A Remarkable Recreation of the Mid-50s Era Workhorse – The Gibson 1955 J-45 Mahogany/Sitka Spruce Light Aged Acoustic Guitar in Vintage Sunburst
The Gibson J-45™ was first introduced in 1942 and quickly earned its nickname, “The Workhorse,” due to its wide acceptance, no-nonsense simplicity, and understated elegance. It’s one of the most recorded acoustic guitars in history and Gibson’s best-selling acoustic model of all time. 1955 was a significant year in the history of the J-45 model. It was when Gibson lengthened the fretboard and added a 20th fret to the J-45. Around the same time, the teardrop pickguard used on the earlier models was dropped in favor of a larger 50-styled pickguard.
Handcrafted with care in Bozeman, Montana, by Gibson Custom’s expert acoustic luthiers, the 1955 J-45 Light Aged is a stunning recreation of the 1955 J-45. It features vintage-accurate appointments and features. The round shoulder mahogany body has a thermally aged Sitka spruce top to give it the sweet tone of a long-cherished, well-seasoned vintage guitar. The X-bracing is fitted with hide glue, and the body is adorned with multi-ply top and single-ply back binding. The mahogany neck has a Round profile and is attached to the body with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint that is also fitted with hide glue. The neck is capped with a rosewood fretboard that is equipped with 20 standard frets and decorated with simple mother-of-pearl dot inlays. Vintage-style Grover® strap tuners with cream buttons are installed on the headstock, and the nut, saddle, and bridge pins are all bone. The 1955 J-45 Light Aged features Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era. It comes packaged in a 50s-style Lifton™ hardshell case to complete the authentic vintage playing and ownership experience that only Gibson Custom and the Murphy Lab can deliver.
SPECIFICATIONS
Body
- Back: Mahogany
- Side: Mahogany
- Top: Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce
- Binding: Multi-ply Top, Single-ply Back
- Body Finish: Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Body Shape: J-45
- Body Styles: Round Shoulder
- Bracing: Traditional Scalloped X-bracing
Neck
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 304.8 mm / 12.0 in
- Fret Count: 20
- Frets: Standard
- Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
- Joint: Compound Dovetail Neck to Body Joint
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 43.82 mm / 1.73 in
- Profile: Rounded
- Scale Length: 628.65 mm / 24.75 in
Hardware
- Bridge: Traditional Belly-up; Rosewood
- Bridge Pins: Bone
- Pickguard: 50s-style J-45; Tortoise
- Saddle Material: Bone
- Strap Buttons: Cream Endpin
- Truss Rod: Adjustable
- Tuner Plating: Nickel
- Tuning Machines: Grover Strap with Cream Button
Miscellaneous
- Case: Lifton Hardshell
- Headstock Inlay: Gibson Logo Gold Silkscreen
- Strings Gauge: .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
Manufacturer: Gibson
Model: CSRS4555VSLA
SKU: I808454-N-20475028-0-WHXD
UPC: 711106167541
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Since 1958, Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center has been the trusted destination for musicians and audio professionals across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Family-owned and operated, our legendary music store delivers Everything in Music®—from instruments and recording gear to pro audio, rentals, and repair services.
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