridge bolt. The bridge and plate are original, and the guitar’s original bracing remains in excellent condition.

The neck has a typical banner carve – ie. large and round – but is on the smaller end of the spectrum of Gibson necks from the Wartime era. The nut is 1-3/4” wide, and the first-fret depth is .969”. 2-5/32” string spread at the saddle, 24.75” scale. The guitar is currently set up with 12-54 strings and our shop standard 5-6 64ths action.

A warm and dry guitar that offers ample headroom for flatpicking and a clean and clear fundamental, this J-45 is light on overtones and has a well-defined bass. With its large-but-not-huge neck, excellent setup and maple-neck Banner tone it’s a great player with a unique story and look.

With period hardshell case.