1948 Gibson J-45

Peghead Nation Flatpicking Guitar instructor Scott Nygaard demos his 1948 Gibson J-45.

After nearly 40 years of primarily playing Martin and Martin-style dreadnoughts, I found this 1948 Gibson J-45 at Eric Schoenberg’s shop in Tiburon, California, and promptly fell in love. Its clarity, volume, warmth, and projection make it perfect for playing acoustic gigs as well as playing around the house and in jam sessions. The bass is big but seems to like being amplified by a mic—bassy but not boomy—and it has a fat midrange and clear, rich treble range. It also has a lot of headroom, allowing me to dig in more than I’d probably ever want without breaking up. It’s a “post-Banner era” Gibson with a rectangular bridge, and the neck is substantial without being chunky. Most importantly, it just sounds like me.

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