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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:06 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:58 am
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It's a '46 or '47.

No banner is the giveaway. '45 or older had a banner, and in '48 they went to the block-ish script. Pre-banner had an even thinner/older-looking script.

These are usually -very- good guitars...


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:22 pm 
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I love the way that looks ..... all played in and worn ...

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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:23 pm 
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Look at the second pic with the bridge. Is that Jerry in the pick guard?

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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:52 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:13 am
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Location: Caves Beach, Australia
pre '48 logo, 46 or later from lack of banner
Klusons introduced '47
Narrows it down to '47 or thereabouts


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:19 pm 
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Location: Southeast US
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Not sure about the year but I sure wish the one in my shop looked as good.

Got a chance to play a '47 or '48 at Gruhn's last month and it was a real nice sounding guitar. They let me measure and photograph it to my hearts content. Even got a chance to talk to George Gruhn for a while - great folks.

This one was rode hard and put up wet - more than once.
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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:54 pm 
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Koa
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The original bridge height is exactly 1/4", so if that's where it is, DO NOT change it. Many folks have mistakenly replaced these bridges with taller ones after a neck reset, thinking that the bridge had surely been shaved down, but that's not the case. These guitars had a zero neck angle; fretboard thickness plus fret height was again, exactly 1/4"(measured at the crown of the radius), so a straight edge would shoot straight to the top of the bridge. Don't give-in to the temptation to over-set it.... If it has .200" of saddle out of the bridge, its good to go with just a little saddle shaving, or better yet, the re-fret may take care of the action on its own(newer frets are taller, thus lowering the action; something obvious, but not always taken into account when estimating the extent of the repairs).

These guitars are what I cut my teeth on; for some reason, my area is littered with '46-'47 Gibsons.... I have a deep appreciation for them, for they taught me a lot!


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:14 am 
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Koa
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sorry, what is the meaning of EOY?????


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 6:37 am 
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Herr Dalbergia wrote:
sorry, what is the meaning of EOY?????

End of Year

Glenn


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:24 am 
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Todd, as you can I need to build a bridge for that J45 I'm working on, having trouble finding dimensions (I should have measured that at Gruhns but didn't). Since the experts think that one is a '49 it should have a bridge like yours. Can you give me width and length of the bridge and string spacing at the saddle? I haven't been able to find these on the web. Thanks.

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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:29 am 
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15/16" wide, 1/4" tall, 6" long. 3-1/4" between the wings. 2-1/8" center-to-center string spread.


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:46 am 
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grumpy wrote:
15/16" wide, 1/4" tall, 6" long. 3-1/4" between the wings. 2-1/8" center-to-center string spread.


Thanks!

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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 12:23 pm 
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..i dated two J-45s, one right out of college, and one about 5 years ago that i met online. they were both CRAZY- stay away! (real good cooks though)


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 12:26 pm 
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Koa
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Casey Cochran wrote:
Look at the second pic with the bridge. Is that Jerry in the pick guard?


Ya know...I think you're right laughing6-hehe


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 Post subject: Re: Dating a J-45
PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:07 pm 
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Koa
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First name: Greg
Last Name: B
City: Los Angeles
State: California
Quote:
Update: Resorcinol used to repair sides and neck block while neck still on...soooo...really fun neck removal.


Out of curiosity, how did you manage that? Did the heat from the steam eventually loosen it?

Count me in the J-45/50 fan club. Some of those things sound crazy good.


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