Gibson Custom 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue Vintage Sunburst

The J-45 as built in 1942: Adirondack spruce, hide glue, and the Banner that says it all

The Gibson J-45 from the World War II years is considered the holy grail of acoustic guitars. Built with materials and methods that Gibson later abandoned, the originals have a tone and character that are difficult to match. The Custom Historic 1942 Banner J-45 is Gibson's most accurate attempt to do so. The masters from the Montana factory have recreated every choice Gibson made in 1942, from the thermally aged Adirondack red spruce top to the hide glue bracing that allows for maximum resonance.

The Adirondack red spruce top has a stiffness and light weight that standard Sitka Spruce cannot offer, and the thermal treatment opens up the fiber structure as decades of playing would. The mahogany back and sides add the warmth and directness that have given the J-45 its reputation as the ultimate songwriter's guitar. The nut and saddle are made of bone for maximum transfer. The Vintage Sunburst nitro finish is hand-sprayed and gives the instrument the deep, layered look of an original.

The mahogany neck has a Historic profile with a rosewood fretboard, Mother-of-Pearl dot inlays, and 19 frets over a 24.75-inch scale length. The square open-slot bridge, open back tuners with cream buttons, and the Banner on the headstock complete an instrument that not only sounds like 1942, but also looks the part. Delivered with a hardshell case.