Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret Vintage Sunburst
Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret Vintage Sunburst
Serial Number: 22386077
Weight: 3.9 lbs.
The Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret in Vintage Sunburst (Serial #22386077) is part of Gibson’s Century Collection, which marks 100 years of Gibson flat-top acoustics. It starts with the J-45, the round-shoulder dreadnought Gibson introduced in 1942. Players nicknamed it the “Workhorse” for its plain, practical design and its constant use on stages and in studios. This version moves the neck joint from the 14th fret to the 12th. Until now, 12-fret J-45s mostly came as artist signature models or limited Gibson Custom runs. The Century 12-Fret brings the design into the regular lineup.
The 12-fret joint changes more than the neck length. With the neck meeting the body at the 12th fret, the bridge sits further from the waist, closer to the center of the lower bout where the top is widest. From there it drives the top more efficiently. The result is a warm, punchy, resonant voice that responds to every change in your attack, and the shorter reach to first position makes it comfortable to hold and play. The top is Sitka spruce with X bracing, over mahogany back and sides. A thin, hand-sprayed satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Vintage Sunburst lets the wood move freely. A multi-ring rosette, single-ply binding, and an L-00-style firestripe pickguard keep the look simple. It weighs 3.9 lb.
The mahogany neck has a SlimTaper 12-Fret profile (.855" at the 1st fret, .900" at the 9th) under the same thin satin nitro. It’s set into the body with a dovetail joint and hot hide glue, Gibson’s traditional acoustic construction. The rosewood fretboard has mother-of-pearl dot inlays, a 12" radius, and 19 vintage-style frets on a 24.75" scale. The bone nut is 1.7" wide. The satin black headstock carries a Gibson script logo styled after the early-1900s version. Strap-style tuners and nickel hardware complete the vintage look. The rosewood bridge is a sloped rectangle, modeled on the earliest J-45s, with a bone saddle and TUSQ bridge pins.
Whether you’re a fingerstyle player, a singer-songwriter who wants a warm, full accompaniment voice, or a collector who’s wanted a 12-fret J-45 without chasing a limited run, the J-45 Century 12-Fret fits right in. This one (Serial #22386077) comes with a Century Collection tweed hardshell case. Order today from Brian’s Guitars, your authorized Gibson dealer.
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Body
Type: Round-Shoulder Dreadnought
Shape: J-45
Top Material: Sitka Spruce
Bracing Pattern: X
Body Material: Mahogany
Finish: Thin Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Color: Vintage Sunburst
Body Binding: Single-ply Cream
Rosette: Multi-Ring
Neck
Material: Mahogany
Shape: SlimTaper 12-Fret
Dimensions: .855" at the 1st fret, .900" at the 9th fret
Joint: Dovetail, 12th Fret
Fretboard Material: Rosewood
Neck Finish: Thin Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Headstock: Satin Black, White Gibson Script Logo
Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
Radius: 12"
Frets: 19, Vintage-Style
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.7"
Nut Material: Bone
Hardware
Bridge/Tailpiece: Rosewood Rectangle Bridge, Bone Saddle
Tuners: Closed-Back Grover Strap
Hardware Finish: Nickel
Pickguard: L-00 Style Firestripe
Other
Case/Gigbag: Century Series Tweed Hardshell Case