Vintage Gibson guitar info?

[ACCLUDE91]

so then this must be between 64-96? The thing is the tuners are all joined like this:



And no, this guitar is not for sale...now or EVER!!!!

[DeathFromAbove]

sure that's a j45? all the ones i'm seeing don't have that kinna pickguard. old or new.


j55 has a pickguard like the pics you posted and the one i posted.

[DeathFromAbove]

this is a 54 J-45

[ACCLUDE91]

Those were pics from a website. The pickguard is a little different shape and has Gibson written on it. I'll post actual pics of the guitar in a sec....

From that link you gave me about the tuners, it has the Mid-1956 to late-1958 Kluson tuners on it.

[PakaloloHonda]

so then this must be between 64-96? The thing is the tuners are all joined like this:

I'm guessing late 50's to maybe mid 60's .. my 72/73 Gibby had chrome Grover tuners.
Those look to be ivory .. and ... wow .. that thing is mint .. lol ..
I'ma start frequenting garage sales ..

A Hui Hou !!!
Tomi

[DeathFromAbove]

no, that alone doesn't mean it's from 64-69...

on that site it said it applies to the 3-in-a-line versions used on certain models like the j45..and that 1954 j45 i posted has the 3 on a line too.




how are yours so polished and nice being so old though?!


the year has more to do with how and where they stamped "kluson deluxe" and whether or not there are pin ends on the other side of the gear cover. in the pic you posted, it appears to say kluson deluxe in a straight line down the center, and has no post hole on the other side.


i think you should check for the patent number on the tuners


aside from the astonishing condition of the guitar and tuner keys...which makes it look almost like it were a reissue...i'd say according to that site with all the distinctions, it looks early 50's.....but all the ones in those pics are all faded and tarnished...really, how are yours so shiny? shouldn't they be all oxidized too?

[ACCLUDE91]

sorry for the crappy pics but here's the actual guitar:










It deff. has the Mid-1956 to late-1958 Kluson tuners on it.

I have not seen another model with this particular pick guard on it.

[DeathFromAbove]

pickguard was prolly changed. i don't think gibson was printing their name on them back then. but yeah, now that i see the actual tuner keys...yeah, you're guess was prolyl right being mid-late 50s.

sweet.

so that is a j45 then? or the pickguard was changed.

[DeathFromAbove]

also gibson made the j45adj (with the adjustable bridge) in the late 50s-60s...so i'd say like a 58.

[DeathFromAbove]

1956 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
Adjustable bridge saddle optional (named the J-45ADJ, not desirable due to decrease in tone!)


1959 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
larger frets are now standard. Sunburst finish changes slightly to a cremona brown going from the center amber to a redish brown at the outside. J-45 Kluson tuner button plastic more stable (earlier models have problems with the tuner button plastic shrinking and crumbling).


1961 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
Adjustable bridge saddle standard. Larger 2.25" wide by .140" thick laminated maple bridge plates used instead of the earlier 1 7/16" x .125" thick solid maple bridge plates.

[ACCLUDE91]

It's a J-45 for sure! Exact model# is the J-45ADJ which has the adjustable brindge. You would think that having the adjustable bridge would make it more valuable, but from what I read it takes away a little bit of tone and makes it a little less valuable than the solid bridge J-45's. I know the first year they made these adjustable bridge J-45's was 1956. From the pics I've seen and the research so far I do think it's a 1956 model. Worst case it's a 1958 model. Even tho I still don't know the exact year, at least I have a better estimate. "Aftermarket" pick guard does take away some value. I'd say it's still worth at least $2,000+ an maybe even a lot more than that. It still sounds great! I play it all the time!

[DeathFromAbove]

1966 J-45 specs:
"gibson" logo added to the pickguard.


hummmm....that's interesting.

and the shape is that of a j50 pickguard, which was the natural finish version of the j45....so it was prolly changed in the mid 60s, and gibson prolly put the logo on on both models and whoever changed it liked the style of the other pickguard more. from what i just read, the j50 got a gibson logo pickguard in 68.

[ACCLUDE91]

I'm taking a guess here and I will talk to her aunt to verify but I'm guessing it had some issues (like missing pick guard) when it was sold at the garage sale for $5 in the early 70's. She probably bought it, used parts available at the time to fix it up and that's why it's got so many conflicts? That's what makes the most sense to me right now.

[ACCLUDE91]

BTW, thanks again for all the help!

I was expecting 1 maybe 2 responses and this thread has got filled VERY QUICKLY!!

[DeathFromAbove]

it was fun detective work!