Description
The Gibson J-50 Slope Shoulder Acoustic Guitar first appeared in 1945 as a variant of the successful J-45. The primary difference was the finish on the top! The J-50 has a natural finish and the J-45 is sunburst. Both models were immediate hits with working guitarists of nearly all genres.
This Gibson J-50 Slope Shoulder acoustic guitar was built at Kalamazoo Michigan during 1954 and in 2023 had a neck reset at The Twelfth Fret, along with a compensated saddle and new, reproduction Kluson Deluxe strip tuners. At some point recently it was professionally refretted. A set of K&K Pure Mini transducers has been added to the bridge plate under the saddle, wired to a standard end-pin jack.
There is, impressed on the back of the head after finishing, 'Made in USA' indicating that the guitar was intended for export sale.
This guitar plays well, benefiting from both the neck reset and new, somewhat higher frets. It's also a very good sounding guitar with significant levels of volume and projection. The wear to the top suggests that a previous owner really liked playing it.
I'm inclined to say that the pickguard is original given that the top wear edges match the pickguard perfectly.
Most of these early guitars did not have serial numbers as such, so dating is achieved using a review of features and in particular the FON (Factory Order Number) stamped on the neck block.
Sold with a modern brown Gibson hard shell case, containing a 2023 appraisal and receipts from the neck reset and other work.
Materials and Construction
Like the J-45, the Gibson J-50 Slope Shoulder Acoustic Guitar is built with just three types of woods. The tops and bracing are Sitka Spruce, while the sides, back, body blocks, linings and neck are Mahogany. The fingerboard and bridge are Rosewood, and into the early 1960's that meant Brazilian Rosewood. The bridge has two small Mother of Pearl dots bracketing the bridge pin line, and under those are a pair of small locating bolts - which also help to keep the bridge from lifting.
The finish is Nitrocellulose lacquer, and as it aged over the guitar's 72 years it developed a lovely amber tint and an amount of natural lacquer checking.
Hardware is minimal, primarily a set of Kluson Deluxe style reproduction nickel-plated tuners with creme plastic buttons. A K&K Pure Mini transducer set has been installed to the bridge plate.
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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 |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model:
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
- Instrument year: 1954
- Instrument Finish: Natural Gloss
- Instrument Class: Steel String Acoustic Guitars
- Instrument serial number: FON: X9051 15, dated to 1954 at Kalamazoo Michigan
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4.356 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.98 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 24.84 in
- Scale Length Metric: 631 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.687 in
- Nut Width Metric: 42.85 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Items in Case: N/A
- Case Type: Recent brown Gibson branded arched top hard shell with Appraisal and repair receipts
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 191056
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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 |