Gibson J-45 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1944, made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, maple back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This late WWII-era "Banner" J-45 is a very rare variant with features dictated by the material shortages plaguing the company around 1945. The top on this guitar IS spruce, but the back and sides are maple instead of the usual mahogany. The neck is a five-piece maple laminate with the familiar Gibson truss rod, which was back in use by this point. The neck is deep, less rounded than most and slightly slimmer than the 1944 'baseball bat' profile…it is unlike any other Gibson pattern. The sunburst top and dark-stained maple back are single-bound, the pickguard is tortoise celluloid reminiscent of the old "firestripe" pattern and the gold script "Gibson" logo and "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner adorn the headstock.
This maple-bodied J-45 has a very unique sound with the power of an early Gibson jumbo but extra snap and projection due to the harder body wood. This is a very powerful guitar, a 16" Jumbo with a hint of J-200 flavoring.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). Quite a bit of top wear; older 1950's-style replacement top-belly bridge and 1960's Kluson deluxe tuners. This guitar has seen a lot of play but is a great sounding and unusual J-45. Very Good + Condition.
