This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us.
 
Here for sale we have a beautiful Gibson J-185 Jumbo electro-acoustic guitar in Antique Natural finish. The J-185 was originally released in the early '50s as a slimmed down version of the SJ-200, appealing to players who couldn't get on with the huge stature of the Super Jumbo body, but also gaining a cult following thanks to its unique tonal characteristics. Indeed, the J-185 was the basis for the Everly Brothers signature model which is very highly regarded. This example was made in the USA in 1998, and features an all-solid construction comprising a Sitka Spruce top, Flamed Maple back and sides, Mahogany neck and 20 fret Rosewood fingerboard with matching bridge. A Bone saddle and nut are fitted, along with a set of Gold Gibson Deluxe tuning machines with 'Keystone' buttons. An undersaddle piezo pickup is installed and wired to a direct output. 
 
The Mahogany neck plays very well, with the Slim Taper profile feeling somewhat like a 'D' shape thanks to slightly broader shoulders than is typical for a 'C' shape. This provides a smooth and responsive playing experience across the register whilst facilitating easy reach in any fingerboard position. The Rosewood of the fretboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with its traditional 12" radius is practical for a wide range of playing styles and techniques. The Split Parallelogram inlays are a nice touch, which along with the purfling, Tortoise Shell pickguard and handsome bridge inlays add a sense of luxury to the playing experience which is very inspiring in the hands. 
 
The acoustic voice of the Gibson J-185 is rich and well balanced. The Jumbo body shape is generally thought of as a loud strummer, with a strong bass response thanks to its large stature. The J-185 being slimmer and smaller delivers a smooth and even response across the frequency range, making it appropriate for fingerstyle playing whilst delivering a strumming tone which is distinct from its larger Gibson jumbos. There is ample low end for powerful sounding chords, as well as a broad and clear mid range and snappy bright top end thanks to the Flamed Maple back and sides. The addition of a direct output undersaddle piezo provides the versatility for live and recording situations and makes the instrument practical in many musical settings. 
 
This guitar is a commission sale - if you have a high end guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us.
 
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.