So, I have been playing a lot more acoustic the past year or so and in that year I've picked up a few new acoustics.
I've gotten two in particular sort of by accident but also sort of intentionally: A Taylor 317e and a Martin MMV. I like them both a lot but they are very, very different. The Taylor is extremely well balanced and plays like a dream. It sounds almost EQ'd, which was actually a little disconcerting at first. For its size it's not that loud. The Martin is also nice to play if not quite as comfortable, has a very different voice which is less balanced but much more dynamic. I was worried that I'd find the Martin as a "regular" dreadnought shape uncomfortable to play, but I must have modified my technique since I had my last dreadnought of that shape because it doesn't bother me.
But that brings me to where I am now. I went to the local shops yesterday to try out a few things (wanted to try on some basses, wanted to see what the deal is with bass ukes and acoustic basses)... Including a Gibson J-45. So anyway, I picked up a J-45 and I'm not even sure which model it was and while it wasn't the most comfortable acoustic I've ever played (that might just be my Taylor), it sounded divine, like the Martin and the Taylor had a sweet, sweet sounding baby.
They had a G-45 there and I played it a bit but it sounded brash and extremely bright by comparison. I asked the guy about the J-45 Studio and he said it was also a much brighter guitar, presumably because of the walnut, but they didn't have one for me to try out. So I'm kind of wondering where I should be focusing my energies: A J-45 Standard is out of my price range any time soon new, I really don't want to spend more than about $1,500. There are some used ones which are just a little out of that range, but I am also reluctant to buy sight-unseen and unplayed a guitar that costs that much without the opportunity to return it (unless, I guess, it's a no-brainer that I could sell it for at least what I paid).
So I guess my question is, if I loved the way the J-45 Standard sounded (and disliked the G-45), am I likely to be satisfied with a J-45 Studio? There's also a J-45 Studio Rosewood which seems like a great choice (except for the truss rod cover) except the neck is different and the body is a little thinner. Is anybody familiar with these and can tell me what to expect?
Gibson J-45 -- Questions
-
Gear_Junky
- Reactions:
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:08 pm
I think peeps are having a hard time believing that it happened (because no pics) 
Happy new guitar day. Those Gibsons sounds awesome, a guitar I'll never have.
Happy new guitar day. Those Gibsons sounds awesome, a guitar I'll never have.
good point. here is one shot--it's not a beauty queen, the neck and body are strikingly different colors. the tuners are grovers but aren't very smooth--the grovers on every agile i've ever had feel better. it feels good to play though and the tone is what i'd hoped--somewhere in-between the bright clarity of the taylor 317e and the bassier but a little less clear martin mmv. honestly i'd say the taylor sounds like it's got more mids and highs, the martin more lows and mids, and the gibson is almost like mid-scooped a little. surprisingly, it's the loudest of the three even though the body is slightly thinner. they all sound very different, so i'm still glad i got it. it also feels a little strange to play a shorter-scale full-size acoustic. i guess because of how i hold the acoustic when i'm sitting playing the nut end of the neck is much closer than on electrics so it seems really short (never really noticed that on like a les paul). just a visual thing, though, it doesn't feel strange. i got it (slighty?) used for about 35% off the new price so i'm pretty happy.Gear_Junky wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:17 pm I think peeps are having a hard time believing that it happened (because no pics)
Happy new guitar day. Those Gibsons sounds awesome, a guitar I'll never have.
trying to make a trade for an old 70s j50 (square-shoulder) deluxe now for a guitar i paid like $270 for... hopefully the trade goes through and it's playable and doesn't need a lot of work--i don't care about the cosmetics but i hope it sounds and plays good.
that weird color clash (you get used to it):