Who's making the best J45 version today

[bigshoe]

I like everyone's opinion on who's making the best J45 spin off today. I liked the Gibson J45tv but just wondered if some of the smaller shops, Santa Cruz, Greven, Huss Dalton etc has a really nice take on this old classic. I know Santa Cruz's VS is suppose to be a fairly good representation of the J45,anything else?

Thanks

[HHP]

The people you mention do make slope shouldered D's that look like J-45's, but they do not emulate the J-45's tonal properties. They can be very different tonally. This is fine as long as you only want the look of a J-45.

[wooglins]

Gibson of course

[Play2PraiseHim]

Have to agree with the others. Only Gibson sounds like Gibson.

Now if you want a nice sounding and playing sloped shouldered dread that brings something different to the table , I would look at a Collings CJ.
You will get lots of sustain and clarity. But it won't have the smooth Gibson Midrange or that Gibson percussive thump.

[mickthemiller]

Originally Posted by bigshoe

I like everyone's opinion on who's making the best J45 spin off today. I liked the Gibson J45tv but just wondered if some of the smaller shops, Santa Cruz, Greven, Huss Dalton etc has a really nice take on this old classic. I know Santa Cruz's VS is suppose to be a fairly good representation of the J45,anything else?

Thanks

Not Epiphone with their 1963 EJ-45, that's for sure!!

[Redbeard]

I can't pretend to answer the op's question. That being said, I played a J45TV today that was very impressive. Much more so than the other Gibsons I played at the same store, including a Hummingbird, J-200, and a Luthier's Choice AJ. It was very lightly built, and had a haunting, dry tone. Really enjoyed picking some Townes Van Zandt tunes on it.

I've also played slope shoulder dreads with mahogany back and sides made by Collings, Huss and Dalton, and Rockbridge. As HHP noted above, they all have their own thing going on that to my ears is quite distinct from the J45TV. If I had to try to describe it succinctly, I would say that the J45TV I played today is very, very well suited for singer/songwriter or rock applications, but it wouldn't hang as a bluegrass guitar. Whereas the small shop slopes I've played all pack more punch with volume, perhaps even too much so for singer/songwriter settings.

[JStotes]

I would look to John Walker first. Then Greven, Fairbanks, and Kevin Kopp.
There is also a guy in Seattle that makes some really authentic sounding Gibby types. Look up Haxton guitars.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by bigshoe

I know Santa Cruz's VS is suppose to be a fairly good representation of the J45,anything else?

Thanks

I own the Santa Cruz VS, and have played enough Gibsons to form the impression that the Santa Cruz, while it sounds good in its own right, does not sound much like a Gibson.

[llew]

A Kevin Kopp K-35.

[bobster7]

Bagnasco & Casati

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d1QR_wJLrM

[Gregg Carter]

What about the Collings CJ35? I've heard a few people say that it has that old Gibson vibe. One of those people was Pete Huttlinger.

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by mickthemiller

Not Epiphone with their 1963 EJ-45, that's for sure!!

Ever played one? I'd take it over anything else Epiphone is producing these days.

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by bigshoe

I like everyone's opinion on who's making the best J45 spin off today. I liked the Gibson J45tv but just wondered if some of the smaller shops, Santa Cruz, Greven, Huss Dalton etc has a really nice take on this old classic. I know Santa Cruz's VS is suppose to be a fairly good representation of the J45,anything else?

Thanks

Gibson really has you covered. if money is no problem J-45 Legend (reissue of vintage banner era's), J-45 Donovan signature (reissue of 60s era J-45), J-35 (reissue of vintage J-35, the best value for vintage round shoulder tone seekers on a budget).

Yes, I have played the J-45 inspired round shoulder models made Eastman, Collings, Blueridge and Recording King.... My thoughts: If buying new buy the Eastman E20SS. Consider the quality of parts and overall build here. You're getting an Adirondack Spruce top, Solid Rosewood b&s, thin nitrocellulose finish so that tone can shine through, hand scalloped bracing. The Colling's is priced about right for American made instrument from a boutique builder. If that's what you're after, great. I love Colling's OM models, but I just think the CJ35 is a hard sell. Consider Gibson's J-35 reissue only cost $1600 street. and The Eastman E20SS will set you back about that as well, but it will give you solid Adirondack top on solid Rosewood b&s. All of these instruments are great, bthe CJ35 has some finer aesthetic things that set it apart, but those things aren't worth the extra $3k to me.

If you're on a budget buy used, buy a used Blueridge BG140 or BG160 and don't pay over $600 for it with the case.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by mickthemiller

Not Epiphone with their 1963 EJ-45, that's for sure!!

Mick:

Have you played one of these Epi 1963 J-45 clones? Or anyone, for that matter? I bought one a couple weeks ago (cuz it was mentioned on these boards recently) and got it delivered, but haven't had a chance to even tune or play it.

What are your impressions? I bought it mainly because I have a Masterbilt slope-shouldered dread that I love, but this one looks very cheaply made and clearly not in the same league. I'll keep it though, since I'm not a trader or a flipper, and tend to keep guitars for life.

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by wooglins

Gibson of course

I have to agree. If you want the Gibson sound...you need a Gibson.

Though, I've heard that the Santa Cruz was based on John Fogarty's J-45, and he's quite happy with it.