J50 vs Natural J45

[Zissou Intern]

Originally Posted by Black Squirrel

Yes, but Dylan played so many different guitars over the years that he was not really associated with that particular model.

When I think of a J50, Bob Dylan is one of my first associations, as well as James Taylor, Gillian Welch, and Tim O’Brien.

[Gee Man]

The main difference I have come across is the use of nicer top wood on the J50s vs. the J45s. My '53 J50 has really nice even wide grain on top, and sounds phenomenal.

[zombywoof]

It is more of a Bozeman being Bozeman thing.

The first time I can think of that Kalamazoo went an "N" designation on a burst guitar was the Southerner Jumbo in 1954. The next year the natural top version was renamed the Country and Western although in what is a case of Gibson being Gibson into the early-1960s they went with one or the other names depending on the year.

I own one of the first J50s to be built. Until J.T. published his "Kalamazoo Gals" book though I thought what I had was a 1942 J45 which had lost its finish because all the Pros from Dover told us the J50 did not appear in the catalog until 1947. In a nod to Wade's take on the difference between the two models, now that I know it was part of the first batch of J50s shipped in 1942 I swear it sounds better.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Zissou Intern

When I think of a J50, Bob Dylan is one of my first associations, as well as James Taylor, Gillian Welch, and Tim O’Brien.

Dylan's J50 remains the only one I have ever seen which has the script logo but no Banner. I have always assumed it had to be one of the first J50s built after the model went back into production. The player I always think of when it comes to the J50 though is Jorma who played a late-1950s J50 his years with the Airplane and early on with Hot Tuna.

[Zissou Intern]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Dylan's J50 remains the only one I have ever seen which has the script logo but no Banner. I have always assumed it had to be one of the first J50s built after the model went back into production. The player I always think of when it comes to the J50 though is Jorma who played a late-1950s J50 his years with the Airplane and early on with Hot Tuna.

I forgot about Jorma!

I've always wondered what happened to Dylan's J50. Was it stolen in 1963 or lost in Suze Rotolo’s house fire in 1965?

[tomcstokes59]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Dylan's J50 remains the only one I have ever seen which has the script logo but no Banner. I have always assumed it had to be one of the first J50s built after the model went back into production. The player I always think of when it comes to the J50 though is Jorma who played a late-1950s J50 his years with the Airplane and early on with Hot Tuna.

And I believe he still owns and plays that very 50's J-50.