Gibson J-45 vs. Gibson J-45

[Cuki79]

That is easy for me: keep hunting for the right one. Note that lem oil and age should darken the wood. But you will always notice it.

Finding the right Gibson is a really long journey...

[Cuki79]

Also high action can contribute to the tone...

[bufflehead]

Welcome to the forum.

Please consider this another post for J-45 #3. Tone rules the world.

[Thom PC]

From your post it seems to me that you may not have "leveled the playing field" by making sure all three guitars have identical new strings installed and also, it seems that their respective setups (action, relief, neck angle) are somewhat dissimilar. Ideally, you would have all three set up to your preferences, and THEN make a decision. I understand that this is probably not practically possible, as you would probably not be able to return the guitars once you have had them setup at your own discretion. But I think that the different setups muddy the waters somewhat, and you probably have to factor this in. It is somewhat telling that the one with the highest action is the best sounding - it is not too unusual to stumble upon the notion that higher action enhances tone...

Not sure whether all this is helpful, but it is probably something to consider.

[Micawber]

#3 does sound like a winner for sound but I keep thinking how you described both #1 & #3. #1 I think you said something like flawless, perfect setup. I could feel the excitement in your words. #3 I think you said something like I don’t like it. I could feel that too. Now I do agree that you could probably darken the fretboard and saddle to something more of your liking, and that may really be the best of the three for you. But, I think you’re always going to wonder how #1 would sound with some fresh strings. If #1 with the flawless finish, nice grain, perfect setup, sounded as good as #3, that could be the guitar of a lifetime.

[docwatsonfan]

most sellers have pics of guitars they are selling....

so why would you buy two that didn't appeal to your eye?

no pics?

[kingofdogs1950]

Judging from your description, I would go for #3.
Get the action adjusted to your liking and oil the fretboard and bridge.
After a few years you will forget about your initial misgivings
about the guitar's appearance.
I had a similar problem when I was considering my 2002 J-50. It was a couple
of years old and appeared unplayed.
Very light colored fretboard and bridge. Overall the guitar was 'pale' looking,
and not appealing like a good J-45.
Welll... over the years I've oiled the fretboard and bridge occasionally and
they have darkened nicely. The rest of the guitar also has darkened to a golden hue.
The biggest issue when buying the guitar was that it
was slightly dead sounding compared to other acoustics I've owned.
I drove ~125 miles to try out the guitar.
The original owner sold me the guitar at a screaming price so I figured since
it was so cheap I could sell it if, etc.
Fast forward to today, my J-50 is loud and resonant.
No longer dead sounding at all, and is a pleasure to play.
So, back to your decision. I would say go for #3. Soon you won't give a thought to its visual aspects and will enjoy playing an old friend.

Mark

Edit: I thought I might mention that I've owned ~half a dozen J-45s since 1970 plus a Fuller's J-35 reissue, a Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe reissue, a rosewood Southern Jumbo reissure and another J-50.
My current J-50 is surpassed only by the Smeck. Sigh... Shouldn't have sold that one.

[TBman]

I'd go with #3 also. It looks fine. Maybe not the greatest looking J-45 of the 3, but tone is king. Besides, you'll get used to the looks of it and be glad you kept it.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by hubcapsc

Go with the one with the funny looking bridge. Imagine how
one day when you come in contact with the right luthier, you
can get a better looking bridge on there, shouldn't cost a
ridiculou$ amount. I'd be able to get past the fretboard color
pretty easily.

-Mike

I was going to say the same thing. You CAN darken the rosewood fingerboard and bridge to some extent yourself, or you can pay a professional to do it. I can't imagine it would cost all that much as it's a pretty straight-forward job.

One product to try, besides (and before) oil is Old English scratch cover for dark woods. I had a Fender Strat that had some unusual light and uneven coloration that I didn't care for. A few passes with the scratch cover (over a few months) really improved the even-ness a lot. Below is a photo that more or less illustrates the difference of before and after (obviously with a different pick guard as well).

If the sound is better and all you object to are the fingerboard and bridge coloration, #3 would be my choice

[kingofdogs1950]

Originally Posted by vindibona1

I was going to say the same thing. You CAN darken the rosewood fingerboard and bridge to some extent yourself, or you can pay a professional to do it. I can't imagine it would cost all that much as it's a pretty straight-forward job.

One product to try, besides (and before) oil is Old English scratch cover for dark woods. I had a Fender Strat that had some unusual light and uneven coloration that I didn't care for. A few passes with the scratch cover (over a few months) really improved the even-ness a lot. Below is a photo that more or less illustrates the difference of before and after (obviously with a different pick guard as well).

If the sound is better and all you object to are the fingerboard and bridge coloration, #3 would be my choice

Great idea. I've used Old English scratch cover on dark furniture and it works well.

Mark

[lowrider]

I agree with Cuki, I'd send back all three. And I'd wait until I can go out try guitars in person.

And, this is just me, but I'd find another guitar to dream about.

[Br1ck]

Tone tone tone tone tone tone tone

[Pickcity]

This is your dream guitar, and if you are not 100% happy about any of them, send all of them back and have 3 more sent to you. The looks, feel, and sound should all be there to your utmost approval. You deserve no less for your dream guitar. JMO

[brijas99]

Welcome to the forum.... Without a doubt #3 for sure. Tone, tone, tone, all day long.
But if your able to keep them for a few day's or even a week before you have to send them back, keep playing all 3 and see if #3 continues to the unanimous winner.
If it does then you will have your lifetime guitar. Enjoy and may the best J-45 win !

[Russ C]

Haven't read all the posts, so it's likely been said but high action quite possibly means a neck angle that's gonna require a reset much sooner. If the action is just because there's too much relief in the neck, fine, no problem - but you need to be aware of why the action is high.