2019 Gibson J-45 Studio? R.I.P. J-15? - Page 3

Larry Mal · #31 09-01-2018, 12:57 PM

I wonder if the Studio models aren't designed somewhat to appeal to women, who are a burgeoning guitar market at the moment, and who might enjoy the slimmer body profile.

Paddy1951 · #32 09-01-2018, 12:58 PM

A very good question.

rwmct · #33 09-01-2018, 02:10 PM

I am stunned to think they could be so stupid as to discontinue the J-15. Lots of people love the J-15.

Gibson to J-15 lovers: thanks for letting us know there is a market for walnut. Now either buy our new J-45 studio, or don't let the door hit you on your butt on your way out."

canyongargon · #34 09-01-2018, 02:42 PM

Have they discontinued the J-15? Some googling is pulling up listings for 2019 J-15s in Natural and Walnut Burst from Chicago Music Exchange and Musician’s Friend.

Edit: I just spoke to someone at Chicago Music Exchange and he confirmed that the J-15 is NOT discontinued in 2019.

He is also pulling a 2019 L-00 Studio and checkingfor me on whether or not the L-00 Studio has a thinner body depth than the standard, since the only model that explicitly confirms a thin body is the J-45 Studio. I will report back when he answers, just for the sake of sharing info.

Static · #35 09-01-2018, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canyongargon

Have they discontinued the J-15? Some googling is pulling up listings for 2019 J-15s in Natural and Walnut Burst from Chicago Music Exchange and Musician’s Friend.

Edit: I just spoke to someone at Chicago Music Exchange and he confirmed that the J-15 is NOT discontinued in 2019.

He is also pulling a 2019 L-00 Studio and checkingfor me on whether or not the L-00 Studio has a thinner body depth than the standard, since the only model that explicitly confirms a thin body is the J-45 Studio. I will report back when he answers, just for the sake of sharing info.

Thanks Canyongargon,

Well that's good. Now...I wonder if there will be a J-15 Studio?

And....does this whole thing really accomplish their goal of simplifying and streamlining their product line? I feel more confused than ever lol

Wade Hampton · #36 09-01-2018, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Static

Thanks Canyongargon,

Well that's good. Now...I wonder if there will be a J-15 Studio?

And....does this whole thing really accomplish their goal of simplifying and streamlining their product line? I feel more confused than ever lol

They're just running it up the flagpole and seeing whether anyone salutes. Very common practice in the musical instrument industry.

whm

Rev Roy · #37 09-01-2018, 05:32 PM

Why is MF advertising the 2019 J-15 as “limited run”? Looks like it has the same specs as previous models.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar

Rmz76 · #38 09-01-2018, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCCougar

I totally agree. Walnut back & sides. $1500 price tag. That's a J-15. Why rename it J-45 "Studio"? Stupid.

As you may be aware, the only differences between the J-45 and J-15 are the mini Grover tuners, the rectangle bridge, the walnut back and sides and the walnut fingerboard. Exact same body mold, same Sitka spruce top, same top bracing pattern, same neck radius and nut width, both all solid woods, hide glue for neck joint, same finish. Because of the history of Gibson building custom J-45's with different back and side wood materials, I've always seen the J-15 name as just a way for Gibson to try and justify the much higher price tag for the J-45. Calling it a J-45 is more honest naming.

I would have preferred the name J-45 Walnut, but I think J-45 Studio is alright. The J-35 being discontinued is the real story of the new lineup

Murphy Slaw · #39 09-02-2018, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmz76

As you may be aware, the only differences between the J-45 and J-15 are the mini Grover tuners, the rectangle bridge, the walnut back and sides and the walnut fingerboard. Exact same body mold, same Sitka spruce top, same top bracing pattern, same neck radius and nut width, both all solid woods, hide glue for neck joint, same finish. Because of the history of Gibson building custom J-45's with different back and side wood materials, I've always seen the J-15 name as just a way for Gibson to try and justify the much higher price tag for the J-45. Calling it a J-45 is more honest naming.
(

My 2003 J-45 is 4-3/4'" deep.

My 2016 J-15 is 4-5/8" deep.

TominNJ · #40 09-02-2018, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCCougar

I totally agree. Walnut back & sides. $1500 price tag. That's a J-15. Why rename it J-45 "Studio"? Stupid.

Just guessing but maybe they want potential customers to see this guitar pop up in search results. J-45 is probably a popular search term.

Murphy Slaw · #41 09-02-2018, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

They're just running it up the flagpole and seeing whether anyone salutes. Very common practice in the musical instrument industry.

Bingo.

No reason to get in a tizzy.

Rmz76 · #42 09-02-2018, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy Slaw

My 2003 J-45 is 4-3/4'" deep.

My 2016 J-15 is 4-5/8" deep.

That's interesting. They must have changed the depth on the J-45 as well at some point between 2003 and 2016 because the 2018 J-15 and J-45 Standard have the exact same body depth. When the J-15 was announced I e-mailed Gibson customer service and asked if the dimensions were the same as the J-45 and they responded "they are the same, we use the same body molds". I briefly owned a J-15 in 2015 and at the same time owned a 2001 WM-45 which was built from the same mold as the 2001 J-45 and I didn't notice the difference in depth, but I didn't measure it.

I doubt they've changed the J-45 Standard for 2019 and I doubt the J-45 Studio would have new dimensions, but I guess we don't know yet.

zombywoof · #43 09-02-2018, 10:02 AM

One year one of the guys at the Gibson Forum counted variations of the J-45 that year. He ended up with around 90 if you counted all of the Limited Editions. Sure makes you miss the day when your choices were limited to a J-45, J-50 or if you wanted to go whole hog an SJ. But if Bozeman can offer a natural top J-45 why not a walnut body version. Why not just resurrect the the WM-J45. A great stripped down version at a great price. But it is their company so they can do what they want. If Bozeman wants to put out a J-45 Natural who am I to sit there and scratch my head wondering what are they thinking.

12barBill · #44 09-02-2018, 10:13 AM

I can't find any reference to what the depth is of the "thinner" body.

Rmz76 · #45 09-02-2018, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof

One year one of the guys at the Gibson Forum counted variations of the J-45 that year. He ended up with around 90 if you counted all of the Limited Editions. Sure makes you miss the day when your choices were limited to a J-45, J-50 or if you wanted to go whole hog an SJ. But if Bozeman can offer a natural top J-45 why not a walnut body version. Why not just resurrect the the WM-J45. A great stripped down version at a great price. But it is their company so they can do what they want. If Bozeman wants to put out a J-45 Natural who am I to sit there and scratch my head wondering what are they thinking.

If they built the J-45 Studio with Mahagony back and sides instead of Walnut it would essentially be a J-45 Standard (Natural)/J-50. The Walnut back, sides and fret-board help differentiate it from the $2749 J-45 Standard. Is the upgrade to Mahagony combined with the burst finish on the J-45 Standard worth over $2000? The market value for Walnut vs African Mahagony doesn't seem great enough to justify the gap, but I'm thinking it's an easily qualifier to help Gibson justify to customers the cost difference.

If the J-45 Studio were built with Mahagony back and sides and sold for $1495 and the J-45 Standard sold for $2749, I think you'd see a lot fewer Standards sold.

I have nothing against Walnut and I know some people love the J-15, but on a slope shoulder short scale with Gibson's Jumbo-Dreadnought body shape, I don't think there's a substitute for Mahagony.