Features Rosewood Fingerboard with Traditional Binding and Classic Dot Inlays Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top) Description Product Description Product Description If there is one guitar that defines the legacy of Gibson acoustics, it is the J-45—one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in history. Since its introduction in 1942, the Gibson J-45 has become the icon of Gibson’s round-should dreadnought acoustic line, and its number one-selling acoustic. In recognition of this distinguished rank, Gibson Acoustic is proud to present the 1942 J-45 Legend—an exact recreation of the legendary acoustic in its first year of production. Amazon.com If there is one guitar that defines the legacy of Gibson acoustics, it is the J-45--one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in history. Since its introduction in 1942, the Gibson J-45 has become the icon of Gibson's round-should dreadnought acoustic line, and its number one-selling acoustic. In recognition of this distinguished rank, Gibson Acoustic is proud to present the 1942 J-45 Legend--an exact recreation of the legendary acoustic in its first year of production. An exact recreation of a legendary acoustic. Custom Made White Button Tuners Gibson's 1942 J-45 Legend acoustic features period-correct strap open-back white button tuners that are identical to the original Kluson tuners used in 1942. Each tuner is painstakingly handmade for this guitar using the exact dimensions and design as on the original 1937 model, reproduced with precise handcrafted detail, and resulting in a high-quality, vintage tuner not available on any other instrument. Gibson Logo The Gibson name has graced the most innovative and revolutionary acoustic guitars of our time--the Super Jumbos, the J-45, the Hummingbird, the Dove. There is no mistaking the classic, gold block script logo, stamped onto the face of the headstock, with the period-correct banner "Only A Gibson Is Good Enough" directly underneath it. It represents more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal. 1942 standard fire stripe tortoise pickgaurd. Classic gold block script logo. Tapered dovetail neck joint. Rosewood Fingerboard with Traditional Binding and Classic Dot Inlays The fingerboard of Gibson's 1942 J-45 Legend is constructed from the highest grade Madagascar rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45's classic dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports traditional binding over the fret ends, which was a staple feature of many classic Gibson acoustics for many years. Pickguard The pickguard for the 1942 J-45 Legend is Gibson's standard fire stripe tortoise tear drop shape, exactly as it appeared on the very first J-45 in 1942. As with all of Gibson's pickguards, the coloring and binding are all done by hand. Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint The dovetail neck joint is one of the oldest--and best--ways of securely joining the neck to the body of a guitar. It is also a complex and expensive neck joint to build, but the result is a tight, locking connection that supports the neck at the proper neck-pitch angle, allowing the body and neck to become one solid piece of resonating wood, with no metal to impede vibration. This process is done entirely by hand, requiring patience and skill. Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top) The top of the 1942 J-45 Legend is made from genuine Adirondack red spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern-grade Honduran mahogany, giving the 1942 J-45 Legend the same full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection that earned the original J-45 its much-heralded reputation. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with "the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities," and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different. Rosette A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the 1942 J-45 Legend is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the 1942 J-45 Legend. Bracing Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body, a feature normally found only in limited run, hand-made guitars. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instrument's sound projection. The 1942 J-45 Legend features a variation of Gibson's "X" bracing pattern situated behind the soundhole, with a set of tall and thin braces for the back, and scalloped tall and thin braces for the top. This legendary bracing design--exactly as it appeared in the first J-45 in 1942--delivers a balanced expression, with punchy, deep lows, warm mids, and clear, crisp highs. It also projects a natural compression, which helps the J-45 blend nicely with any accompaniment. Radius Top The top of many "flat-top" guitars are under a lot of stress from the pull of the strings, which can eventually compromise the top. So, while most acoustic guitars are true "flat-top" guitars, all of the acoustics produced by Gibson in Bozeman, Montana have a radiused, or "tuned" top. Instead of being perfectly flat, a radiused or "tuned" top is raised slightly, and a special instrument is used to shape the top braces to the radius of the top. This process adds