J-45 and J-45-alikes : school me

TimmyO · September 2016

I have a gaseous upsurging - it is for a J-45

They have a place in my mind as iconic, cool-looking, do-it-all benchmarks of acoustic goodness.

Now, unemployed as I am currently, I'd get killed if I bought one right now - so to sate my need let's talk about them (so that once I find employment I can go for it :-) )

Are there other J-45-alikes that retain some of the vibe that are also worth looking at?

I suspect I'd look used initially (I see them up for/go for £1200-ish)

Thoughts, experiences, opinions, stories - let's hear them :-)

xSkarloey · September 2016

Ah, this is one of my 'ones that got away' stories. I'm a left hander, so J-45s for me are as rare as rocking horse doo doo and Scottish Tory MPs.

Anyway, I could have got one for £900 a few years back. Played it for ages in a shop. Loved the neck. Loved the sound. Decent sound plugged in too. Had heard the 'great all rounder' opinion and I can vouch that it's valid: strong sound when strummed hard, not shabby at all as a picker.

In the end I didn't get it but I'll never say never.

I have to be honest and say that even more than their adaptability I personally like the looks. And I also adore the look of the J50, the 'Davey Graham' guitar.

Lewy · September 2016

Do-it-all is a good description I'd say. They sound good strummed, flatpicked and fingerpicked. Easy playability courtesy of the short scale length.

The classic J45 recipe is a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It's a warm and quite dry sound. You won't find yourself strumming it and marvelling at all the complex harmonic content, but it'll also never sound bad in any setting either courtesy of that fundamental sound.

Everything you know of Gibson applies to these too in terms of build, attention to detail etc. The inside of mine looks like it was done by someone going through heroine withdrawal but it feels and sounds great.

Lewy · September 2016

Also, I've been very impressed with the J-35s I've heard. If you're not bothered about the sunburst I'd definitely consider one of those over a standard J45.

thermionic · September 2016

I've heard good things about the Sigma version:

http://www.sigma-guitars.com/index.php?id=987

ICBM · September 2016

thermionic said:

I've heard good things about the Sigma version

That's cheeky, given that Sigma used to be Martin's budget brand - although I think they're independent now.

It does look nice.

Lewy · September 2016

ICBM said:

thermionic said:

I've heard good things about the Sigma version

That's cheeky, given that Sigma used to be Martin's budget brand - although I think they're independent now.

It does look nice.

I particularly like the fact that they've put a vintage style small straight bridge on that Sigma. I'm assuming it's laminate back and sides...

xSkarloey · September 2016

Ralph McTell uses J45s a lot. Such a fine guitar player.

thermionic · September 2016

If they say "solid spruce top" and "mahogany back/sides" then the omission of the word "solid" is understood to mean laminate. Just a little trick they use to deliberately mislead the buyer.

Anybody here in marketing and advertising? Kill yourselves.

Gagaryn · October 2016

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/

They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

TimmyO · October 2016

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

I'm a bit confused about Guild to be honest - is the whole brand now sold off and a different company than ever it was?

crunchman · October 2016

TimmyO said:

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

I'm a bit confused about Guild to be honest - is the whole brand now sold off and a different company than ever it was?

At one point Fender bought them out as a way to get into the premium acoustic market. I think they were still made in a separate factory to Fender as a standalone operation. Not sure of the latest status though.

TimmyO · October 2016

crunchman said:

TimmyO said:

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

I'm a bit confused about Guild to be honest - is the whole brand now sold off and a different company than ever it was?

At one point Fender bought them out as a way to get into the premium acoustic market. I think they were still made in a separate factory to Fender as a standalone operation. Not sure of the latest status though.

I thought I recall hearing that Fender sold the brand on and that it's now just a budget far east operation with a legacy brand name... I may be wrong - anyone know?

Jason · October 2016

TimmyO said:

crunchman said:

TimmyO said:

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

I'm a bit confused about Guild to be honest - is the whole brand now sold off and a different company than ever it was?

At one point Fender bought them out as a way to get into the premium acoustic market. I think they were still made in a separate factory to Fender as a standalone operation. Not sure of the latest status though.

I thought I recall hearing that Fender sold the brand on and that it's now just a budget far east operation with a legacy brand name... I may be wrong - anyone know?

I believe there is a factory in Santa Monica for the US made guitars.

TimmyO · October 2016

Jason said:

TimmyO said:

crunchman said:

TimmyO said:

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

I'm a bit confused about Guild to be honest - is the whole brand now sold off and a different company than ever it was?

At one point Fender bought them out as a way to get into the premium acoustic market. I think they were still made in a separate factory to Fender as a standalone operation. Not sure of the latest status though.

I thought I recall hearing that Fender sold the brand on and that it's now just a budget far east operation with a legacy brand name... I may be wrong - anyone know?

I believe there is a factory in Santa Monica for the US made guitars.

From a man who knows about these things - cheers @Jason ;

Lewy · October 2016

From their website, it looks like they've only got two models in US production at the moment (both all-mahogany guitars)....

http://guildguitars.com/guitars/acoustic-guitars/guild-usa/

Jason · October 2016

From a man who knows about these things - cheers @Jason ;

That may be pushing things, it was a conversation a week ago in relation to "what to do with any spare time at NAMM"

So far, Shopping, SoCal Guitar Show, Norman's Rare Guitars, Venice Beach, Saturday night (have you booked a table yet??) and then maybe go into the show, if we really have too

Jason · October 2016

Oh and I was going to say, I had a J45, it recorded brilliantly, but I hated the sound of it when I was playing on my own, I guess thats to do with the projection of the sound, but as I recorded waaaayyy less than play sitting on my own, I sold it and got a Hummingbird, which I love (for both)

Dave_Mc · October 2016

Gagaryn said:

These are worth a punt if you see one too - http://guildguitars.com/g/14-fret-slope-shoulder-mh/
They come in sunburst too if that's your thing. Discontinued now but I have seen stock available at significantly less than RRP.

Just out of interest, how much less? Because of your post I did a cursory online check and the price I found (for a rosewood back/sides version) was almost £4000! That's 2-3 times what a J45 goes for...

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J-45 and J-45-alikes : school me

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