2003 Gibson J185-EC Natural

Summary: If you're looking for power, projection and good looks, then the Gibson J-185 EC Flametop acoustic-electric guitar is for you. Whether you're into big strumming or gentle fingerpicking, you'll love how this jumbo guitar brings out every nuance of your playing. The J-185 EC's gorgeous flame maple and spruce tonewoods produce an acoustic guitar tone with massive volume, big punch, and detailed clarity. Loaded with premium Fishman electronics, this guitar is ready to deliver great plugged-in tones at a moments notice.

Body: This J-185 EC has a sitka spruce top with b/w/b/w binding, abalone rosette, and tortoise pickguard. The back and sides are flame maple.

Neck: It has a five piece neck; 3 flame maple and 2 mahogany. The beautiful ebony fretboard is bound with cream binding, has split parallelogram inlays, 20 frets, a nut width of 1 ¾” and a scale length of 24 ¾”.

Pickups/Hardware: This Gibson has a highly versatile Fishman Prefix Plus pickup and preamp. The tuning machines are gold Grovers and the bridge is an ebony mustache style bridge.

Cosmetics: This J-185 has some minor nicks and dings scattered about the top and back, consistent with an instrument that’s been played a fair amount but still cared for. There is a spot on the bottom of the sound-hole where someone has played through the finish a bit and a small crack in the sound-hole/rosette that seems stable (see pictures). There are a couple of chips in the finish around the tuning key ferrules on the headstock.

Playability: This guitar plays and sounds fantastic. It has been recently restrung with a new set of medium gauge strings, the action is comfortable and the neck is straight. There is a little bit of fret wear but it does not impede the playability. The frets still have tons of life left in them.

Weight: 5 lbs, 5 oz.

Case: The original case is in a somewhat rough shape with duct tape holding some spots together but is still functioning as it should and all the clasps are working.