Gibson 12 String Guitar For Sale (2023 Update)

Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhkkkkk The new Standard 60s that I received was was being waited for like a scene in a movie when parents are waiting for a stork to bless them with a bundle of joy. Well the stork for me was gruff lookin FedEx driver that was delivering my new Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. After it was delivered I placed it gently before me and began to unwrap the newest member of the family. So, you know those movies when you expect to see elation on the face of the actor after they open something up but instead it turns to the face of horror, well, that was me. As I opened up the the lid of the case I saw bits of gold flakes and plastic. It was the volume knob that had been smashed. I then looked at the case and the bottom of the case appeared to be damaged. After pulling picking up the pieces and placing them in a bag i played the LP and it was amazing but had obviously been knocked around too much for me to keep. It was tough though, the low end on this guitar was hypnotizing and the highs were like blissful chimes that rang clean yet without shrillness. The weight is amazing and the thus the sustain is like the Energizer Bunny. Anyway, I called AMS, they offered a replacement but I wouldn't be able to choose the serial number for the replacement, so I would have no idea what it looked like; I want to choose what guitar I am buying. So now I have a prepaid return shipping label in my email and a trip to the "stork" in my future. It's very unfortunate that this guitar was not packaged better because it is an amazing sounding guitar. I am buying another one.Mike

Overall: I've had 4 other gibsons and this one is the prettiest of them all. The color, how it fades from a dark red, to bright red then amber. The flame is just right on both sides. It has nearly every different kind of flame in certain spots but consistently has horizontal flame from top to bottom. It's a killer top. It's set up well but the action does need to be lowered and some relief put on the neck but overall not bad. The slim 60s neck is very nice. Its not chunky but not thin either, its right in the sweet spot. It sounds amazing, alnico Vs are hotter than a firecracker. Now the cons- It had about a 4 inch surface scratch on the top where your right arm rests when I inspected it after opening the case. The Grover tuners are nice and keep it in tune but I wish this exact guitar was offered with Kluson deluxe tuners. I prefer the green tulip look. Then there's the graph tech nut. I wish it had a bone nut but ill take care of that later. All in all it's a keeper, for life. Thank yoy zZoundsRyan

I've had the guitar for a couple weeks now and it's been the main guitar I've played during that time and it's incredibly hard to put down. The neck is thin but not too thin. It's a good medium profile. This is also one of the lightest Les Pauls I've ever played. The guitar is extremely resonate and loud acoustically. This could just be luck of the draw finding this specific Les Paul, because I've played a few 60's standards and not all of them were like this one. This one was definitely the best one I tried of this model. I have yet to gig with it yet, but I can't wait to. I've tried it in Standard, Eb Standard, Drop D, and Drop C# and it sounded and reacted great in all four tunings with little need for adjustments. The only con I've found is occasionally the higher strings seem to choke out slightly, but that should be easily remedied with some minor adjustments, and they don't choke out enough to really hurt playability.Eric

I had this on my wish list for a couple of years and after finally getting to try it out at my local Sam Ash, it did not disappoint. Online reviews were consistently good with a few mentions of the strings being coated and how it gave an unusual feel and sound. According to the Michael Kelly website, the strings are D'Addario EXP16 Coated Phosphor Bronze, Light, 12-53, so they shouldn't be some off the wall knock offs but my experience over the last few weeks has been that after a few minutes of playing, the tips of my fingers on my fret hand and the palm of my strumming hand turned black. I've never had this happen on any other guitars I have. I tried rotating after 15 minutes between my Jackson, my Strat, my Martin Backpacker and then my Michael Kelly and, every time, after a few minutes of playing the Forte Port, my fingers turned black. I've played a lot of guitars since the 80's (not professionally) and this is a new one on me. Obviously, the strings can be changed but I feel it is worth mentioning because for someone's first guitar, it may be off putting if they are unaware. If I can edit a review, I'll try to add a pic of my fingers (there's no way to make that sound right…) when I get time. That's my two cents…Sean

Overall: I was reluctant to buy this Michael Kelly. I like to try it before I buy it . With that being said , The guitar come it flawless. It was packaged very good . I played for about an hour after opening the box. The action is spot on. It plays and feels more like an electric guitar. Hammer on pull offs pitch bends are perfect. The sustain goes on forever. The neck feels a touch wider than my Martin, but that's a good thing for me. There are no fret buzzes at. It's vert light and comfortable , light weight is a must , I have had shoulder surgery 3 times. The balance and weight are near perfect . Michael Kelly may not have the prestige of Martin. Gibson and such , but as far as the sound and quality build , it simply can not be beat in this price range.Mark

Overall: I live in a large city and it is still impossible to find a Gibson 335 that plays and sounds great, has no issues or questionable history and comes with a price tag lower than a new one to justify the gamble. As a result, I decided to pull the trigger on a new one and went for the figured, not so much for the flame but for the lower weight and select wood, knowing both my back would thank me and that the guitar would probably be a bit more open and resonant. Block inlays are certainly nice and that may have helped sway my decision too. The 335 arrived with an impeccable setup, right out of the box from the factory. In my 35 years of playing, I’ve never had this happen. I’ve heard of it happening but never to me. I always have to tweak the truss rod to straighten the neck a bit, adjust the bridge action, widen the nut slots and intimate the guitar. Every time. The only adjustment I’ve had to make is lower the pickups a bit for balance, that’s it! Plays like an absolute dream. Here is why you want this guitar rather than a used one—. the neck. None of that weird pencil thin 335 necks from the past or those horrible and slow baseball bat necks… this is perfect. I don’t know what Gibson is doing in Nashville now, but they are making these guitars better than they ever have. Having always been a fan of Classic ‘57 pickups, I read about these T Type pickups being bright. It is true that they are bright, however it works so well in this guitar. Roll back the tone knobs for the mellower and darker sounds, especially when in the neck position for a classic straight-ahead jazz sound, or rolled back in the bridge to fatten up rhythms…but the thing is, roll the tone up for that beautiful bite and thunk in single line solos. I have had bright guitars in the past and there is nothing you can do for them. No matter the pickups or amp, it remains bright and pingy. This is not a bright guitar and has such a beautifully balanced and mellow acoustic voice, the pickups suit it well and I will not replace them. Is it an insane amount of money? Yes. It is. In 10 years when I have blown through $4K many times over and have nothing to show for it, will I still have this 335? Yes. I will. It’s an investment and zZounds makes it possible for someone like me to have something nice. This is an absolutely breathtaking guitar. In playability, sound, and appearance—Gibson is on top of their game these days and I think the future will look back at this era as their new golden age.Michael

Upon opening the case, the case was hard to open, like it didn't fit top cover to bottom cover. The guitar smells of cheap carnauba wax (if you wax your own car you know there are great waxes that smell good) this is not the great smell of the past Gibson guitars I have purchased in the past. There was a light haze to the guitar like the wax was dried but not wiped off completely. The was not common of years pasts Gibson's. Its a very light weight guitar. Nice to hold and even sitting with it to play does not dig into the underarm like a thick acoustic does over time. The ice tea version does look great front to back. I can't tell if it's AAA but its very nice. The head stock look s like it wasn't cut symmetrically compared to the other side or sanded to much. The neck is nice and thick and wider top to bottom which I like for fitting all my fingers on the 1-5 frets for chords. Their is a lot of fret buzz on the G string throughout the range of the neck, It looks like the G string is higher than all the other strings in an attempt to reduce the buzz. I thought these were machine prepped ?? I can most likely (hopefully)make some adjustments for this. The frets feel thinner than my Les Paul's. Not sure if I like this but I can get used to it. The sound on a clean channel is great. I really like the sound. The volume knobs have no volume from 0 – almost 2, they don't change the volume a lot from 3-7, from 8-10 is almost all the volume change. I have never had this experience before. The tone knobs actually lowers the volume from 1-3 which I thought is also strange. I have no experience with a ES model so maybe this is normal. If it is, then I am not sure I would have purchased. I don't regret the purchase but I was expecting perfection for this price.Just Me

I love 335 but played several that I found meh. Preferred the Heritage H-535 I bought to most Gibbies I tried. Until I played that one at my local GC store. Was immediately captivated with the tone. Went back several times, and took the plunge despite the sticker shock. At home, in my amp it sounded even better than in the shop. Absolutely wonderful guitar, that feels and sounds as good and sometimes even better than vintage 60s 335 I tried or owned. I am in love! But what a price tag…Gibson CS is becoming unattainable fast.Stéphane

I had a great experience with Musiciansfriend. I called my gear advisor, Scott, and he went the extra mile to answer all of my questions over about a two week period. My guitar weighs just under 10 pounds. The set up was superb with a low action and near perfect intonation. Phenomenal sound. Just amazing. Each string rings out clear and balanced. This is my first Gibson. I am a Fender player ('69 Jaguar, '97 Strat) so I was afraid I wouldn't like the warm tones of the humbuckers (nearly went with P90 because of this), but I can't compliment this guitar enough. It's a legend for a reason. The only bad thing is the case. It's obvious that Gibson doesn't take as much care in quality control for their cases. Pea sized bubble on the exterior and lining already coming unglued. However, musiciansfriend is working to right this for me.Jonathan

Overall: Ordered my 60's Les Paul in Unburst on Thursday February 10th. I paid for overnight shipping cause I couldn't wait & zZounds didn't disappoint. Guitar arrived on Friday the 11th before noon!!! Thank you zZounds. Now onto the review……amazing guitar. The figured top is beautiful. zZounds lets you pick the Les Paul you want by serial number & the top looks even better in person, I couldn't be happier. The fit & finish is excellent. Setup is perfect out of the box, plays like a dream. Sustain for days & the '61 Burstbucker R & T pickups just scream!!! Gibson's quality control is on point now!!! Just a beautiful guitar.James

Wow, does this guitar growl. These pickups are so hot, I was startled when I turned up the amp. On clean, every note in a chord is articulated brilliantly. And the sustain is strikingly long and full. I thought the fit and finish was exceptional, and appreciate the quality considering the price. It makes my other guitars feel like I'm riding a bike with a flat tire. It's just not a fair comparison. I am afraid I will have to upgrade my entire fleet now – it has spoiled me. I am more gratified with the purchase than I anticipated.Howard

I've been looking for a particular sound from an acoustic to replace my Ibanez. I went into to the GC to get strings for my other axes and try out a white Tele they had. Tele wasn't quite what I was looking for so I went into the accoustic room and this just stood out and I had to tryit. I was sold after one strum of Dm-A-G. That was the sound I wanted. Mids somewhere between a J45 and a Taylor. Highs have just the right amount of brilliance without stealing the show. Exactly what I was looking for. It has a bone nut and saddle so this thing rings out so well. The only thing I can think of negative is the Epiphone Deluxe tuners feel cheap. I'm just going to order some Gibson Deluxe's, other than that this is a beaut!JR

This guitar is beautiful. I've played many guitars, but none are more pretty than this. I have the Cherry Burst, wow! The fretboard material is Laural Wood. It plays nicely with bended notes, nice and firm. This guitar has good "weight." It is one of the heavier acoustics I've played. I like that too, it feels like great quality. Mine is not made in China. It was manufactured in Indonesia. These Asian manufacturers are doing a great job and I like it that mine is from Indonesia, too. There is good balance in sound from string to string, too. It's nice that it came with a sound hole cover, but such a nice (and fairly pricey) guitar should come with a gig bag or case.Boomer

Overall: Ok let me first say that I have been playing guitar since 1964. I have so many guitars since then I can't even remember them.In my experience Epiphone guitars have always been a solid platform for someone who is first starting and novice and intermediate level players.After reading about these " Inspired By Gibson" series Masterbilt guitars I thought I'd give one a try to see how close to a real Hummingbird it is.It caught me off guard. The fit and finish is outstanding. The playability was absolutely perfect out of the box.The original 1960's Headstock makes it look really nice. Not that deeply scalloped extended swelled at the top one usually find on an Epiphone. Nice touch Epiphone !The tulip Keystone vintage tuners are excellent. Smooth and tight. Fret work was amazing for a guitar in this price point as well as getting a guitar with beautiful solid mahogany and Sitka spruce that is finished in an accurate vintage toner. The real Mother of Pearl inlays are a really nice touch.At this price point getting an instrument with a one piece mahogany neck with no seperate heel is almost unheard of. I am tempted to say this Epiphone is so close to the Gibson model it amazed me that Gibson would allow Epiphone to produce something this close to their high dollar Hummingbird.In conclusion…. BUY IT !! You will not be sorry. zZounds is the best out there for sales, service and amazing one day delivery.Ed

Love the J-45 but also have historically owned Rosewood guitars so this combination was a perfect fit for me. It's got a big full sound, good lows, nice highs. The onboard pickup is better than I expected and when played through an acoustic amp, the low end and fullness of the sound was insanely good. The guitar has a beautiful finish and some nice added touches above the standard J-45. You can't go wrong with a J-45 regardless but if you want something a little different from the standard in terms of sound and looks, I would take a serious look at this one. I couldn't be happier with this one.Randall K

I really wanted an electric J-45. The G 45 seemed to fit the bill. I've owned many Gibsons since the 70's, including a '63 J45 adjustable bridge and a '64 L5 CES. But they've gotten so expensive that new ones are basically out of my reach. I know Gibson fit, finish and quality and I have to say this guitar falls a little short, even at a grand. I own several acoustic electrics that I use as gigging workhorses. I ran across 3 major issues with the G45 Studio. The G string tuning key responded poorly and required nearly 1/2 a turn in either direction to change string pitch. The offset bridge for high E and B strings raised a flag for me since all my other acoustic electrics have a straight bridge. I could not get the guitar to be reasonably tuned no matter how many cents I tried to compensate either way. If I played an E it would be in, then a D, the D would be noticeably out. I am very experienced in compromised tuning, but it was irreconcilable with this guitar. Lastly, the sound. When I plugged the guitar in to the P.A. there was barely any sound coming out. My other acoustics are consistent in volume when plugged in. I loosened the strings, lifted the bridge and found small pieces of wood left that had pinched and left dents in the pickup wire compromising the contact of pressure of the bridge downward. So the sound was uneven,even after I blew out the wood chips. I would consider buying the guitar again if I could test play it through an amplifier before purchasing, but I won't pay full price for a demonstrator model that has already been played by numerous people and the guitar stores I have visited had no new ones out of the box. The included case makes this a steal. But with the quality control for this model you take a chance. I played the guitar for approximately 30 hours before returning.Rikenrocker

Picked up a 2019, same exact model about a month ago. Quality and build is superb, the carved top has even more flame than I expected. I wanted an "understated" look, and it's perfect. Flame changes with light. The nitro finish is buffed like new, unlike the VOS models, and the natural dye on the back and neck is rich and deep. Instrument is plek'd, action and intonation are flawless. The CustomBucker pickups are all the rage, you can only get them on a new instrument, and are supposed to be the best PAF repro so far. I'm still trying to decide if I like them, my ears say that the 60s have more natural midrange than 59s, but I can eq it out on my amps. They also seem to be unpotted. I'm really inspired by the sound and feel of the '60 LP, the looks and quality are just icing.Ron

Love the J-45 but also have historically owned Rosewood guitars so this combination was a perfect fit for me. It's got a big full sound, good lows, nice highs. The onboard pickup is better than I expected and when played through an acoustic amp, the low end and fullness of the sound was insanely good. The guitar has a beautiful finish and some nice added touches above the standard J-45. You can't go wrong with a J-45 regardless but if you want something a little different from the standard in terms of sound and looks, I would take a serious look at this one. I couldn't be happier with this one.Randall K

I really wanted an electric J-45. The G 45 seemed to fit the bill. I've owned many Gibsons since the 70's, including a '63 J45 adjustable bridge and a '64 L5 CES. But they've gotten so expensive that new ones are basically out of my reach. I know Gibson fit, finish and quality and I have to say this guitar falls a little short, even at a grand. I own several acoustic electrics that I use as gigging workhorses. I ran across 3 major issues with the G45 Studio. The G string tuning key responded poorly and required nearly 1/2 a turn in either direction to change string pitch. The offset bridge for high E and B strings raised a flag for me since all my other acoustic electrics have a straight bridge. I could not get the guitar to be reasonably tuned no matter how many cents I tried to compensate either way. If I played an E it would be in, then a D, the D would be noticeably out. I am very experienced in compromised tuning, but it was irreconcilable with this guitar. Lastly, the sound. When I plugged the guitar in to the P.A. there was barely any sound coming out. My other acoustics are consistent in volume when plugged in. I loosened the strings, lifted the bridge and found small pieces of wood left that had pinched and left dents in the pickup wire compromising the contact of pressure of the bridge downward. So the sound was uneven,even after I blew out the wood chips. I would consider buying the guitar again if I could test play it through an amplifier before purchasing, but I won't pay full price for a demonstrator model that has already been played by numerous people and the guitar stores I have visited had no new ones out of the box. The included case makes this a steal. But with the quality control for this model you take a chance. I played the guitar for approximately 30 hours before returning.Rikenrocker

First of all, why I waited so long to add a Les Paul to the collection is beyond me. This thing is so comfortable to play, between the weight balance and the neck feel. I mostly play slim taper as I've smaller hands, but theres just something about this 50s neck. The feel is something I'd describe as substantial, like you're not just playing something that's super light and borderline weightless, but instead an extension of yourself. The range on the P90s is absolutely bonkers. The lows actually give you some great clarity, while the higher you go, the more it pushes and begins to punch. The neck pickup (and middle position as well) sound wonderfully warm and comfortable, especially through my Orange TH30. I do not understand why I waited so long to get my first Les Paul, and I can safely say this guitar will not leave my side for a long long time. Bonus points for how quick this shipped…ordered on a Friday, delivered on a Saturday! Freaking fast, and faster than I anticipated, but not complaining at all. Thank you so much AMS for helping me be the rock star I know I am!Matt

So I have several guitars and have come to enjoy the sound of p 90 pickups. Wow. This thing does not disappoint. The quality of build is outstanding. The Tv yellow is beautiful. Being mostly a Fender player, I was very unsure of the neck size. Wow, I actually love it. Being a bit older, this guitar neck is actually a little easier for me to dig into. The frets are amazing. I can do thinks on this neck that I can no longer do on my thinner necked guitars. It's an awesome guitar. I never owned a Gibson but wow.. the Case itself is worth the purchase. Holy moly every guitar should automatically come with a case like this. Awesome purchase.Dorje Champa

This guitar has an amazing vibe to it. The P90s are awesome. They have that midrange snarl that we all know and love. The 50s neck is very chunky, but in a good way. The feel of this guitar literally throws be back in time to the 50s. Combine that with the retro look and the classic TV yellow finish, it just makes me want to jam to some good old school rock and roll. Being a couple pounds lighter than my Standard, I can play this one all night without any shoulder issues. There is so much to love about the look and feel, but let's not overlook that fact that this is a tone monster! I will definitely be using it in some upcoming recordings. That being said, there are some not so awesome issues that need to be mentioned. A very minor issue is the intonation. All the strings were slightly sharp at the 12th fret. This was even across all the strings, so it has nothing to do with the wrap around bridge. This could have been set properly before leaving the factory with a small turn of the set screws in the bridge. No biggie though. A couple minutes with a screwdriver and a tuner and I have that issue fixed. The bigger issue is the condition of the binding and the fretboard. It looks to me like they were both damaged by the Plek machine during the factory setup. There are compression dings in both, the binding and fretboard. There is also a section that looks like a file carved into the fretboard. There is a similar compression ding in the binding right behind the nut. If that wasn't enough, the binding on the low E side is uneven and looks like a groove is carved into it lengthwise. You can see these in the attached photos. I don't know how these defects made it past quality control. If I was doing the final setup at the factory I would have flagged this one as a factory second. I guess the rumors about the improved quality at Gibson is a matter of the luck of the draw, because the fit and finish in the areas I mentioned are quite poor on mine. Yes, these flaws are cosmetic and won't affect the playability in any way, but I still expect better from Gibson. I guess some things will never change over there and this is what we have to expect if we want their name on the headstock. I give this guitar an A+ for tone and feel, a D for quality control and defects. All things considered it gets an overall C+. At the end of the day it is still a keeper because I love playing it, defects and all.Mike

Love the J-45 but also have historically owned Rosewood guitars so this combination was a perfect fit for me. It's got a big full sound, good lows, nice highs. The onboard pickup is better than I expected and when played through an acoustic amp, the low end and fullness of the sound was insanely good. The guitar has a beautiful finish and some nice added touches above the standard J-45. You can't go wrong with a J-45 regardless but if you want something a little different from the standard in terms of sound and looks, I would take a serious look at this one. I couldn't be happier with this one.Randall K

I really wanted an electric J-45. The G 45 seemed to fit the bill. I've owned many Gibsons since the 70's, including a '63 J45 adjustable bridge and a '64 L5 CES. But they've gotten so expensive that new ones are basically out of my reach. I know Gibson fit, finish and quality and I have to say this guitar falls a little short, even at a grand. I own several acoustic electrics that I use as gigging workhorses. I ran across 3 major issues with the G45 Studio. The G string tuning key responded poorly and required nearly 1/2 a turn in either direction to change string pitch. The offset bridge for high E and B strings raised a flag for me since all my other acoustic electrics have a straight bridge. I could not get the guitar to be reasonably tuned no matter how many cents I tried to compensate either way. If I played an E it would be in, then a D, the D would be noticeably out. I am very experienced in compromised tuning, but it was irreconcilable with this guitar. Lastly, the sound. When I plugged the guitar in to the P.A. there was barely any sound coming out. My other acoustics are consistent in volume when plugged in. I loosened the strings, lifted the bridge and found small pieces of wood left that had pinched and left dents in the pickup wire compromising the contact of pressure of the bridge downward. So the sound was uneven,even after I blew out the wood chips. I would consider buying the guitar again if I could test play it through an amplifier before purchasing, but I won't pay full price for a demonstrator model that has already been played by numerous people and the guitar stores I have visited had no new ones out of the box. The included case makes this a steal. But with the quality control for this model you take a chance. I played the guitar for approximately 30 hours before returning.Rikenrocker

Love the J-45 but also have historically owned Rosewood guitars so this combination was a perfect fit for me. It's got a big full sound, good lows, nice highs. The onboard pickup is better than I expected and when played through an acoustic amp, the low end and fullness of the sound was insanely good. The guitar has a beautiful finish and some nice added touches above the standard J-45. You can't go wrong with a J-45 regardless but if you want something a little different from the standard in terms of sound and looks, I would take a serious look at this one. I couldn't be happier with this one.Randall K

I really wanted an electric J-45. The G 45 seemed to fit the bill. I've owned many Gibsons since the 70's, including a '63 J45 adjustable bridge and a '64 L5 CES. But they've gotten so expensive that new ones are basically out of my reach. I know Gibson fit, finish and quality and I have to say this guitar falls a little short, even at a grand. I own several acoustic electrics that I use as gigging workhorses. I ran across 3 major issues with the G45 Studio. The G string tuning key responded poorly and required nearly 1/2 a turn in either direction to change string pitch. The offset bridge for high E and B strings raised a flag for me since all my other acoustic electrics have a straight bridge. I could not get the guitar to be reasonably tuned no matter how many cents I tried to compensate either way. If I played an E it would be in, then a D, the D would be noticeably out. I am very experienced in compromised tuning, but it was irreconcilable with this guitar. Lastly, the sound. When I plugged the guitar in to the P.A. there was barely any sound coming out. My other acoustics are consistent in volume when plugged in. I loosened the strings, lifted the bridge and found small pieces of wood left that had pinched and left dents in the pickup wire compromising the contact of pressure of the bridge downward. So the sound was uneven,even after I blew out the wood chips. I would consider buying the guitar again if I could test play it through an amplifier before purchasing, but I won't pay full price for a demonstrator model that has already been played by numerous people and the guitar stores I have visited had no new ones out of the box. The included case makes this a steal. But with the quality control for this model you take a chance. I played the guitar for approximately 30 hours before returning.Rikenrocker

This one showed up in my favorite Guitar Center in the beautiful cherry red. Besides the looks I was enamored with the feel and playability as well as the sound when plugged into a proper tube amp. Gibson has definitely improved their quality. If you're a Junior fan- this is the one.Greg

Love the J-45 but also have historically owned Rosewood guitars so this combination was a perfect fit for me. It's got a big full sound, good lows, nice highs. The onboard pickup is better than I expected and when played through an acoustic amp, the low end and fullness of the sound was insanely good. The guitar has a beautiful finish and some nice added touches above the standard J-45. You can't go wrong with a J-45 regardless but if you want something a little different from the standard in terms of sound and looks, I would take a serious look at this one. I couldn't be happier with this one.Randall K

I really wanted an electric J-45. The G 45 seemed to fit the bill. I've owned many Gibsons since the 70's, including a '63 J45 adjustable bridge and a '64 L5 CES. But they've gotten so expensive that new ones are basically out of my reach. I know Gibson fit, finish and quality and I have to say this guitar falls a little short, even at a grand. I own several acoustic electrics that I use as gigging workhorses. I ran across 3 major issues with the G45 Studio. The G string tuning key responded poorly and required nearly 1/2 a turn in either direction to change string pitch. The offset bridge for high E and B strings raised a flag for me since all my other acoustic electrics have a straight bridge. I could not get the guitar to be reasonably tuned no matter how many cents I tried to compensate either way. If I played an E it would be in, then a D, the D would be noticeably out. I am very experienced in compromised tuning, but it was irreconcilable with this guitar. Lastly, the sound. When I plugged the guitar in to the P.A. there was barely any sound coming out. My other acoustics are consistent in volume when plugged in. I loosened the strings, lifted the bridge and found small pieces of wood left that had pinched and left dents in the pickup wire compromising the contact of pressure of the bridge downward. So the sound was uneven,even after I blew out the wood chips. I would consider buying the guitar again if I could test play it through an amplifier before purchasing, but I won't pay full price for a demonstrator model that has already been played by numerous people and the guitar stores I have visited had no new ones out of the box. The included case makes this a steal. But with the quality control for this model you take a chance. I played the guitar for approximately 30 hours before returning.Rikenrocker

I'd been in the market for a new acoustic for a while but never really knew which one to go for. Luckily, PMT in Birmingham has a fantastic range of acoustics and their super helpful staff were extremely patient with me as I tried about a dozen different models, including various Taylors and Martins. For some reason, I had always thought that Taylor and Martin guitars would be the cream of the crop when it came to acoustics and, as such, had never considered Gibsons even though I own several Gibson electrics. However, the second I started playing the Gibson SJ200, it was obvious that this was the one. A really comfortable neck, a gloriously balanced sound that you can 'feel' wash through you when you play, great responsiveness to the attack of your pick… I could go on. Whilst it might be a strange thing to say, whilst it does have a great pickup in it, it feels more like a traditional acoustic guitar than any of the others that I played. Whatever your style – fingerpicking through to power chord rock – this one does it all. Granted, it ain't cheap. However, if you're only ever going to buy one acoustic to keep forever, I would heartily recommend trying a Gibson Montana SJ200. If it's good enough for the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Pete Townsend, then it's good enough for me!David C.

I use this guitar in regular performances in my group, the Ramblin' Rangers. It complements the rest of my Gibson guitars with its full sound and ease of playing.Ranger Brad

I'd been in the market for a new acoustic for a while but never really knew which one to go for. Luckily, PMT in Birmingham has a fantastic range of acoustics and their super helpful staff were extremely patient with me as I tried about a dozen different models, including various Taylors and Martins. For some reason, I had always thought that Taylor and Martin guitars would be the cream of the crop when it came to acoustics and, as such, had never considered Gibsons even though I own several Gibson electrics. However, the second I started playing the Gibson SJ200, it was obvious that this was the one. A really comfortable neck, a gloriously balanced sound that you can 'feel' wash through you when you play, great responsiveness to the attack of your pick… I could go on. Whilst it might be a strange thing to say, whilst it does have a great pickup in it, it feels more like a traditional acoustic guitar than any of the others that I played. Whatever your style – fingerpicking through to power chord rock – this one does it all. Granted, it ain't cheap. However, if you're only ever going to buy one acoustic to keep forever, I would heartily recommend trying a Gibson Montana SJ200. If it's good enough for the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Pete Townsend, then it's good enough for me!David C.

I use this guitar in regular performances in my group, the Ramblin' Rangers. It complements the rest of my Gibson guitars with its full sound and ease of playing.Ranger Brad

I'd been in the market for a new acoustic for a while but never really knew which one to go for. Luckily, PMT in Birmingham has a fantastic range of acoustics and their super helpful staff were extremely patient with me as I tried about a dozen different models, including various Taylors and Martins. For some reason, I had always thought that Taylor and Martin guitars would be the cream of the crop when it came to acoustics and, as such, had never considered Gibsons even though I own several Gibson electrics. However, the second I started playing the Gibson SJ200, it was obvious that this was the one. A really comfortable neck, a gloriously balanced sound that you can 'feel' wash through you when you play, great responsiveness to the attack of your pick… I could go on. Whilst it might be a strange thing to say, whilst it does have a great pickup in it, it feels more like a traditional acoustic guitar than any of the others that I played. Whatever your style – fingerpicking through to power chord rock – this one does it all. Granted, it ain't cheap. However, if you're only ever going to buy one acoustic to keep forever, I would heartily recommend trying a Gibson Montana SJ200. If it's good enough for the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Pete Townsend, then it's good enough for me!David C.

I use this guitar in regular performances in my group, the Ramblin' Rangers. It complements the rest of my Gibson guitars with its full sound and ease of playing.Ranger Brad

Gibson started making these in 1934. I bought one 20 years ago and it is still my go to guitar. The first time I played it, I thought it was the best sounding guitar I'd ever heard. Something about the Sitka Spruce / Mahogany combination makes for a warm, full sound that nothing else can quite match. The slightly wider neck makes the guitar easy to flat pick, and finger pick. From the factory mine came ready to play. Haven't had to fool with the action yet. Also, the older I get, the more I appreciate how light weight it is, compared to a rosewood guitar, or an electric. It's kinder and gentler to my aging back. If you're looking for a guitar, play one of these 45s. You'll be glad you did!guitar49

Seriously, best guitars ever made. To many people, especially those under the spell of loud booming bluegrass machines, the j45 doesn't stand out. You may find them dull in loud busy guitar shops or next to a canon like a hd28.
But when you are alone in a quiet personal space with a J45 you realize there's no other guitar like it. And as it breaks in the tone gets better week by week. Best guitars ever.Richard Lucas Cronley

I purchased a 2018 model through Guitar Center last week, from what I can only assume was New Old Stock. It was a savings of around $400. It arrived today! With the exception of some minor finish issues from someone else handling the guitar (scuffs, mild scratching) it is f*&ing incredible. I have barely been able to set it down. It plays like a dream and sounds even better. It's very consistent up and down the neck and the tonalities between flat-picking and fingerpicking are super noticeable which is EXACTLY the way it should be, in my opinion. Fingerpicking gives the player deeper lows and snaps while flat-picking tends to be more on the side of treble and crispness. It's a dream instrument for me and I know it will be for you as well.Justin

I received this today. I got home as the UPS driver was leaving it at my door. I quickly unboxed this and just looked at it. The case is considerably heavy, and the guitar is very light relatively speaking. The smell of the natural wood is present and pleasant. The rich sound is amazing. I love it. I immediately tuned it and played a few bits of songs I know. It is a wonderful guitar that is pleasing to the eye and even more delightful to the ear. This is making me long to learn more music and master my STP favorites. Very happy with my purchase.Michael

I've been looking for a pro instrument, something I would keep for a lifetime, to replace my entry-level Takamine acoustic. Maybe 20+ years ago I had played a Gibson Hummingbird in a store and I fell in love. But I couldn't afford it at the time. Still, I was open to other brands when shopping, and I tried a lot of them. But the Hummingbird Studio Walnut wound up being exactly I was looking for. Above all, an acoustic has to sound right for you. The "right" sound can be different for everyone, and it can also depend on what style of music you play. If you are a singer, some guitars might compliment your voice better than others. This Hummingbird Studio has a very balanced sound across the entire range. It has a confident low end, but not "boomy". The high strings are never spikey – they are smooth, clear, and blend sweetly within chords. The Walnut back and sides seem to contribute to this "smooth and even" sound. There's a Rosewood version too, which sounded a bit brighter and stiffer to me. The Walnut responds very well to light or heavy playing, with plenty of overtones while still maintaining note definition. The body of this Studio version is slightly less deep than a traditional Hummingbird (by about 0.75 of an inch). While I'm sure that equates to a difference in sound on some level, I prefer to simply evaluate this guitar based on how it sounds on its own – which to me is wonderfully smooth and rich. It seems much easier for me to get a good recorded sound out of this compared to my cheaper acoustic. I'm using a microphone in my home studio (Rode NT1). I haven't even tried the built-in electronics, so I can't comment on that. The feel of a guitar is just as important as sound to me. I do admit that I'm a Gibson fan in general, also owning a Les Paul Studio. The neck on the Hummingbird Studio just fits me perfectly, and it makes me want to pick it up and play it every time I walk past it hanging on the wall in my home. Another thing I really like about the Studio series is the lack of binding on the neck. That's just a personal preference, but I like to see the bare neck and fretboard wood instead of plastic binding. To each their own. I compared this to a few Taylors – all great guitars, but the Taylors have a brighter, more modern sound that didn't quite suit me. The other contender was a nice Martin D-16E which sounded great, but just didn't quite feel right in my hands. In the end, the Hummingbird Studio just said "welcome home" every time I picked it up. And that's worth waiting for.Brock

This is a beautiful guitar and I loved everything about it until I started having problems with the output jack. I don't know if the construction issues were just related to my guitar or if anyone else has had the same issues. Nonetheless I had to bring it back to GC to have it repaired. One week later, I had the same issue, loose output jack with just normal use. I contacted Gibson directly and shipped my guitar to them to be repaired and they completely replaced the jack with a new and different one. So no more issues with loose jack after that, BUT something with the wiring must have been damaged in the process. When It was plugged in the sound would come and go or I would get a crackly sound. I changed batteries and tried multiple different cables thinking maybe it was the cable. No, it wasn't. At this point, with the price of this guitar and the expectation that Gibson would put out a quality product, I was frustrated and just opted to either exchange or return it. I will say my local GC was very supportive and helpful and allowed me to exchange for a different guitar. I went with another brand and am very pleased with my new guitar! I'm really sad that it didn't work out with this. Hopefully it was just my specific guitar, and that others who have purchased this or plans to purchase this does not have the same issues.Vanessa

I'd been in the market for a new acoustic for a while but never really knew which one to go for. Luckily, PMT in Birmingham has a fantastic range of acoustics and their super helpful staff were extremely patient with me as I tried about a dozen different models, including various Taylors and Martins. For some reason, I had always thought that Taylor and Martin guitars would be the cream of the crop when it came to acoustics and, as such, had never considered Gibsons even though I own several Gibson electrics. However, the second I started playing the Gibson SJ200, it was obvious that this was the one. A really comfortable neck, a gloriously balanced sound that you can 'feel' wash through you when you play, great responsiveness to the attack of your pick… I could go on. Whilst it might be a strange thing to say, whilst it does have a great pickup in it, it feels more like a traditional acoustic guitar than any of the others that I played. Whatever your style – fingerpicking through to power chord rock – this one does it all. Granted, it ain't cheap. However, if you're only ever going to buy one acoustic to keep forever, I would heartily recommend trying a Gibson Montana SJ200. If it's good enough for the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Pete Townsend, then it's good enough for me!David C.

I use this guitar in regular performances in my group, the Ramblin' Rangers. It complements the rest of my Gibson guitars with its full sound and ease of playing.Ranger Brad