Modifying the American Workhorse | GIBSON J45
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- I've been busy modifying this Gibson j45, known as the American Workhorse, over the past few months. I love these old j45's though these workhorses usually need a whole ton of work done to them! We updated the old adjustable saddle, put in a new set of frets, and among other things gave this guitar the voice it deserves!
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I played over fifty new Gibson Dreadnoughts that just didn’t impress me before finding a second hand 2018 J35 and the second I strummed a chord and tapped the top it’s The lightest guitar I’ve ever held and I wouldn’t part with it for anything. Your channel is so cool
Nice. Yeah man, some of them just got it. Dude I’m so glad you’re enjoying the vids!!
I own a 2014 Gibson J-15 I installed super jumbo stainless steel frets a tiger stripe pickguard and Kluson locking tuners love mine
@@Jam-m7m phenomenal for the price and desirable guitars now.
Not only is that a glorious guitar- that yellow overcoat is also a gem! 🧡
Gotta keep warm in styyyyle up here! Thanks!!!
I don't understand the comparison someone would make between a J45 and a D-28. J45 is slope shouldered, mahogany back/sides, short scale...D28 is none of those things...are there any real similarities? Each is its own beast. And the J45 is a great beast. Great video - that guitar sounds superb
Solid point! It is interesting that they are always compared to one another but they are totally different guitars. That being the case, Gibson was def trying to shoulder into the d28 market.
Glad you dug the vid! Miss having that guitar around the shop.
@@kostringworks Very interesting! Funny to think that a Gibson was the cheaper alternative :-) That's rarely the case these days.
@@samgillett7630 trends come and they go, right?!
I heard that back when, there was $5 difference between a J45 and a J50. The J50 wood was so very much more superior!
But, the J45 was still an amazing horse. Any luthier that is good should save our tired workhorse J45s >> anytime they present and >> in any condition!!
Your mantra is that you are better than any medical practicing MD. They oracitice; you do.
Thanks kyle orla - do your stringworks and do them well _R
Thanks! Yeah it's a wild history, and totally worth the work.
Nice work!! Martins just sound great, but gibsons look and sound great. They are both amazing guitars and special in their own ways. I almost bought a J-50 recently. Needed alot of work. Crazy to think these guitars were only $45 at one point. Lol.. Times sure do change! Rock on!
I know right!? The saddle alone costs more than that nowadays. Thanks for watching and saying hey!
dude the adjustable saddle is NOT silly, especially if you like the change in tone.
Fair!!
Theartin D 28 is a Bluegrass guitar. The J45 or amy Gibson for that matter serves to be far more versatile for any kind of music!
Yamaha make beautiful L series high end guitars with plastic saddles and nuts. And they all sound great from the factory but when transformed with bone man they are so good
Dude I feel like Yamaha is getting back in the game. I love it.
I tried bone on my pre-ARE LS16. It was louder and had still better sustain than the original saddle, but sounded peaky: it had lost the smooth quality the original saddle had. So I tried Tusq - it was smooth again, but also louder and more resonant in a way that suited me as a fingerpicker.
Well, the switch may have been well done, but in all respect, the guitar was basically just drawn toward the conventional.
The adjustable bridge is an extraordinary concept with an extraordinary timbre.
AND ! , , , lots of extraordinary music was played and recorded with them.
Stones, J. Taylor, Donovan, John Renbourn, Beatles all used ceramic saddles,
, , , ouh, Taylor used the rosewood version.
All fair points! I shouldn’t assume everyone holds the opinion I do about the timbre! It was important to me that I made it possible to be converted back to it’s OG state, in case of the very reason someone liked it better that way too.
Thanks for tuning in!
Your angle is understood - and the guitar sounds pretty good.
The reversible way of doin' it is of course ideal ^
But sir, , , looking closer something tells me we deal with a 1963 J-45, which means the bridge itself isn't original.
Many Gibsons came with hollow plastic version that year - this cherry-slope probably isn't an exception.
@@Ziraffe2 interesting! I knew about the hollow bridges but didn’t know that was the only option available! I’ve had my hands on a few of these and none were the hollow plastic versions either. Endless mods!
What year are you talking about. As mentioned the plastic bridge was primarily manufactured in 63 - few spilt over to early 64, some may have seen light of day in late 62.
Long story short is that the owner (and you) should be aware that the bridge isn't original.
I love the 45s ,but I play a martin 000 15
Those are great!
Did you remove the Dylan cover video? Can’t find it on your channel:(
Yeah I think there was a copyright deal with it. Sorry!
@@kostringworks ah makes sense and no worries. Was just curious to hear more of that J-45 🙃
I was looking for it too. Really would have liked hearing it.
Watching again made me wonder if this in fact IS the hollow plastic bridge. Have you checked it, Mr Orla ?
Nah it’s gotta be a wood one cause otherwise when I took the ceramic saddle out the bridge woulda just popped right off with it. Thanks for the careful eye though!
Hi - why ? , , , the bridge is mounted with other screws. The 2 are not connected that way.
@@Ziraffe2 Made sure there were no screws left for rattling purposes. I did leave the threaded inserts though. Also, I planed the bridge when I made the new ebony plug flush, so def wasn’t plastic coming off my plane!
Well, assume you know what you had on the table. It looks exactly like a plastic bridge on a 1963 J-45 though.
Fact is then, that it had the bridge replaced already by someone who wanted to keep the ceramic saddle.
Did the owner mention/know this ?
@@Ziraffe2 🤷♂pretty old instrument, lotta hands on it over the years I'm sure! Musta done a good job on the bridge replica!
Jumbo wire fretts make a lot more sustain. I hate 3 on a stick tuning gears. I hate that cherry sunburst shit. I had a 1964 cherry sunburst donovan leech model and i gave it to an upcoming student. This guitar really shines through a good microphone. In my opinion the j45 of this era can not hold a candle to the superior d 28,fact . Compare the construction and compare the sound qualities. The neutral j 50 is one of my favorite gibson j series. A real epiphone texan is a sonic force to contend with.
I love those j 50’s too, 😮💨.