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• J45 vs J15

J45 vs J15

By MorrisrownSal March 15, 2014 in Gibson Acoustic

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MorrisrownSal

Posted March 15, 2014

MorrisrownSal

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Posted March 15, 2014

Nice surprise in my inbox this morning...

 

Tony compares both guitars. Both X-Braced. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, versus walnut. The bridge has a different shape as well on the J45. Mahogany neck versus 2 piece laminated maple neck. Mahogany back and sides versus walnut. They both sound great and if pressed, based on sound, I would personally prefer the J45... if pressed that is. Actually the Walnut seems a tiny bit more mellow and less bright. I definitely strongly prefer the looks of the J45 - and its not just a burst versus plain-top thing; I love the looks of the J50. I tried listening a few times without seeing the video, and I am not sure I could discern which is which based on sounds.

 

If one is going on sound alone, the price difference is stark, and the sounds are so similar.

 

EuroAussie

Posted March 15, 2014

EuroAussie

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Posted March 15, 2014

Yeah, I hear it in a similar way as you do Sal. Both sound really good, the bottom end of J-15 is very tasty, the J-45 a bit brighter, stronger midrange, a bit more articulate. But in this case there is not much in it, unlike the J-45 Vs J-35 comparisemetn where the J-35 sounded significantly thinner than the J-45.

 

If I had to choose Id take the J-45 but the J-15 represent really great value.

GibsonMOJO

Posted March 15, 2014

GibsonMOJO

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Posted March 15, 2014

The j15 is nice, but I'm not sure how walnut would hold up after time as bridge and fingerboard material? I was under the impression that walnut is a softer wood? Maybe I was mistaken. Tone wise I much prefer the j45, pretty had to beat that classic sound!!

 

I agree with the looks aswell, I do appreciate and love the look of a nice piece of spruce au natural but I have always leaned towards bursts on Gibsons. Martins I think look funny with bursts, mostly anyway, well there a few exceptions lol

 

The j15 doesn't look quite right for some reason though, just like the j35, I don't like how the fingerboard does not extend to the sound hole.

 

I do like the pearl sound hole inlay, a single ring pearl inlay on a j45 would be very sexy!!

JuanCarlosVejar

Posted March 15, 2014

JuanCarlosVejar

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Posted March 15, 2014

Sal beat me to this. But I have to be honest those two particular gibsons

are two of the finest guitars ever reviwed on the acoustic letter.

I Would like to see them build a red spruce super jumbo with walnut b/s.

I Totally understand why Orville himself used walnut. And am glad gibson is putting out

Instruments of this sonic caliber.

 

 

Stunning sounds coming out of both of those guitars

 

 

JC

DRC

Posted March 15, 2014

DRC

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Posted March 15, 2014

Both sound good to me. I like the bottom end of the J-15 but the J-45 sounds better strummed and is more articulate. Actually, my particular J-35 sounds better than both. But then it's an exceptional J-35.

 

DC

bobouz

Posted March 15, 2014

bobouz

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Posted March 15, 2014

Interesting comparison, and I like 'em both.

 

Of course, the next two guitars will sound different,

which is why I never rely too concretely on such stuff.

MR GIBS

Posted March 15, 2014

MR GIBS

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Posted March 15, 2014

They both sound very "Gibsonite" to me and I looooove that.

I would prefere the J15, not the 45 because of the mellow tone.

And I am sure the sound will develop...

The J45 is everywhere, not the case of the J15.

If Gibson uses the walnut as a material (look at the gorgeous back!!!) so I am with it. They have good wood in Boseman Montana.

I prefere natural tops, not bursts.

I vote for the J15. 2014 working man's Gibson guitar.

BluesKing777

Posted March 17, 2014

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Posted March 17, 2014

Well, I have the 45....

 

The 15 sounds nice though.

 

I imagine it would be a touch upset if we had a little bowl of walnuts to chew while doing a bit of strumming....probably need to have peanuts or almonds instead, or the 15 would go horribly out of tune.

 

 

BluesKing777.

MissouriPicker

Posted March 17, 2014

MissouriPicker

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Posted March 17, 2014

Again, both sound very good. I like a good burst on a guitar. I've got a J45 and really like it. The J15 has a real quality sound to it, just like the J45. I could live with either guitar, but I prefer the looks and tone of the J45.

Pickax

Posted March 17, 2014

Pickax

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Posted March 17, 2014

I listened to it on the first run with my eyes closed so I didn't know which one he was playing. Frankly, I didn't hear that much of a difference between the two. If someone posted a recorded piece with just audio - no video, and they said it was a J-45 when actually it was a J-15, I'd likely believe it.

• 1 year later...

Jesse_Dylan

Posted August 16, 2015

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Posted August 16, 2015

I'm really sorry, but I am resurrecting this thread. Apologies in advance for the annoyance. I thought it might be better than starting a new J-15 vs. J-45 thread (which I will probably end up doing eventually anyway! Sorry for that too! :P )

 

Basically, we now have people who have actually played, even purchased and played a lot, both J-15s and J-45s.

 

Additionally, I have listened to about every YouTube video available involving a J-15 and many involving J-45s. To my ear, they sound different in this video than in any other.

 

In many videos, the J-15 has sounded very woody, perhaps a little boxy (?). I don't get much hint of that here at all. It is hard to even tell the difference between the two here, except the J-45 is a little more velvety, and not necessarily in a pleasing way. But this is not what I'm used to a J-45 sounding like.

 

At the end of the video, during the strumming, the J-45 seems to blast the J-15 out of the water, but I feel like Tony was either playing LOUDER on the J-45 than the J-15, or there was some other volume hiccup, because I don't think the J-15 is necessarily quieter than the J-45. Maybe?

 

In some videos, the J-15 sounds almost overly bright. In others, the highs are subdued, the bass is tight and woody, and the midrange is really woody and prominent. I don't get that in this video.

 

So those are my thoughts. I'm hoping people with experience can perhaps help me understand what I've heard in the billion different videos.

 

I'm also hoping I can just find a J-15 and a J-45 to A/B. I thought I had chosen J-15, but then I get sucked back into my OCD world of "what if???" and obsessing over it. :)

duluthdan

Posted August 16, 2015

duluthdan

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Posted August 16, 2015

I'm also hoping I can just find a J-15 and a J-45 to A/B. I thought I had chosen J-15, but then I get sucked back into my OCD world of "what if???" and obsessing over it. :)

Stop obsessing - get thee this one. J-45 Vintage (Thermally Cured Top) No contest.

Jesse_Dylan

Posted August 16, 2015

Jesse_Dylan

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Posted August 16, 2015

Stop obsessing - get thee this one. J-45 Vintage (Thermally Cured Top) No contest.

 

Did you just try one out?? post post!

 

Yeah, my Hummingbird Vintage is so awesome that I did think the J-45s are probably also phenomenal. Luckily, or unluckily, not in my price range! :) Unless I went back to Music Villa and traded in all 3/4 of my Martins, which I suppose I could do. :)

duluthdan

Posted August 17, 2015

duluthdan

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Posted August 17, 2015

This is from my post of June 14th.

 

While at the Homecoming, got to play one of the first Thermallly cured topped J-45s. Hope I am not leaking any confidential info - but this is one flipping fabulous guitar. Does it result in a more "vintage like" Tone?

 

Yep. [thumbup]

 

Gibson has been working for years with the University of Minnesota Duluth (Natural Resource Research Institute / NRRI) in researching and developing the process. Speaking from experience with that NRRI division when I lived in Minnesota, their research, and product development assistance was always considered top-notch. I think we'll be seeing these at 5-Star Dealers this summer. On the factory tour we saw a small amount of Hummingbirds that had also been built using their new proprietory process.

 

If you run across one, play it. But, be prepared to be severly smitten

Boyd

Posted August 17, 2015

Boyd

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Posted August 17, 2015

Gibson has been working for years with the University of Minnesota Duluth (Natural Resource Research Institute / NRRI) in researching and developing the process.

 

I'm sure it's a great guitar. But the concept of spending years of research making a new guitar sound like an old guitar is very funny.

Jesse_Dylan

Posted August 17, 2015

Jesse_Dylan

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Posted August 17, 2015

This is from my post of June 14th.

 

While at the Homecoming, got to play one of the first Thermallly cured topped J-45s. Hope I am not leaking any confidential info - but this is one flipping fabulous guitar. Does it result in a more "vintage like" Tone?

 

Yep. [thumbup]

 

Gibson has been working for years with the University of Minnesota Duluth (Natural Resource Research Institute / NRRI) in researching and developing the process. Speaking from experience with that NRRI division when I lived in Minnesota, their research, and product development assistance was always considered top-notch. I think we'll be seeing these at 5-Star Dealers this summer. On the factory tour we saw a small amount of Hummingbirds that had also been built using their new proprietory process.

 

If you run across one, play it. But, be prepared to be severly smitten

 

Totally missed that post! I bet one of those Hummingbirds you saw was mine. :) And it sounds like you came to the same conclusion as me, Dan, that, all other things being equal, and not dictating whether something is better/worse/whatever... it does, at least, definitely sound more "vintage-like". :)

 

Still no Hummingbird Vintage 2016s on the YouTube, but I bet we'll start seeing these J-45s at least soon.

 

I made a recording of my Hummingbird tonight. Just need to figure out how to edit the audio file to make it louder (not compress it or anything, just make it overall louder--I had the gain way too low!), and then figure out somewhere I can post it. Guess I should really turn it into a YouTube rough demo or something somehow. I owe it to the internet.

duluthdan

Posted August 17, 2015

duluthdan

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Posted August 17, 2015

I'm sure it's a great guitar. But the concept of spending years of research making a new guitar sound like an old guitar is very funny.

Pure irony, isn't it?

Jesse_Dylan

Posted August 17, 2015

Jesse_Dylan

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Posted August 17, 2015

Back when I thought I was invincible and eternal, the mere thought of "pre-aging" a guitar would have been unthinkable. But now that I'm scared I'll die before any of my guitars ever get old, I feel pretty lucky to have an "old" new guitar!

Motherofpearl

Posted August 17, 2015

Motherofpearl

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Posted August 17, 2015

Jesse you need to start drinking.

blindboygrunt

Posted August 17, 2015

blindboygrunt

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Posted August 17, 2015

Motherofpearl is right

 

You seem to be enjoying the shopping part more than the guitars. That's a very unhealthy place to be. I'm thinking j45 or j15 doesn't matter because as soon as whichever one arrives you'll want something else.

BluesKing777

Posted August 17, 2015

BluesKing777

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Posted August 17, 2015

Motherofpearl is right

 

You seem to be enjoying the shopping part more than the guitars. That's a very unhealthy place to be. I'm thinking j45 or j15 doesn't matter because as soon as whichever one arrives you'll want something else.

 

 

Not a guitar hunter, surely? :mellow:

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

blindboygrunt

Posted August 17, 2015

blindboygrunt

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Posted August 17, 2015

I'm just messing.

But there's usually a honeymoon period with a new guitar. Just doesn't seen to have happened here.

 

And don't call me Shirley

 

 

 

Hey , no offence Jesse. You're just bewildering me a little :)

aerohead

Posted August 17, 2015

aerohead

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Posted August 17, 2015

1439790060[/url]' post='1685779']

Jesse you need to start drinking.

 

Maybe not drinking but something else that is now legal in Colorado.

Boyd

Posted August 17, 2015

Boyd

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Posted August 17, 2015

I'm looking forward to Jesse's "need a less $ backup for my fancy J-45" thread! :D

Jesse_Dylan

Posted August 17, 2015

Jesse_Dylan

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Posted August 17, 2015

I'm just messing.

But there's usually a honeymoon period with a new guitar. Just doesn't seen to have happened here.

 

And don't call me Shirley

 

Hey , no offence Jesse. You're just bewildering me a little :)

 

Y u always gotta take the piss?

 

Okay, well, going with the Honeymoon metaphor, we are on honeymoon right now. It's just that she is busy deciding exactly who my friends are going to be when we come back, who stays and who goes, and we are trying to figure out which of her more simply-dressed, differently-singing but similarly-singing sisters is going to be part of the relationship, too.

 

You got the unhealthy part right, but what part of all this makes you think I'm enjoying it?? I do think I'll be better for it in the long run. I guess the Hummingbird made me realize there is no point in keeping guitars around if I don't play them, and that I can swap and sell as long as my herd stays the same or diminishes rather than increasing. That, and I like it so much, I want another Gibson.

 

I'm looking forward to Jesse's "need a less $ backup for my fancy J-45" thread! :D

 

Yikes!

 

About twice now, I have decided on the J-15, and that's partly the reason. Then I think, yeah, but... what if? If I could just play the dang things...

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