1974 Gibson J-45
The 1974 J-45 — Gibson's most popular acoustic guitar. Round-shoulder dreadnought, mahogany back and sides, spruce top. The acoustic sound of country, folk, and rock.
Current Market Value
Excellent
$1,750–$2,500
Very Good
$1,000–$1,750
Good
$500–$1,000
Fair
$250–$500
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Mahogany back and sides, Sitka Spruce top |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Indian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.750" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | None |
| Bridge | Lower belly bridge |
| Tuners | Kluson or Grover |
| Finish Options | Sunburst, Natural, Cherry |
| Est. Production | 8,000 |
Pickups & Electronics
Acoustic guitar — no pickups.
What Changed in 1974
Norlin-era production. Indian rosewood, some quality variation. Still fundamentally the great J-45 sound.
Notable Examples
Bob Dylan, Donovan, Woody Guthrie — the J-45 is the folk/protest song guitar.
Collector's Notes
Verify original bridge type (upper vs lower belly), original tuners, and any neck reset work. Top cracks are common on older acoustics.