Gibson 1963 J-45 Cherry Sunburst

Gibson / 1963 J-45 Cherry Sunburst

—A workhorse that has left its mark on the history of rock and folk

Are you frustrated that the polished sound of today’s guitars lacks “that raw, gritty edge” when you strum hard?

When you strum an acoustic guitar powerfully within a band ensemble, the sound might be too polished and end up getting buried in the vocal or other instrumental frequency ranges.
Or perhaps you’re seeking that percussive, crisp cutting tone found on classic ’60s rock and folk albums, but modern guitars have too much sustain, leaving your rhythm playing lacking in bite.
It’s incredibly stressful to have to compromise your playing style to accommodate your instrument while feeling this kind of frustration.

Since its debut in
1942, the J-45—affectionately known as the “workhorse”—has been rigorously played and cherished by countless musicians. Among them, models
from the late 1960s are historic masterpieces that have garnered a passionate following for their one-of-a-kind sound character, born from their unique specifications.

—The gritty, Gibson-esque tone produced by the slot saddle

Starting in 1960, the standard specification shifted from the adjustable saddle—which had previously been an option—
but this particular guitar has been fitted with a slot saddle. I surmised that this modification was made not to achieve the airy, crisp sound characteristic of adjustable saddles, but rather to obtain that wild, Gibson-esque sound—in the best possible sense. Along with the
saddle replacement, the bridge has also been replaced with an ebony one.

—The Benefits of a Regular Neck

This is a rare model from an era that retained the standard nut width of approximately 43mm, ensuring a stable grip for the left hand.
Because the neck itself has more mass than the narrow-neck models from 1965 onward, it produces rich, powerful bass tones with a thick core and a full-bodied body resonance.

—Vibrant Cherry Sunburst

An early cherry sunburst finish, first adopted in earnest around 1962. It boasts a beautiful color that retains a strong reddish hue, showing no signs of its
approximately 60 years of age.

Many late-’60s J-45s were played relentlessly on stage due to their ease of handling and excellence as rhythm guitars; as a result, ready-to-play models that have retained their excellent playability are disappearing from the market year by year. In
particular, high-quality Cherry Sunburst examples that have maintained beautiful fading and a crack-free top are rarely parted with by collectors, so there’s no guarantee you’ll come across another one.

We invite you to experience this percussive “’60s tone” for yourself with your own strumming. For detailed condition information or to schedule a trial, please contact us immediately via the inquiry form.

[Specs/Included Case]
TOP: Spruce
BACK/SIDES: Mahogany
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
BRIDGE: Ebony (Replaced)
NUT WIDTH: 43mm
SCALE: 628mm
CASE: Non-Original Hard Shell Case

[Repair/Modification History / Replaced Parts / Cosmetic Condition, etc.]
*Please note that as this is a used/vintage item, the information provided is based on what we were able to determine during our inspection.
We appreciate your understanding.
- The bridge has been replaced.
- Body crack repairs
: Center seam of the top (reinforced), lower right of the pickguard (glued only), lower left of the pickguard (reinforced), upper right of the soundhole (reinforced), and center-right of the back (glued only)
. - Frets have been leveled.
- New saddle installed.
- Evidence suggests the nut was replaced in the past.

[Playing Condition]
- String action at the 12th fret: 2.5 mm on the 6th string side, 2.2 mm on the 1st string side -
Saddle height: approx. 3.0 mm–4.0 mm -
There is no muffled sound or buzzing, and the instrument plays well.

[Peace of Mind Warranty: 6 months]

[Mail-Order Assurance Service]
Since we are unable to offer customers the opportunity to try out the instrument when purchasing via mail order, we provide a 6-day trial period after the product arrives. Please take your time to try out the product
at home, and if you are not satisfied,
we will refund the purchase price. *The customer is responsible for round-trip shipping costs.