1942 Gibson J-45
The inaugural J-45 — Gibson's workhorse folk guitar. Simple construction, warm tone, and accessible pricing (for its time) made it the guitar of working musicians. Very early examples are rare due to wartime production limits.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Spruce (top), Mahogany (back and sides) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | None (acoustic) |
| Bridge | Rosewood belly-up bridge |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst |
| Est. Production | 600 |
Pickups & Electronics
No pickup — pure acoustic flat-top.
What Changed in 1942
First full year of the J-45. Introduced in 1942 as a more affordable alternative to the J-200, the J-45 featured spruce top and mahogany back/sides — the now-classic folk guitar combination. Wartime material restrictions began affecting production.
Collector's Notes
Pre-war J-45s (1942-1945) are extremely rare. Look for ladder-braced vs. X-braced tops — early models used ladder bracing. The teardrop pickguard is correct for early models.