1944 Gibson J-45 Sunburst, Very Good, Hard, $7,500.00

NO FON – Powerful sounding banner J-45 in excellent playing and structural condition with some capable repairs and maintenance. It was purchased fairly recently from Carter Vintage, the very fine shop in Nashville, TN and had a nice life in the Midwest until it was traded to me. It’s had a recent neck reset and complete refret, courtesy, I suspect, of the Carters. The neck angle is perfect; the action is nice and low with the right amount of saddle height showing. New frets add a lot of bite and she plays up and down the neck without distortion. The tone is typically crunchy and loud with a lot of mid-range bark; exactly what is desirable about these banners. It has the two-piece spruce top, one-piece mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck with tapered headstock and original three-to-a-side Kluson machines. The only detractors are a repaired center seam separation, another small dryness crack in the top, and a couple in the back clearly visible in the photos. All repaired. There are two areas of enthusiastic belt buckle love and a couple of case bites. I should also mention that the neck is not one of the big herkers. While hefty, it is very playable and fast. It does have an adjustable truss rod. There is no FON which would indicate 1943/44. This will ship in a newish grade B case with red plush lining and tweed exterior. $7,500.