Items in search results
- Software Serial Numbers
- Gibson J 45 Serial Number Search
- Gibson Serial Number Lookup
- Gibson J 45 Serial Numbers
See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year. 1940s J-45/J-50 FON numbers by J.Spann. Vintage Guitars Info - Gibson collecting Gibson vintage guitars history. Gibson used and reused numbers, changed numbering systems, and generally did not give much consideration to sequential numbering prior to its 1975 serial number system. Visit the Vintage Guitars Info Web site. Does anyone have a gift for decoding serial numbers on Gibson guitars? I have a Gibson ES 335 Larry Carlton model. The serial number is CS 253316. “Serial numbers can be extremely tricky,” says Gibson Customer Service Manager Jason Davidson, whose team fields calls and emails regarding every Gibson division. “Some can tell you a lot about a guitar, and some don’t really tell you anything.
New Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 Walnut Burst 13408028 Acoustic Guitar From Japan
- C $2,668.43
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
New Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 Walnut Burst 13348018 Acoustic Guitar From Japan
- C $2,668.43
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
New Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 Walnut Burst 13608060 Acoustic Guitar From Japan
- C $2,668.43
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 Walnut Burst rare beutiful JAPAN EMS F/S*
- C $3,136.23
- Buy It Now
- +C $27.66 shipping
New Gibson 1966 J-45 Thermally Sitka ADJ VOS KBKustom Burst Monthly Limited
- C $5,402.76
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
AWESOME! Gibson Custom Shop J-45 Progressive 2015 Autumn Burst + OHSC
- C $3,287.79
- Buy It Now
- +C $193.05 shipping
New Gibson J-45 Humbucker BB Bourbon Burst Humbucker Series Limited Edition 2019
- C $4,248.41
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
New Gibson 1950s J-45 Red Spruce KB Kustom Burst Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar
- C $3,842.55
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson Exclusive Model J-45 Banner 1930s Burst JAPAN beautiful rare EMS F/S
- C $7,707.51
- Buy It Now
- +C $27.66 shipping
Gibson J-45 Avant Garde Rosewood Burst Dreadnought Sitka Spruce Acoustic Guitar
- C $3,281.20
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
Gibson J-45 Chroma Teal Burst Sitka Spruce Quilted Maple LR Baggs 20 Frets
- C $5,389.60
- or Best Offer
- Free Shipping
Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Studio Burst
- C $2,250.00
- or Best Offer
- Shipping not specified
Gibson J-15 Walnut Burst Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Walnut Burst) (Used)
- C $2,224.20List price: Previous PriceC $3,680.48
- Buy It Now
- +C $166.04 shipping
- C $2,224.20
Gibson J-45 AG Avant Garde Mahogany Light Cherry Burst Acoustic Guitar
- C $3,083.54
- or Best Offer
- Free Shipping
Gibson J-45 Regal Rosewood Burst New
- C $8,015.88
- Buy It Now
- +C $349.20 shipping
New Gibson Custom Shop 1950 SouthernJumbo VTC 2017 Limited Tight Kustom Burst
- C $4,469.80
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
New Gibson Les Paul Studio 2019 BBQ Burst Electric Guitar From Japan
- C $2,107.07
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson J-45 Walnut AG with Electronics Walnut Burst 2018 Walnut Fingerboard
- C $2,101.81
- Buy It Now
- +C $193.05 shipping
Gibson J-200 Studio Walnut Burst 2019 JAPAN beautiful rare EMS F/S
- C $6,239.54
- Buy It Now
- +C $27.66 shipping
Gibson J-45 Progressive Autumn Burst Acoustic guitar G-Force Mahogany
- C $3,676.52
- or Best Offer
- Free Shipping
Gibson J-45 12 Fret Edition Sunset Burst New
- C $3,600.09
- Buy It Now
- +C $349.20 shipping
New listing Gibson Les Paul Studio 2015 Desert Burst 100th anniversary w/ original case
- C $1,579.98
- or Best Offer
- Shipping not specified
Gibson J-45 Studio Antique Natural w/ Case
- C $1,976.61
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Unplayed! Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe Desrt Burst MINT! + OHSC
- C $2,365.36
- Buy It Now
- +C $193.05 shipping
Gibson J-45 Deluxe 2019 Rosewood Burst Electric Acousstic Guitar Free Shipping
- C $5,566.18
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
Used Gibson J-45 12Fret Edition Sunset Burst Acoustic Guitar From Japan
- C $2,784.39
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson 1966 J-45 Thermally Sitka ADJ VOS Kustom Burst New
- C $5,711.13
- Buy It Now
- +C $349.20 shipping
2018 Gibson SJ-200 Studio Walnut-Burst w/OHSC!
- C $3,556.61
- Buy It Now
- +C $243.78 shipping
Unplayed! Gibson Les Paul Studio Smokehouse Burst Top MINT! + OHSC
- C $2,365.36
- Buy It Now
- +C $193.05 shipping
Gibson J-45 Walnut Modern Acoustic/Electric Guitar Walnut Burst w/ Case
- C $2,635.49
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson J-15 Walnut Burst 2018 Limited Edition Free Shipping
- C $3,410.34
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
New Gibson USA Les Paul Studio Tribute 2019 Satin Tobacco Burst Electric Guitar
- C $1,548.34
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson USA ES-339 Studio 2015 Ginger Burst Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
- C $2,569.61
- or Best Offer
- Free Shipping
2003 Gibson Les Paul Studio Gold Hardware Fire Burst El. Guitar w/Case #01803451
- C $1,291.38
- Buy It Now
- +C $171.29 shipping
GIBSON Les Paul Studio Tribute 2019 Satin Honey Burst S/N190010895
- C $1,752.61
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
Gibson 2018 L-00 Studio Walnut Burst USED Free shipping ta80726
- C $2,234.90
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
New Gibson USA Les Paul Studio 2019 Tangerine Burst Electric Guitar From Japan
- C $2,213.81
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Used Gibson CUSTOM SHOP J-45 IGUANA BURST 2012 Acoustic Guitar From Japan
- C $6,820.66
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson Les Paul Studio 2019 Tangerine Burst New
- C $2,129.48
- Buy It Now
- +C $217.43 shipping
2019 Gibson USA Les Paul Studio BODY & NECK Project American, *Tangerine Burst
- C $922.41
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
2019 Gibson USA Les Paul Studio BODY & NECK Project American, Tangerine Burst
- C $922.41
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson J-45 Mahogany Avant Garde 2019 Light Cherry Burst New
- C $2,752.78
- Buy It Now
- +C $217.43 shipping
New Gibson Les Paul Studio 2019 Smokehouse Burst Electric Guitar From Japan
- C $1,966.07
- Buy It Now
- +C $144.95 shipping
Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 New
- C $2,515.59
- Buy It Now
- +C $217.43 shipping
Gibson USA Les Paul Studio 2015 Made Desert Burst
- C $1,436.35
- or Best Offer
- +C $263.55 shipping
2019 Gibson USA Les Paul Studio Special BODY & NECK Project American Lemon Burst
- C $922.41
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson J-45 Studio 2019 Antique Natural Acoustic Guitar Free Shipping
- C $2,531.40
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
Gibson ES-335 Studio Vintage Burst w/ Case
- C $2,635.49
- Buy It Now
- +C $184.49 shipping
Gibson Les Paul Studio 2018 Smokehouse Burst Mahogany Rosewood Plain Maple Top
- C $2,227.00
- or Best Offer
- Free Shipping
Gibson Memphis ES-335 Studio 2015 Ginger Burst Maple Semi Hollow Electric Guitar
- C $2,899.05
- Buy It Now
- Free Shipping
Description: Gibson J-45 flat top guitar
Available: August 1942 to present.
Collectibility Rating: WW2 war-time 1940's models: B+. Late 1940s/early 1950's models: B.Late 1950s model: B-. 1960's models: C-.
General Comments: Initially, the Gibson J45 guitar differed only slightly from the discontinued J-35. Internal contruction changes from the J-35included top bracing strenghtened slightly with 1' set 'X' brace behind the soundhole, tall and thin back braces, and most importantly, scalloped tall and thin top braces. Also the J-45 had a baseball bat style neck (instead of the J-35's 'V' style neck, used on pre-1939 models), and atear drop pickguard. Sunburst was the only finish available for the J-45(or most any war-time Gibson guitar, as a sunburst finish can hide woodflaws, an important feature during WW2 when wood supplies were short).After WW2 the J-45 stayed sunburst, with a blond version being introducedin 1947 and called the J-50.
Available: August 1942 to present.
Collectibility Rating: WW2 war-time 1940's models: B+. Late 1940s/early 1950's models: B.Late 1950s model: B-. 1960's models: C-.
General Comments: Initially, the Gibson J45 guitar differed only slightly from the discontinued J-35. Internal contruction changes from the J-35included top bracing strenghtened slightly with 1' set 'X' brace behind the soundhole, tall and thin back braces, and most importantly, scalloped tall and thin top braces. Also the J-45 had a baseball bat style neck (instead of the J-35's 'V' style neck, used on pre-1939 models), and atear drop pickguard. Sunburst was the only finish available for the J-45(or most any war-time Gibson guitar, as a sunburst finish can hide woodflaws, an important feature during WW2 when wood supplies were short).After WW2 the J-45 stayed sunburst, with a blond version being introducedin 1947 and called the J-50.
Software Serial Numbers
But in reality the J-50 preceded the the J-45 by one month. On June 1, 1942,the first batch of blond J-50 (J-45n) models was shipped to Myers Music (Ohio.) And then that was it,no more, until after the war, making a banner logo J-50 (J-45N) a very rare guitar.Starting in August 1942 the J-45 (sunburst)is shipped, and is shipped through the war years, unlike the J-50.
The J45 guitar is probably Gibson's most popular acousticguitar ever made. At the time, they were not an expensive or fancy guitar.But they are a good one! The sound of a J-45 is very warm and fat. Playabilityof the Gibson J-45 is excellent too. This makes the Gibson J-45 one of the best and mostpopular flattop Gibsons to ever be produced. Also, since the Gibson J-45 guitar was inproduction for so long, J-45s are easier to find than most any otherGibson flattop model (lucky for us!) If I was stranded on a desert islandwith $45 dollars to my name (the price when introduced) and could have only one Gibson flattop, a 1940s or 1950s J-45 would be it!
By the late 1950s and 1960s the J-45 went through some changes,unfortunately none of them good. The worse thing Gibson did to theJ-45 was to make the J-45ADJ (a J-45 with an adjustable bridge).The adjustable bridge sucked the life and tone from the J-45,and really killed the model (at least in my eye). Yes you canconvert the adjustable bridge to a non-adjustable, but then it'snot original any more. A 'catch 22' at least to me, so I generallyavoid the J-45 ADJ models.
If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gibson J45 guitar, use the FON Factory Order number.This is located inside the body's sound hole on the neck block.See the Gibson Serial Number Info web pagefor help determining the exact year. Lml egr blocker plate install. Pcmark 8 download.
1940s J-45/J-50 FON numbers by J.Spann.
Joe's book lists a lot of FON numbers for 1940-1945, but unfortunatelydoesn't largely specify exact years during this period. Here's the J45 FONs listed,but not specific to any particular year (other than '1940-1945').Just knowing what I know, I've tried to assign some years to these FONs.Hope this is somehow helpful. And yes there are some J-45's listed as 1941.I know this seems outside the normal 1942 introduction date, but this is theinfo we have from Joe's book, and I see no reason to dispute it. (Though any '1941 J-45' does seem to really be a 1942 model by all other standards.)Remember in 1945 Gibson didn't seem to use FON numbers on J-45's, so therearen't any listed below.
Joe's book lists a lot of FON numbers for 1940-1945, but unfortunatelydoesn't largely specify exact years during this period. Here's the J45 FONs listed,but not specific to any particular year (other than '1940-1945').Just knowing what I know, I've tried to assign some years to these FONs.Hope this is somehow helpful. And yes there are some J-45's listed as 1941.I know this seems outside the normal 1942 introduction date, but this is theinfo we have from Joe's book, and I see no reason to dispute it. (Though any '1941 J-45' does seem to really be a 1942 model by all other standards.)Remember in 1945 Gibson didn't seem to use FON numbers on J-45's, so therearen't any listed below.
- 1941: 320 = J-45
- 1941: 483 = J-45
- 1941: 966g = J-45
- 1941: 4043 = J-50
- 1941: 4235g = J-45
- 1941: 4803g = J-45
- 1942: 7114h = J-45
- 1942: 7115h = J-45
- 1942: 7116h = J-50
- 1942: 7117h = J-50
- 1942: 7118h = J-50
- 1942: 7119h = J-50
- 1942: 7433h = J-45
- 1942: 7434h = J-45
- 1942: 7462h = J-45
- 1942: 7463h = J-45
- 1942: 7702h = J-45
- 1942: 7716h = J-50
- 1942: 7717h = J-50
- 1942: 7720h = J-45
- 1942: 7721h = J-50
- 1943: 907 = J-45
- 1943: 916 = J-45
- 1943: 928 = J-45
- 1943: 923 = J-45
- 1944: 1012 = J-45
- 1943: 2004 = J-45
- 1943: 2109 = J-45
- 1943: 2142 = J-45
- 1943: 2143 = J-45
- 1943: 2149 = J-45
- 1943: 2192 = J-45
- 1943: 2220 = J-45
- 1943: 2221 = J-45
- 1943: 2222 = J-45
- 1944: 2314 = J-45
- 1944: 2315 = J-45
- 1944: 2316 = J-45
- 1944: 2364 = J-45
- 1944: 2407 = J-45
- 1944: 2408 = J-45
- 1944: 2409 = J-45
- 1944: 2420 = J-45
- 1944: 2454 = J-45
- 1944: 2455 = J-45
- 1944: 2513 = J-45
- 1944: 2514 = J-45
- 1944: 2549 = J-45
- 1944: 2550 = J-45
- 1944: 2553 = J-45
- 1944: 2556 = J-50
- 1944: 2558 = J-45
- 1944: 2565 = J-45
- 1944: 2569 = J-45
- 1944: 2655 = J-45
- 1944: 2667 = J-45
- 1944: 2681 = J-45
- 1944: 2684 = J-45
- 1944: 2712 = J-45
- 1944: 2730 = J-45
- 1944: 2732 = J-45
- 1944: 2762 = J-45
- 1944: 2890 = J-45
- 1944: 2904 = J-45
- 1944: 2907 = J-45
- 1944: 2943 = J-50
- 1944: 2944 = J-45
- 1944: 2959 = J-45
- 1944: 2972 = J-45
- 1944: 3681 = J-45
Gibson J 45 Serial Number Search
If you have a vintage Gibson J-45 guitar for sale, please contact me [email protected]
Gibson Serial Number Lookup
- 1942 to 1944 J-45:
- 9xx FONs to 2xxx FONs red spruce tops - often lightly built, usually lighter than the 7xxxH examples and sound warmer but not as powerful with beautiful harmonics. These guitars differ the most since the tops differ in thickness and quality. The neck material and neck reinforcement has an impact as well.
- 1942 Gibson J-45 introduction specs:
- 16' wide, round shoulder dreadnought shape, dark brown mahogany back and sides and neck (J-35 had chocolate or dark redcolored back/sides/neck), solid spruce top with scalloped X-bracing,gold silkscreened peghead logo (J-35 has white logo), slight inward 'bend'of the peghead sides (J-35 has straight peghead sides), teardrop 'firestripe' pickguard(J-35 had a pickguard which followed the body contours), 19 frets on the neck,black bridge pins, 2 pearl dots on rectangle bridge, 7-ply top binding and single layer back binding, multi-ply rosette binding(bridge rosette is J35 style with more layers),'Kluson Mfg Chicago' and 'Pat.' stampedinto the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic buttons (usuallywhite but sometimes black).tall and thin back braces, 24.75' scale, 19 frets total on fingerboard.dot fingerboard inlays, 'Only a Gibson is Good Enough' gold banner logo, brown sunburst finish. Note 1942 models have higher tuner position on the peghead, leaving less room for the banner logo. This was changedin 1943, moving the tuner slightly closer to the nut, giving more room for the banner logo.(Easy to see, 1942 models have the 'D' tuner almost touching the bottom of the 'G' in the Gibson logo.)Note there was a batch of a few natural finished J-45N (or J-50 if youprefer) models made during June 1942 (see pictures below).First FON (factory order number) of J45s in 1942 was 907 (and 923).Bracing for FON 7xxxH and some 9xx FONs was basically the same as the third J-35 issueof two nonscalloped tonebars. This style of J-45 with the striped pickguardand circle logo tuners ended around FON 2221. Note the striped pickguard*occasionally* appears on J45 and LGx models during 1947, 1948 and 1951.
Gibson J 45 Serial Numbers
First 1942 Gibson J-45 guitar '907' batch number (red pencil '-17' is the
guitar within that batch). This is the neck block seen through the sound hole.
guitar within that batch). This is the neck block seen through the sound hole.
- Late 1942 Gibson J-45 specs:
- a tortoise-shell teardrop pickguard which replacedthe firestripe material, single bound top and back, multi-bound rosette,Adirondack 2-piece spruce top, early examples have a Mahogany neck but a Maple neck with a singlemahogany stripe down the center (3 piece neck) is more common. Three layer w/b/w top and single layer back binding.Mahogany neck block with beveled sides, but this soon changed to a mahoganyneck block with square sides. Tuners were 3-on-a-plate Klusons with exposed gears and'Kluson Mfg Chicago' and 'Pat.' stampedinto the plate in a circle around the attachment screws, plastic buttons (usuallywhite but sometimes black), and 1/4' diameter posts.This style of tuner lasts into early 1943 (FON 2221last documented series with this tuner style).By late 1942 Poplar neck blocks were used. (Late 1942 FON would be 2119, with FON 2143 being the last documented series with mahogany neck block.) Some FONs for 1942 include7116-7119, 7434, 7705, 7721, 907, 910, 923, 928, 2004-2006, 2059, 2098, 2110, 2119.Bracing for 1942 to 1944 J-45 models (9xx FONs to 2xxx FONs red spruce tops) wasoften lightly built with full sound. These are usually lighter built than the 7xxxH FONexamples, and sound warmer but not as powerful, with beautiful harmonics. These guitars differ the most since the tops differ in thickness and quality. The neck material and neck reinforcement also has an impact as well.
- 1943 J-45 specs:
- maple neck with two mahogany stripes down the center (5 piece neck),most with no truss rod (war time metal shortage), neck shape is usually HUGE becauseof the lack of a truss rod, Poplar neck block (instead of mahogany),rosette binding much simplier and not as many layers,Kluson tuners no longer had circle stamp (still exposed gears, but riveted insteadof screwed in place) andshaft size decreased to 7/32' to save metal. Also the cog gears got thinner with nobevel on the cog edges.Tuner position moved towards the nut, giving more room of the banner logo on thepeghead face.Also during 1943 some J-45 models had non-bookmatched two piece Adirondack spruce tops. Or some with four piece Adirondack spruce tops (four piece top J-45s still sound great, though they don't look as good). Even others hada black (skunk) strip down the middle of the top. Since Spruce was a restricted war-time material, many J-45 models from 1943 have amahogany top instead of spruce.Some J-45s have laminated maple back and sides finished in a dark mahogany stain. A few J45s were made with a laminatemaple back and a mahogany top. Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2100s to 2500s are common for 1943.
- 1944 J-45 specs:
- most J-45s now have a truss rod, still some J-45smade with mahogany top. Tuners change again with the cogs getting slightly thickerand with beveled edges. Also the tuners cogs are peened on the the shafts (notscrewed, and the peening sometimes has a 'waffle' design). Around May 1944 CMI was nowGibson's new owners, and they had some financial pull to get the new materialsfor guitars by mid-1944.Hence by mid 1944 two piece bookmatched Sitka spruce tops appear.Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2600s to 2700s now seen.In very mid to late 1944 the neck block switches back to mahogany,though poplar is still seen.
- 1945 J-45 specs:
- Mahogany neck block and Mahogany neck used again.Two piece bookmatched Sitka spruce top. Laminated maple back/sides (whichwas used sometimes in 1943/1944) is discontinued during 1945 (for exampleFON batch 2828 used maple back/sides).Factory Order Numbers (FON) in the 2800s to 2900s and 300s to 500s seen,and in the 600-800s and 1000s range. Then FON no longer used sometime in late 1945.
- 1946 J-45 specs:
- back, sides, neck again use mahogany exclusively, mahogany neckblocks also again used. No FONs used. The banner 'only a gibsonis good enough' logo is gone (but the old style 'gibson' script gold logois retained).
- 1947 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- the J-45's blond brother, the J-50, is introduced.The J-50 is identical to the J-45, except the top is natural instead of sunburst.Most 1947 models still have the script Gibson logo.
- 1948 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- newer post-war gold 'Gibson' block logo.
- 1950 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Upper belly bridge (belly towards sound hole)with white pins replaces the rectangle bridge, fabric side supports discontinued,triple bound top.
- 1952 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- fabric side supports are no longer used.
- 1955 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- shorter unscalloped top braces replaces the tallerscalloped braces, larger pickguard with point at upper bout, an additional 20th fret added to the fingerboard.
- 1956 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Adjustable bridge saddle optional (namedthe J-45ADJ, not desirable due to decrease in tone!)
- 1959 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- larger frets are now standard. Sunburst finish changesslightly to a cremona brown going from the center amber to a redish brown at theoutside. J-45 Kluson tuner button plastic more stable (earlier models have problems withthe tuner button plastic shrinking and crumbling).
- 1961 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Adjustable bridge saddle standard. Larger 2.25' wideby .140' thick laminated maple bridge plates used instead of the earlier 1 7/16' x .125' thick solid maple bridge plates.
- 1962 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Cherry sunburst standard.
- 1963 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Injection molded .075' thick styrene pickguard replaces the older .025' thick celluloid pickguard. Plastic bolt-onbridge replaces the rosewood bridge (this style bridge was probablyGibson's worst idea ever! Because of this, many plastic bridgemodels have bridges replaced with a standard rosewood glued bridge).
- 1964 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- standard rosewood bridge used again.
- 1966 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- 'gibson' logo added to the pickguard.
- 1967 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Some produced with Tobacco sunburst (instead ofcherry sunburst).
- 1968 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- White pickguard with 'Gibson' logo, screwed to thetop. Much larger top braces used, and a huge solid wood bridge plate andbig bottom-belly (belly towards end pin) bridge.
- 1969 Gibson J-45 guitar specs:
- Square shoulder dreadnoughtbody shape. Scale length increases from 24.75 to 25.5'
- Gibson J-45 guitar discontinued 1982. Re-introduced with different specs 1984.