Gibson Custom Shop 1942 J-45 Banner All Mahogany Murphy Lab Light Aged Vintage Sunburst with Case

A Classic with a Twist

The Gibson J-45 was first introduced in 1942 and quickly earned its nickname, “The Workhorse,” due to its wide acceptance, no-nonsense simplicity, and understated elegance. It’s one of the most recorded acoustic guitars in history and Gibson’s best-selling acoustic model of all time.  Here we have amazing Custom Shop Murphy Lab version of a 1942 J-45 Banner, but this one is a bit different - it's an all-mahogany body.

Handcrafted with care in Bozeman, Montana, by Gibson Custom’s expert acoustic luthiers, the 1942 J-45 Banner Light Aged is a stunning recreation.  The aging work done to the guitar in the Murphy Lab is simply mind-blowing.  Every element has been thought of - it's not just wear, but the most minute of details has been nailed.  But, where this guitar really stands out is its sound.  A few strums and all of us were claiming this as the best sounding guitar in our acoustic room.

The guitar features Light Aging by the skilled artisans of the Murphy Lab. The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish treatment, paired with lightly aged hardware, simulates decades of light play wear, giving it the unique character, vibe, and feel of an original example from the Gibson Golden Era.

This J-45 features vintage-accurate appointments and features. The round shoulder mahogany body has the sweet tone of a long-cherished, well-seasoned vintage guitar. The X-bracing is fitted with hide glue, and the body is adorned with cream binding. The mahogany neck has a Soft V profile that is supremely comfortable to play. The neck is capped with a rosewood fretboard that is equipped with 19 frets and decorated with simple mother-of-pearl dot inlays.  It's super easy to play - this is the type of guitar you won't want to put down.

The twist of it being all-mahogany makes this version of a J-45 unique.  There were a good amount of J-45s of this era were made with mahogany tops due to shortage of spruce in at the time, so it's still a "period correct" build.  The resulting tone is very warm and woody sounding.  If you want strong bass and smooth mids that will sit well in the mix, and the treble tapered down, this is a top choice.  You get a softer pick attack, natural compression that doesn't sound muted, and a great dynamic response.  The bottom line is that it's truly an amazing sounding guitar.

Vintage-style Grover tuners with cream buttons are installed on the headstock, and the nut, saddle, and bridge pins are all bone.  The firestripe teardrop-shaped pickguard is a great touch as well

 It comes packaged in old school Geib Redline hardshell case to complete the authentic vintage playing and ownership experience that only Gibson Custom and the Murphy Lab can deliver.

SKU: CSRS4555VSLA

Highlights

• Solid mahogany top, back and sides
  
• Mahogany neck with a round profile
  
• Rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays
  
• Grover strap tuners with cream buttons
  
• Murphy Lab light aged
  
• Geib Redline hardshell case

Guitar Specifications

SKU: RS4245AMLAPSL1275