nuemes
Be Here Now
Curious if you've had experience with a Gibson J45 and what you think of it compared to other acoustics in the $1500 range.
Curious if you've had experience with a Gibson J45 and what you think of it compared to other acoustics in the $1500 range.
I have a 1966 J-45 with the adjustable bridge/saddle. Despite the bridge, it plays and sounds great. Less boomy than a comparable Martin like a D-28. The neck on mine is rather small, unlike the thicker necks on the earlier banner head stock models. Works for me as I have small hands, but might not be for everyone. Unless you are particularly enamored with the Martin sound (or playing blue grass), I find the J-45 (and the matching natural finish J-50) to be a more even and smooth sounding guitar (and I do own a very nice D-28). Makes it easier to record IMHO.
I may have to schlep it over to Light's shop sometime and have a real bridge/saddle installed.
The smaller student model B-25 is also worth checking out. These, unfortunately were the ones with the plastic bridge and adjustable saddle. Definitely get the bridge and saddle replaced on these. Most need it as the plastic bridge warps with age. Great sounding little guitar. A bit bigger than parlour size and quite loud. One of my favorite guitars.
While I still stand by that advice (this thread is over 2 years old, you know), I have to admit that idiots who don't know WTF they are talking about have changed the value part of that. Some clueless dumb fucks have decided that originality is the only thing, never mind if they original design was, by far, the stupidest design decision EVER made by a major guitar manufacturer and resulted in a guitar that lacked, well, every good thing about guitars. As much as I still tell people to get a real bridge and saddle, I have to advise that it will decrease the value of the guitar.
People seem to have decided that all old guitars were great just as they were, and don't seem to notice that the reason the GREAT old guitars have become so valuable is because they are GREAT, not just because they are old.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
There are folks that think those adjustable bridge Gibsons from the sixties are the best sounding guitars ever made. They go on forums and argue the relative merits of the ceramic inserts over the rosewood ones. It takes all kinds...
Remember there are people who think Ovation is the best brand of guitars.
While I still stand by that advice (this thread is over 2 years old, you know), I have to admit that idiots who don't know WTF they are talking about have changed the value part of that. Some clueless dumb fucks have decided that originality is the only thing, never mind if they original design was, by far, the stupidest design decision EVER made by a major guitar manufacturer and resulted in a guitar that lacked, well, every good thing about guitars. As much as I still tell people to get a real bridge and saddle, I have to advise that it will decrease the value of the guitar.
People seem to have decided that all old guitars were great just as they were, and don't seem to notice that the reason the GREAT old guitars have become so valuable is because they are GREAT, not just because they are old.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Light, so what is the possibility of doing a reversible insert? The bridge on mine is rosewood. It has the typical adjustable ceramic saddle. Is there a reasonable way to retain the bridge with a drop in wood/bone saddle thus allowing the adjustable saddle to be reinstalled if the guitar is ever sold? Just a thought. There ought to be a market for something like that..
Light, so what is the possibility of doing a reversible insert? The bridge on mine is rosewood. It has the typical adjustable ceramic saddle. Is there a reasonable way to retain the bridge with a drop in wood/bone saddle thus allowing the adjustable saddle to be reinstalled if the guitar is ever sold? Just a thought. There ought to be a market for something like that.
I have seen guitars that have had this done successfully. It doesn't improve the sound as much as you might think.
There were a number of design changes besides the adjustable bridge that came with guitars of this vintage. Many of the structural members were made more robust than necessary as well. They all worked together to limit the resonance the earlier instruments had. As I said earlier, there are many people who admire the muffled percussive nature of these instruments. If you're happy with the tone of your guitar I recommend you leave well enough alone.