For Sale Or Trade: 1957 J-45 (Price Reduction)

[garycoen]

1957 J-45 ($5000 with standard Gibson hardshell case or $5600 with Calton J-45 flight case)
Will consider trade for similar value in mahogany dreadnaught with 1 3/4 inch nut

This J-45 is on the market for the first time since the 1950s: I am the second owner of this exceptionally clean instrument.

This sixty-one year old J-45 has playability, a warm dry tone, and projection. The finish, bridge plate, top, back, sides, braces, and pickguard are all original. Frets, bridge, bone nut and saddle, and deluxe 3-on-a-plate tuners (like the originals) were replaced in 2018 by luthier Mike Lull in Bellevue, Washington, who also pleked the neck. (Original Brazilian rosewood tune-o-matic bridge and ceramic saddle available in the case.) There is only one small, stable, repaired crack: it is nearly invisible in the Sitka top at the high e-string less than an eighth of an inch long between the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and the pickguard edge. (The photos include a close-up.) The mahogany neck is straight and has never been reset. There is no belly bulge in the top.

Key specifications
Top: Sitka spruce
Back/Sides: Mahogany
Scale: 24 3/4"
Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Frets To Body: 14
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood
Tuners: Chrome enclosed with white buttons
Inlays: MOP dot fingerboard inlays
Rosette: Rings
Pickguard: Tortoise style

The growl of this instrument testifies to the quality of the materials and craftsmanship used by Gibson Kalamazoo during the heyday of the late 1950s. This guitar is in Very Good++ condition with honest wear consistent with guitars of its age, including scratches, checking, and minor dings throughout the finish.

[simpl man]

I grew up with a '57 J-45 around. It was my Uncle's and was magical. I always thought there was something special about the '57's!

Hope you don't mind, I have added the photo from your link below.

GLWS!

[garycoen]

Here are some more photos of this guitar.

• Front of body:

• Back of body:

• Headstock:

• Another headstock view:

• Back of headstock and neck:

• Another view of back:

• Close-up of sound hole

• Another view of front:

[justonwo]

THAT is a thing of beauty. Wow.

[The Kid!]

Gorgeous!!!

[garycoen]

Originally Posted by justonwo

THAT is a thing of beauty. Wow.

It's set up with John Pearse mediums to ensure that bottom end.

[garycoen]

Bump at end of second week with price reduction.

[garycoen]

Bump at end of third week.

Originally Posted by The Kid!

Gorgeous!!!

[Idaho guitarist]

The pictures referenced have been deleted? I would like to see them. Thank you. Steve

[garycoen]

Thanks for the heads up. I just checked, and the photobucket.com site appears to be down.

Perhaps this is due to periodic maintenance, or it may have gone black for some other reason. Either way, it appears to have gone down sometime after noon today. I will monitor the issue as I try to find a backup site for photos.

In the meantime, you can see the same photos for the same guitar right here.

[garycoen]

It was just a Sunday afternoon burp.

[Del Boy]

Wow that doesn't look 60 years old! I wish I could afford it!

GLWS

[garycoen]

Originally Posted by Del Boy

Wow that doesn't look 60 years old! I wish I could afford it!

GLWS

My first guitar was a Silvertone steel string flattop. I paid $36 for it new in 1968. It was all the money I had at the time. Although it's been through many hands, that instrument is still in the family.

[Davidsguitar]

That is sweet!

[garycoen]

Bump for a clean vintage J-45 with many decades of music left in it.