Once you notice the J-45, it’s on everything
Gibson introduced the J-45 in 1942, and the nickname “The Workhorse” stuck. It’s a round-shouldered dreadnought without the huge low end of a square-shouldered Martin. What it has instead is a dry, punchy midrange that sits in front of a band without much help.
A short and very incomplete list of people who’ve played one. Woody Guthrie. Buddy Holly, whose early J-45 is in the MoPOP collection in Seattle. Bob Dylan, all over the early albums and back on a sunburst J-45 since the mid ’90s. John Lennon learned fingerpicking from Donovan in Rishikesh in 1968, on Donovan’s J-45. Elliott Smith. Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Jeff Tweedy, Phoebe Bridgers.
Recording one
Because the guitar is already mid-forward, scooping the mids to make it sound expensive usually makes it worse. Start with a small-diaphragm condenser pointed around the 12th fret, eight to twelve inches out, and add a second mic a few feet back if your room is any good. If it sounds thin, move the mic before you touch the EQ.
Watch and read
- Premier Guitar: A history of the Gibson J-45
- MoPOP: Buddy Holly’s Gibson J-45
- Wikipedia: Gibson J-45
