VINTAGE BENCH TEST 1963 GIBSON J-50

Over the years, Gibson’s more spartan designs have often proven more popular than its top-of-the-range bling machines. Les Paul Standards are generally preferred to Customs, the simplicity of the ES-335 has greater appeal than the ES-345 and ES-355, and so it is with the J-45 and J-50 acoustics.

In the case of the aforementioned electric guitars, there were significant structural, stylistic and electronic differences within the range. But the only feature that distinguishes a J-50 from a J-45 is the former’s natural finish. It takes longer to spray a sunburst, of course, but maybe Gibson was able to hide the