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Gibson Custom Shop J-45 1942 Legend Acoustic Guitar - Vintage Sunburst
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1942 J-45 Legend
If there is one guitar that defines the legacy of Gibson acoustics, it is the J-45one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in history. Since its introduction in 1942, the Gibson J-45 has become the icon of Gibsons round-should dreadnought acoustic line, and its number one-selling acoustic. In recognition of this distinguished rank, Gibson Acoustic is proud to present the 1942 J-45 Legendan exact recreation of the legendary acoustic in its first year of production.
Custom Made White Button Tuners
Gibsons 1942 J-45 Legend acoustic features period-correct strap open-back white button tuners that are identical to the original Kluson tuners used in 1942. Each tuner is painstakingly handmade for this guitar using the exact dimensions and design as on the original 1937 model, reproduced with precise handcrafted detail, and resulting in a high-quality, vintage tuner not available on any other instrument.
Rosewood Fingerboard with Traditional Binding and Classic Dot Inlays
The fingerboard of Gibsons 1942 J-45 Legend is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibsons team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45s classic dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesnt require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports traditional binding over the fret ends, which was a staple feature of many classic Gibson acoustics for many years.
Pickguard
The pickguard for the 1942 J-45 Legend is Gibsons standard fire stripe tortoise tear drop shape, exactly as it appeared on the very first J-45 in 1942. As with all of Gibsons pickguards, the coloring and binding are all done by hand.
Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint
The dovetail neck joint is one of the oldestand bestways of securely joining the neck to the body of a guitar. It is also a complex and expensive neck joint to build, but the result is a tight, locking connection that supports the neck at the proper neck-pitch angle, allowing the body and neck to become one solid piece of resonating wood, with no metal to impede vibration. This process is done entirely by hand, requiring patience and skill.
Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The top of the 1942 J-45 Legend is made from genuine Adirondack red spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern-grade Honduran mahogany, giving the 1942 J-45 Legend the same full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection that earned the original J-45 its much-heralded reputation. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibsons guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities, and todays guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.
Rosette
A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the 1942 J-45 Legend is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the 1942 J-45 Legend.
Bracing
Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instruments sound projection. The 1942 J-45 Legend features a variation of Gibsons X bracing pattern situated behind the soundhole, with a set of tall and thin braces for the back, and scalloped tall and thin braces for the top. This legendary bracing designexactly as it appeared in the first J-45 in 1942delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. It also projects a natural compression, which helps the J-45 blend nicely with any accompaniment.
Specifications
Body
Body Style Round Shoulder
Top Species Adirondack Red Spruce
Back and Sides Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply Top and Back
Bracing Advanced Vintage Style Red Spruce X-Bracing Bonded with Hide Glue
Rosette Multi-ply Single Ring
Hardware
Bridge Rosewood Rectangle
Bridge Inlay Mother of Pearl Dots
Bridge Pins White
Pickguard Firestripe Teardrop
Tuners Nickel Vintage
Neck
Species Mahogany
Profile War-time Exact Replica Large Round
Scale 24-3/4"
Angle 3 Degrees
Peghead Angle 17 Degrees
Peghead Inlay Gold script and "Only a Gibson Is Good Enough" banner
Nut Bone
Nut Width 1.725"
Joint 14th Fret
Fretboard
Species Rosewood
Inlays MOP Dots
Number of Frets 19
If there is one guitar that defines the legacy of Gibson acoustics, it is the J-45one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in history. Since its introduction in 1942, the Gibson J-45 has become the icon of Gibsons round-should dreadnought acoustic line, and its number one-selling acoustic. In recognition of this distinguished rank, Gibson Acoustic is proud to present the 1942 J-45 Legendan exact recreation of the legendary acoustic in its first year of production.
Custom Made White Button Tuners
Gibsons 1942 J-45 Legend acoustic features period-correct strap open-back white button tuners that are identical to the original Kluson tuners used in 1942. Each tuner is painstakingly handmade for this guitar using the exact dimensions and design as on the original 1937 model, reproduced with precise handcrafted detail, and resulting in a high-quality, vintage tuner not available on any other instrument.
Rosewood Fingerboard with Traditional Binding and Classic Dot Inlays
The fingerboard of Gibsons 1942 J-45 Legend is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibsons team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45s classic dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesnt require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports traditional binding over the fret ends, which was a staple feature of many classic Gibson acoustics for many years.
Pickguard
The pickguard for the 1942 J-45 Legend is Gibsons standard fire stripe tortoise tear drop shape, exactly as it appeared on the very first J-45 in 1942. As with all of Gibsons pickguards, the coloring and binding are all done by hand.
Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint
The dovetail neck joint is one of the oldestand bestways of securely joining the neck to the body of a guitar. It is also a complex and expensive neck joint to build, but the result is a tight, locking connection that supports the neck at the proper neck-pitch angle, allowing the body and neck to become one solid piece of resonating wood, with no metal to impede vibration. This process is done entirely by hand, requiring patience and skill.
Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The top of the 1942 J-45 Legend is made from genuine Adirondack red spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern-grade Honduran mahogany, giving the 1942 J-45 Legend the same full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection that earned the original J-45 its much-heralded reputation. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibsons guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities, and todays guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.
Rosette
A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the 1942 J-45 Legend is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the 1942 J-45 Legend.
Bracing
Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instruments sound projection. The 1942 J-45 Legend features a variation of Gibsons X bracing pattern situated behind the soundhole, with a set of tall and thin braces for the back, and scalloped tall and thin braces for the top. This legendary bracing designexactly as it appeared in the first J-45 in 1942delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. It also projects a natural compression, which helps the J-45 blend nicely with any accompaniment.
Specifications
Body
Body Style Round Shoulder
Top Species Adirondack Red Spruce
Back and Sides Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply Top and Back
Bracing Advanced Vintage Style Red Spruce X-Bracing Bonded with Hide Glue
Rosette Multi-ply Single Ring
Hardware
Bridge Rosewood Rectangle
Bridge Inlay Mother of Pearl Dots
Bridge Pins White
Pickguard Firestripe Teardrop
Tuners Nickel Vintage
Neck
Species Mahogany
Profile War-time Exact Replica Large Round
Scale 24-3/4"
Angle 3 Degrees
Peghead Angle 17 Degrees
Peghead Inlay Gold script and "Only a Gibson Is Good Enough" banner
Nut Bone
Nut Width 1.725"
Joint 14th Fret
Fretboard
Species Rosewood
Inlays MOP Dots
Number of Frets 19
Q & A
There are currently no questions for this product.
Reviews
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Vintage tone 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Abbotsford, British Columbia
I was looking for a different guitar to my Hummingbird and J45. I found it in the L00 Legend. Similar to the Robert Johnson, Blues KIng, and Keb Mo models only much higher spec and materials are used. The result is a simply stunning sounding guitar that is a pure joy to play and own. First rate quality and fit and finish. Expensive, but worth every penny!
Posted by anonymous on Feb 13, 2014
Tone!! 0 of 0 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Calgary Chinook, Alberta
I took the plunge when I bought this J45 Legend. Expensive as it was to purchase, it was totally worth it. First rate materials and fit and finish, along with being built the same way it was in 1942 has resulted in a guitar that lives up to the hype. Very lightweight, tone is warm and full but also clear and bold. The neck on the Legend is large but very comfortable to play. Bottom line is I would buy it all over again. No question.
Posted by anonymous on Feb 13, 2014
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A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
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Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
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| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| J-45 1942 Legend Acoustic Guitar - Vintage Sunburst | 254044 |
