A vintage 1954 Gibson J-185, serial #A18569- Factory Order Number (FON) X8080, from Kalamazoo, MI. This rare, short-lived (1951-1959) Gibson Jumbo model has left lasting impressions on players in the succeeding decades, and is commonly described as one of Gibson’s finest flat tops. The younger, smaller-sized, and less-flashy sibling of the renowned J-200 is a unique instrument, with its own voice and tasteful appointments (Maltese crosses on the bridge, bound fingerboard, parallelogram fretboard inlays and more).
Only 648 sunburst-finished J-185’s were made during its 9-year life span. This one has been played extensively in the last 70 years, and sounds amazingly dry and crisp, with projection. As the pictures show, the finish crazing on this guitar is extensive and unique, and the bookmarked spruce top has two crack repairs that are professionally sealed. The solid maple back has damage to the wood on the upper treble bout, shown in the pics. The neck was professionally reset prior to 2016 by a nationally renowned guitar dealership. The price of this guitar is lowered, compared to its contemporaries, owing to these imperfections. All the grit and glory is here; they don’t make guitars like this anymore. Shipping rate is adjusted to cover insurance costs.
Specifications:
- Top: Sitka Spruce, tall scalloped bracing
- 16 inch wide lower bout jumbo body,
- solid maple back and sides, 4 7/8 “ deep at end pin.
- triple bound top and back (white/black/white plastic strips, finish crazing all around
- sunburst top finish; side bottom right has repaired cracks.
- Scale Length: 24.75″ ; Nut: 1.725″, bone
- Neck: Mahogany, 20 frets, 14 frets to body
- Single bound rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets, double parallelogram MOP inlays
- Bridge: Rosewood with Maltese Cross MOP inlays, bone saddle.
- Tortoise-shell pickguard with a point
- individual tulip button Kluson tuners; Gold-plated hardware
- Inlaid MOP “small tulip” inlaid logo on headstock.
Professional Repairs since I bought this in 2016:
- plug bridge pad holes with hard maple using the “Bridge Pad Saver”
- Refret with Gibson vintage style 1950’s frets
- New nut and new saddle