Gibson J-50

The Gibson J-50 is the natural finish version(non-sunburst)of the iconic Gibson J-45. This guitar earned the nickname "The Workhorse" as it was an affordable, no-frills, do it all guitar used by many working musicians. The Gibson J-50 has been around since the 1940's so it has stood the test of time, having been played by many famous musicians over the years. It is not currently in the Gibson catalog, probably due to the fact that the suburst finished J-45 is the more popular version. J-50's can still be found in guitar stores at reasonable prices though the vintage models command huge amounts these days.

The Gibson J-50 is a round shouldered Dreadnought built of all solid woods. The guitar features solid mahogany back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood fretboard and bridge, simple 4 ply body binding and 3 ply rosette. The tuners are Kluson tuners with white plastic buttons(Gibson has since changed the tuners to Grover romatic tuners)I don't like the look of the Grovers as much but they are an improvment over the Klusons. The guitar has an all gloss finish and comes from the factory with an L.R Baggs under saddle pickup installed. The J-50 is known for it's oversized "Batwing" pickguard, it's the only real visual standout on what is a fairly plain looking guitar.

Gibson build quality is a subject of many debates, some believe they are not up to scratch with other large builders. I believe it's just something you live with if you own a Gibson; minor flaws here and there add a little "Mojo" to a guitar anyway. Though quality has improved since they moved to the Bozeman Montana factory and many Gibson afficianados believe the modern Gibsons are as good as anything the company has produced.

The J-50 has a fairly chunky neck which has an almost baseball bat feel to it; though I do find it comfortable. It has a 24 3/4 inch scale length which means the strings have less tension on them; this makes string bends and general playing easier on the fingers. It features scalloped bracing which gives the guitar a punchy sound, great bass response, tone and projection. Gibsons have a sound and feel which is unique,the guitar has a dry woody tone, sweet highs and deep bass. It is a very versatile guitar accomadating all styles of music from blues, country, ragtime and fingerstyle.

The J-50 still has that vintage vibe that players crave today. Though the guitar is not for everybody, if you prefer the bright sound of many modern acoustics or a guitar with complex, ringing overtones look elsewhere. If your interested in a J-50(J-45) try and play one before you buy; they do vary a lot in sound and make sure they have a fresh set of strings on them. They are not the fanciest looking guitar on the market but as I said they are unique sounding and playing guitars. There is a reason the have been around for 60 plus years.