Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret Acoustic Guitar, Vintage Sunburst

After years and years of legendary acoustic guitar making, the Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret twists a brand-new spin on classic jumbo-bodied guitars with loving, vintage-inspired appointments at every juncture. The Gibson Century Collection of acoustic guitars commemorates a solid century of Gibson musical mojo with intriguing, interesting takes on historic tenets.

The 1950s were a pretty pivotal time for Gibson, if we could say so. 1951's J-185 drew inspiration from the 1920s' L-5 models with its large-and-in-charge proportions and silhouettes. Slightly smaller than your regular Gibson SJ-200s, the J-185 featured a familiar 24.75" scale length – the kind found on the Hummingbird and J-45 – for a comfortable feel but one all its own. Today's Gibson Century Collection 12-Fret J-185 turns the usual J-185 story on its head for something altogether fresh and exciting.

The Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret offers an opportunity for introduction to a wider audience, as original J-185s never received that many variants or runs. This Century Collection model begins with a reliable, classic tonewood combo of Sitka spruce and mahogany. Breathing with authentic Gibson acoustic character and richness, the larger J-185 body imposes a formidable acoustic sound with plenty of breadth, depth, and personality. A satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish wraps up this body with a cool cream binding and geometric flourish.

At this point, this J-185 breaks from the usual Gibson tradition through its neck design. The model's mahogany neck paints a pictures with compound dovetail neck joint assembly utilizing vintage hot hide glue adhesive. A SlimTaper-profiled neck meets the J-185 body at the fingerboard's twelfth fret as opposed to the conventional Gibson wisdom of the fourteenth. The 12-Fret neck brings the board closer to the body for a unique feel in the palm and on the fingertips. Rosewood makes up this fingerboard for a rich touch, nineteen frets, and Mother of Pearl Dot inlays.

This Gibson Century 12-Fret J-185 continues onward with a suite of fine hardware appointments. First, the body introduces a rectangular rosewood bridge landing at the base of the 24.75" scale length with TUSQ bridge pins and a bone saddle for a solid transfer of motion and a great connection. Towards the famous Gibson headstock, Golden Age strap tuning machines and a bone nut line up for smooth stringing experiences. This Gibson Century Collection model lines with a number of aesthetic flourishes including a teardrop-shaped pickguard while it travels with an included premium Gibson Century Collection tweed hardshell case.

An acoustic to really have it all, the Gibson Century 12-Frey J-185 does it all with finesse.