Description
The Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret in Vintage Amber puts a different spin on one of Gibson's most recognizable acoustic designs by moving the neck joint to the 12th fret. That change shifts the bridge closer to the center of the lower bout, allowing it to drive the top more efficiently and giving the guitar a warm, punchy, responsive voice that suits fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters, and anyone with a lighter picking attack. As part of Gibson's Century Collection celebrating 100 years of flat-top production, it also brings a relatively uncommon 12-fret J-45 configuration into a regular production model.
The mahogany back and sides are paired with a Sitka spruce top, while the mahogany neck uses Gibson's SlimTaper 12-Fret profile and a traditional dovetail joint secured with hot hide glue. A rosewood fingerboard with a 12" radius, 19 standard frets, and mother-of-pearl dot inlays keeps the playing feel familiar, while the 24.75" scale and 12-fret body joint make the guitar feel compact and comfortable in the hands. The thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish, single-ply binding, and early-style appointments give the Vintage Amber finish a restrained, old-school character.
A rosewood rectangle bridge, bone nut and saddle, and TUSQ bridge pins keep the hardware traditional and straightforward. Gibson specifies open-back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons, though due to a temporary tuner shortage some examples may ship with closed-back nickel Grover strap tuners with cream buttons instead. We think the J-45 Century 12-Fret is an especially appealing choice for players who already know the J-45 sound but want a more intimate response, softer feel, and the extra resonance that comes from the 12-fret layout.
Specifications:
- Back Material: Mahogany
- Side Material: Mahogany
- Top Material: Sitka Spruce
- Body Shape: J-45
- Body Finish: Thin Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Body Binding: Single-Ply Top and Back
- Color: Vintage Amber
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Neck Profile: SlimTaper 12-Fret
- Neck Joint: Dovetail at 12th Fret
- Scale Length: 24.75"
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 12"
- Number of Frets: 19 Standard
- Inlays: Mother-of-Pearl Dots
- Nut Material: Bone
- Tuning Machines: Open-Back Golden Age Strap Tuners with Cream Buttons, or Closed-Back Nickel Grover Strap Tuners with Cream Buttons Due to Temporary Supply Variation
- Bridge: Rectangle Rosewood
- Saddle Material: Bone
- Bridge Pins: TUSQ
- Hardware Finish: Nickel
- Pickguard: L-00 Style
- Made In: USA
- Case: Century Series Tweed Hardshell Case
Sku: OCRS4C12AN
