Originally introduced as a natural finished version of the J-45 in 1942, the J-50 became an official part of Gibson’s lineup in 1947. While nearly identical in every aspect, in 1950 they added the triple binding, putting the J-50 slightly above the J-45 in terms of aesthetic upgrades. Used by the likes of Bob Dylan, Gregory Alan Isakov and more, the J-50 has occupied a space in more of the folk music scene than its sunburst brother.

This example, from 1959, has had a surprisingly tame life compared to many of its contemporaries. With just a couple loose braces and a broken bridge, both of which we have fixed to the highest possible quality, this guitar sounds better than it ever did before, thanks to the replacement bridge having a drop in saddle- the usual step taken to replace the nearly universally disdained adjustable bridge.

The neck is a comfortable C profile, along with the traditional 1950’s 1 11/16th nut width, and though the original frets are low, it’s still surprisingly playable. This guitar, with its spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and fresh repair and setup, sounds absolutely monstrous.

Comes with a non-original hard case.