Gibson J-45 Deluxe 1973 - Cherry Sunburst

1973 Gibson J-45 Deluxe Square Shoulder Cherry Sunburst w/K&K. Serial # A004024 - Kalamazoo Factory Era.

This 1973 J-45 Deluxe recently received the attention and care of Austin Clarke, Boise’s premier luthier.  Austin expertly completed a neck reset, which also included a new ivory nut and bridge pins (from Bob Colosi), a new bone saddle, fret job, new Waverly high ratio guitar tuners (21:1 gear ratio), and full tech set-up on this 50yr old guitar.  This guitar with all its charm and the warmth, that only 50yrs of professional work/mojo can impute on the Spruce top and Mahogany Back and sides. (This guitar was purchased from Nashville singer/songwriter Bernie Nelson; who picked up the guitar from another Nashville sessions player.)  After Austin’s work, she is all ready to give you another 50yrs of songwriting sweetness.  Comes with its original Gibson chipboard case; original tuner machines and nut included.

The Rosewood fretboard and bridge are solid and in excellent condition. Obviously, Austin reworked the fretboard while resetting the neck and doing the fret job.  Neck is straight & truss rod works fine, with a 1 11/16" nut width & 25 1/2" scale length.  Body: Square shoulder dreadnought with tortoise binding on the top & back. Solid spruce top in cherry sunburst finish. Rosewood bridge with tortoise pickguard & multi-ring rosette. Solid mahogany back & sides.  Austin also installed a K&K Mini under the Bridge plate electronic system that does not interfere with the transfer of energy from the strings through the Saddle to the Bridge and this wonderful top; unlike the under the saddle elements.

The guitar has no cracks or separation on the top, and the original pickguard sits nicely on the top with no shrinkage, or the common “B-string pull” from the sound hole to the bridge. The top on this guitar is just phenomenal with resonance for days.  The original tortoise body binding has "gassed" out, and there are finish cracks along the binding and the back at the upper and lower bout, but these are just surface finish cracks and do not extend into and through the wood.  (see pictures) Other than the surface finish cracks noted, there are no cracks on the top, back or sides.

This is not a museum piece, but it is a monster player grade guitar with tons of recent love and upgrades to make even the most selective profession musician happy.