|
SN:A16593. Gibson’s fabled flat top introduced in the 1951. Created from the 16” L-5 body mold, it has deep maple back and sides, spruce top, almost a jazz style neck with a plethora of cool appointments. The earliest years were X-braced with two gently scalloped tone bars. Later years have very short square braces. Both configurations sound great however some J-185 aficionados have a slight preference for the earlier ones. Discontinued in ’59, only 270 natural-finish and 648 sunburst J-185s were made.
The particular one is a standout player. It spent some time in a very fine shop in Canada where a Gibson specialist provided a neck reset and refret. In my shop, it’s received a slightly taller saddle and a setup by Mark Tossman. The end pin hole had been enlarged but it’s been invisibly restored to its original dimensions and the original end pin reinstalled. I’m told the tuners had been changed but the originals have been happily replaced and there’s no sign that they’ve ever been off. Honest playwear galore but no abuse, cracks or wonky issues.
I think of this model as Gibson’s OM as it excels in many playing styles and is very comfortable to play. It’s a balanced and smooth for accompanying jazz chording but shows the Gibson-chunk when strummed hard. The maple back and sides give it some solid cut when played with a heavy pick. It might have fared better in the marketplace had Gibson put some marketing muscle behind it. But they chose instead to support the larger and even fancier J-200, “King of the Flat Tops”. Size does matter. Yet, the J-185 had a good run from and found favor with a variety of players from Skip James to sons of the Pioneers guitarist Ken Curtis. People who have them hand onto them. For good reason.
This one comes in a gorgeous Lifton case that fits like a glove with brown exterior and a plush burgundy interior.
Top: Spruce
Band & Sides: Maple
Bridge & Fretboard: Rosewood
Appointments: Parallelograms, Maltese crosses
Nut width: 1-11/16”
String spacing: 2-1/8”
Body width: 16-1/8”
Depth: 4-7/8”
Scale length: 24.9”
Case: OHSC
Payment is by personal check or money order. Payment in full, including shipping and insurance, is required before shipment. Personal checks must clear your bank. Please specify preferred shipping method when you order the instrument and we will calculate the exact price for you.
We represent the instruments as accurately as we can. All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.
All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.
