Is Gibson J-45 with cutaway as good as Regular J-45 Standard?

yell03 · #1 01-15-2018, 09:02 AM

J-45s are very confusing and Gibson does not go out of their way on their site to help things such as dimensions.

There is a J-45 AG that looks to be the same guitar as the HP415, slimmer 4" depth I believe and a cutaway and using Walnut as the wood. It is the least expensive J-45. It is under $2000.

Then there is the J-45 cutaway, it is about $300-$500 less than a J-45 Standard. Usually can be found in the $2000-$2500 range.

Then comes the J-45 Standard, usually in the $2300-$2800 range.

I like cutaways, but I don't want to buy a guitar that is not as good when it comes to tone, close is OK.

What are the major differences between the J-45 Standard vs the J-45 with cutaway?

Has anybody played them back to back?

I currently have a J-15 and HP415w, I might trade up my beloved Martin GPCRSGT towards a J-45 with cutaway.
The Martin plays great, amazing even, but the tone is not on par with higher end Gibsons or Martins.

Just kicking this around.

jdto · #2 01-15-2018, 09:16 AM

"As good as" is an incredibly subjective concept.

Yes? No? Maybe?

I've played one and, while it looked a bit weird to me, it still sounded Gibsony. I liked the sound.

wooglins · #3 01-15-2018, 09:22 AM

So in the Gibson world you pay less if it has a cutaway? Weitd.

yell03 · #4 01-15-2018, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdto

"As good as" is an incredibly subjective concept.

Yes? No? Maybe?

I've played one and, while it looked a bit weird to me, it still sounded Gibsony. I liked the sound.

I played one, it sounded nice, but they did not have a regular J-45 to compare it to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooglins

So in the Gibson world you pay less if it has a cutaway? Weitd.

That is good for me, guess more people like Traditional

jdto · #5 01-15-2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooglins

So in the Gibson world you pay less if it has a cutaway? Weitd.

I see the 2018 J-45 Standard at about $200 CAD less than the cutaway version. The previous year's model is priced lower, but equivalent years show the cutaway version higher.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yell03

I played one, it sounded nice, but they did not have a regular J-45 to compare it to.

If you liked the sound, that's the most important thing.

yell03 · #6 01-15-2018, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdto

I see the 2018 J-45 Standard at about $200 CAD less than the cutaway version. The previous year's model is priced lower, but equivalent years show the cutaway version higher.

If you liked the sound, that's the most important thing.

I did like it, but I wasn't crazy about the sunburst.

That is why I bought a J-15, but it is not as warm as the J-45.

yell03 · #7 01-17-2018, 06:47 PM

Went today and tried a J-45 with and without cutaway.

Both sounded really nice and warm, the one without a cutaway might have had a slightly better low end.

My J-15 in comparison still has a nice low end, but is a much brighter guitar, not a warm tone. Still a great tone, but not a warm great tone.

SalFromChatham · #8 01-17-2018, 08:57 PM

If you want to warm up any of these guitars, experiment with strings. That can yield you immense tonal difference. Also if you use a pick, experiment with picks. My COOL Heavy picks, and my Gibson Black Heavy picks (comes in a nice tin), give a much warmer sound than Dunlop Ultex. Get a mess of picks and some different strings, and have a go. Keep strings on for at least a week before you decide. They mellow.

Try DR Sunbeams
Martin Retros
Martin Titanium (expensive but great)
Elixir PB lights.
Daddario EJ16s
Gibson Masterbilt 80/20 Lights.

TBman · #9 01-17-2018, 09:09 PM

We're a funny bunch. The reasons why I picked a J-45 over a J-15 was the little bit warmer, bluesy tone, J-45 history and the sunburst.

I really like the J-15 though and I have a few empty spots on the wall here yet,

#10 01-18-2018, 01:53 AM

Whether they sound as good as non-cutaway will be subjective, but the cutaway sure is nice for getting to those upper frets. If you want an easier guitar to play higher up the fretboard, consider the cutaway version. I've played three now and I thought they did sound a smidge different than the normal ones, but not in a bad way... just different.

Tony Done · #11 01-18-2018, 02:15 AM

My experience is that J45s vary a lot anyway, so even if you can define what you mean by "better", the answer to your question becomes a matter of probabilities.

yell03 · #12 01-18-2018, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themissal

If you want to warm up any of these guitars, experiment with strings. That can yield you immense tonal difference. Also if you use a pick, experiment with picks. My COOL Heavy picks, and my Gibson Black Heavy picks (comes in a nice tin), give a much warmer sound than Dunlop Ultex. Get a mess of picks and some different strings, and have a go. Keep strings on for at least a week before you decide. They mellow.

Try DR Sunbeams
Martin Retros
Martin Titanium (expensive but great)
Elixir PB lights.
Daddario EJ16s
Gibson Masterbilt 80/20 Lights.

I only use COOL 1.5 heavy and I have 2 packs of Elixir PB lights in my closet ready to put on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBman

We're a funny bunch. The reasons why I picked a J-45 over a J-15 was the little bit warmer, bluesy tone, J-45 history and the sunburst.

I really like the J-15 though and I have a few empty spots on the wall here yet,

The J-45 warm tone is what attracts me to it, but the J-15 sounds amazing in a different way. For strumming the J-15 is incredible, chords are very bright/clear with nice note definition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frozen Rat

Whether they sound as good as non-cutaway will be subjective, but the cutaway sure is nice for getting to those upper frets. If you want an easier guitar to play higher up the fretboard, consider the cutaway version. I've played three now and I thought they did sound a smidge different than the normal ones, but not in a bad way... just different.

Very close in tone, but slightly different is what I got also.
If I bought one it would be with the cutaway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Done

My experience is that J45s vary a lot anyway, so even if you can define what you mean by "better", the answer to your question becomes a matter of probabilities.

Absolutely, two of the same guitars can vary a lot.
After playing so many in stores, I find this often.

Dukesdad · #13 01-18-2018, 08:32 PM

A few months ago I had the opportunity to play two guitars, same brand, same model, same materials, both "hand built" in the US. One was awesome and I bought it. The other one was not all that interesting.

Bottom line, play them all and pick the one that suits your style and ear.

yell03 · #14 01-19-2018, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dukesdad

A few months ago I had the opportunity to play two guitars, same brand, same model, same materials, both "hand built" in the US. One was awesome and I bought it. The other one was not all that interesting.

Bottom line, play them all and pick the one that suits your style and ear.

So far I have two acoustics I am sticking with after hours and hours of trying acoustics out....

Martin GPCRSGT
Gibson HP415W

I also have a Gibson J-15 that I am going to see if I can bond with.
It is very similar to the HP415W, but slightly more depth (4.5" to 4") and no cutaway.

Dwight · #15 01-19-2018, 10:14 AM

Just about everybody loves a good J-45. Once you start changing the formula with different woods or cutaways or inlays or whatever it's going to be less appealing to someone and that can limit your ability to resell it when the time comes. I try to stay clear of oddities. That said, if you need a cutaway for your playing style that's what you should get.