Gibson J-160E Acoustic Guitar, 1964 [USED]

Here is a Gibson J-160E Acoustic Guitar from 1964.

Introduced in 1954, the Gibson J-160E flat top electric turned out to be one of the more successful of Gibson’s slope-shouldered dreadnoughts.

Introduced in 1954 and intended as a companion to the then-new Les Paul solid body, the Gibson J-160E was one of the first mass production electrified steel string guitars. This model was discontinued in 1979, and is occasionally re-issued. One of the greatest contributors to the success of this model was a 1962 model’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, in the hands of one John Lennon. That was The Beatles first US performance, and made all their gear quite popular.

The Gibson J-160E model was built for a specific purpose – being used live and amplified on a loud stage – but also found itself fitting perfectly into a number of recording scenarios. Its ‘secret’ was that with its laminate construction, ladder bracing, and electronics being bolted to the top, its harmonic content was significantly limited. While this sounds like it would be a disadvantage to human ears, it can be ideal for microphones and recorders where the J-160E ‘stays in its lane’ and does not bleed into sonic space meant for other instruments.

When recording with fewer instruments – perhaps just a voice – and at lower volumes, such as the Lennon-McCartney hit ‘Yesterday’, a more sonically interesting guitar like McCartney’s Epiphone Texan FT-79, or a J-45 or D-28 can be more appropriate.

The ladder-braced top is laminate Spruce, the sides and back laminate Mahogany. The body blocks and neck are Mahogany, with a Rosewood used for the bridge and bound Rosewood fingerboard. At time of construction, ‘Rosewood’ meant ‘Brazilian Rosewood’.

 The Gibson J-160E pickup is a P-90 mounted under the top at the end of the fingerboard, volume and tone controls mounted through the top in the lower treble bout, and the output jack is just past them on the side.

This example has lots of lacquer checking and other cosmetic dings and scratches. There is some overspray on the top and the back and sides have been refinished.

It plays cleanly and comes with the original black hardshell case.

 

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here

 

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DETAILS: 

• Instrument Model: J-160E
• Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
• Instrument year:  1964
• Instrument Finish: Sunburst nitrocellulose
• Instrument Class: 6 string acoustic
• Instrument serial number: 202993
• Country of Origin: USA
• Instrument Condition: Lots of laqucer checking, dings and scratches, some top overspray, back has been refinished.
• Playing Condition: Plays cleanly
• Right-handed 
• CITIES Documentation Required: No
• Instrument Weight Imperial: 5.14 lbs
• Instrument Weight Metric: 2.23 kgs
• Scale Length Imperial: 24.75 in
• Scale Length Metric: 628.65 mm
• Nut Width Imperial: 1.484 in
• Nut Width Metric: 37.7 mm
• Case included: Yes
• Case original:  Yes
• Case Type: Black hardshell
• Items in Case: N/A
• Consignment: Yes
• Product ID: 190449

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here