Gibson J-160E Original Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst

The year is 1954 and Gibson's gone electric – today, we have the Gibson J-160E Original to commemorate such an occasion. An all-new release from Gibson USA, the J-160E Original hearkens to one of the brand's most impactful acoustic models – the J-160E. One of Gibson's very first forays into electronically-equipped acoustics, the J-160E proved a monumental move for the brand. Today's J-160E Original celebrates the '50s originals with authentic tonewoods, shapes, and styles for an overall fresh look at one of Gibson's most famous next-big-things.

Chances are you already recognize the look of the J-160E Original. Its spiritual predecessor's claim to fame is that it was a choice favorite of John Lennon and George Harrison as it was passed back and forth, recorded, and performed with throughout the majority of their band's career. Lennon's original J-160E made itself known in one of the band's appearances on Ed Sullivan at the beginning of Beatlemania. The model would follow Lennon and his bandmates all throughout the ensuing years. Today's J-160E Original is not a replica of Lennon's personal model, but does carry with it many of the same foundational elements that made it a star in its day. With generations of Gibson honing their acoustic and electric crafts, the J-160E Original is a star once again.

The J-160E Original comes at the heels of years of Gibson Acoustic refinement. This all begins with an authentic match of solid mahogany and Sitka spruce. Two of Gibson's iconic acoustic tonewoods, mahogany and Sitka spruce make for a versatile, vivid, and robust sonic base from which the rest of the experience blossoms. Breaking from tradition slightly, this J-160E Original does not use Gibson's historic ladder-style bracing pattern, but their more modern scalloped X-Bracing pattern for a fuller, round-shoulder dreadnought sound spurred on by the rich woodiness of the mahogany and the bright chirp of the spruce.

This J-160E continues on with a mahogany neck assuming a sixties-style SlimTaper profile. Slim and smooth across its whole length, the neck is attached to the body through Gibson's compound dovetail neck-to-body joint assembly utilizing hot hide glue adhesive for maximum sonic transfer. A bound rosewood fingerboard lands with this neck lined with twenty Standard frets and period-accurate trapezoid inlays.

Topping off the J-160E is an interesting hardware setup and its pièce de résistance. First, a Gibson belly-up rosewood bridge lands at the base of its 24.75" scale length with a bone saddle and TUSQ bridge pins. Second, a bone nut lands at the headstock with Gotoh Keystone tuning machines for easy stringing and solid intonation. The star of this show, of course, is the J-160E Original's electronics setup. Directly inspired by original J-160Es but with some modern creative liberties taken for fidelity and playability, this model comes equipped with a Gibson P-90 DC pickup – the same type found in original models – with wired master volume and tone controls and a reduced noise profile for hum-free performance. Delivering the same, authentic sound without the headaches of finicky electronics, the J-160E Original is the same as it ever was. This Gibson J-160E Original travels with an included hardshell case.

A revival of one of Gibson's unsung, if underrecognized, show-stopping guitars, the J-160E Original wouldn't have it any other way.