Gibson J45 - 2016???

DownUpDave · #1 11-13-2018, 06:37 AM

Is there a difference or was there a change made to the Gibson J45 in 2016. I have seen a few in music stores with 2016 etched on the truss rod cover. I asked a music store employee about it and he said there was no difference, just a cosmetic thing Gibson did. I played it and it sounded great and the neck was very comfortable and easy to move around on. But was there a change made in 2016??

Skarsaune · #2 11-13-2018, 07:57 AM

Don’t know for sure, but my 2016 J-15 has that same “2016” truss rod cover.

eljay · #3 11-13-2018, 08:07 AM

I'm pretty sure the music store employee was right, just a cosmetic whim for 2016. J-45s are fine guitars; good luck with your quest!

SalFromChatham · #4 11-13-2018, 08:09 AM

Starting with the 2016s, Gibson started plekking? rounded rolled fretboard edges for improved comfort....

I also think that they started installing the Baggs Element VTC, instead of the one wheel volume control Baggs USTs.

Finally... I think the 2016 began the flubber pickguards.

Larry Mal · #5 11-13-2018, 08:59 AM

Not quite only cosmetic, but not really anything all that mind blowing, either.

So, in 2016 Gibson had been stung by the largely groundless accusations about them having poor quality control, so they decided to kick up the quality a notch and wanted to tell everyone about it to appear that they were listening.

But, since they were already making great acoustics, there wasn't all that much they could do to make them better.

So, they did things like using finger grit sandpaper for the finish, they rounded the fingerboards more, used new oil on the fingerboards, things like that.

They also upgraded the pickup in at least some of the acoustics to the LR Baggs Element, which I guess is an upgrade from whatever they were using. I think all that stuff is horrible no matter how good it is but I guess it's an improvement.

Anyway, I recently got a 2016 L-00 and it's a wonderful guitar. This page makes the improvements clear:

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Acous...-Standard.aspx

And I have two 2016 Gibsons, a J-35 and this L-00. They are both great guitars, but I wouldn't make any great effort to get a 2016 over any other year, Gibson makes great acoustics period, they didn't just start in 2016.

Cameleye · #6 11-13-2018, 10:38 AM

Coincidentally I picked up a 2016 J-45 last week. After owning many J-45s over the past 50 years I found the '16 to be one of the easiest guitars to play ever. The neck's dimensions felt just right, its edges comfortable and it came with the lowest action of any J-45 I've ever played.
The flubber guard is peeling off in spots which is fine by me as I'll have Taylor Mullins make me a better one. The Baggs has two controls so that must be the Element VTC.
One strange anomaly is that the serial number shows this guitar to be a 2015 build even though the 45 sports the 2016 truss rod cover.

DownUpDave · #7 11-13-2018, 04:00 PM

Thanks very much for all the answers and information. I thought there must have been a few changes because of the 2016 badge even if they were minor. The 2016 that I played sounded great and as "Cameleye" said the ease of playability was excellent.

Rev Roy · #8 11-13-2018, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameleye

One strange anomaly is that the serial number shows this guitar to be a 2015 build even though the 45 sports the 2016 truss rod cover.

They don’t wait until 2016 to make that year’s models. They start building them in 2015 and have them for sale later in the year. Kinda like cars. For instance, I bought my 2018 J-45 in October 2017.