Gibson Acoustic

The Gibson B-45-12 model guitars were created in 1961 as a response to the boom in acoustic bands of the 1960s and discontinued in 1979 during one of Gibson's ownership changes. As with many of Gibson’s models, there are variations in the specs over the 18 years of production, but the bottom line remained the same: it was and is essentially a 12-string J-45, a big guitar designed to hold its own and more against the banjo and fiddle players of  the world. This wonderful veteran of the bluegrass and folk wars is ready to dominate once again.

The general description in The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars of the 1970 B-45-12 indicates a solid spruce top, tortoise pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, rosewood bridge with an adjustable saddle and a trapeze tailpiece, blackface peghead with the pearl split-diamond inlay and logo, six-per-side nickel tuners, and multi-stripe body binding and rosette, all set off in this case by the Sunburst finish. However, variations in these specs were frequent, and given the occasional unreliability of Gibson’s serial numbers as dating indicators, the date I’ve assigned to this great old guitar is based as much on the changing specs as on the serial number (901353). However, I suspect that if it's a 1970, it's early in that year because there's no "Made in USA" impressed on the back of the headstock.

This guitar has been re-conditioned to make it a great-playing guitar, but given its age I cannot swear that all of its components are “original” after 40+ years. However, the cool nickel-silver tuning machines are part of the original package and show no signs of replacement, and of course what really matters is the wood, which has seasoned and opened up for four decades of making music. This is a large-bodied dreadnought guitar, easier to handle than a 17-inch jumbo, but with terrific resonance and a big sound which will overwhelm the rather muddy sound of most modern jumbos.

Cosmetically, the mahogany back, sides, and neck are in very good condition for a 40-year-old guitar, other than the usual finish crazing. The frets are in good shape, the headstock and other inlay is still near perfect, and the bridge is solid. There have been two cracks repaired in the top on either side of the fretboard extension, visible in the picture 12. They were glued and cleated long ago, and they are completely stable but admittedly kinda ugly. Several braces may have been re-glued as part of the previous restoration, but the neck is solid and straight. The action is now reasonably low—especially for a 12-string—at just over 3/32” at the 12th fret, and of course the sound is terrific! Big, full bass, trebles clear as a bell, everything resonating, filling the room!

So: this is your chance to own a great-sounding Gibson 12-string guitar with tons of character and jam cred with all the work already done and the professionally healed scars to prove it. It’s not a museum piece; it’s not prettied up with abalone and such; but it’s a great player’s guitar, embodying everything that the name Gibson has stood for over the last century or so.

The case is not original, but it is a solid hard shell case in reasonably good shape. Two hinges have been replaced with non-matching brass, but the hardware works, the plush is soft and fuzzy, the tolex has only a few minor dings and bruises, and the case offers this classic instrument excellent protection.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $50 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was somehow misrepresented in this listing. Please ask any questions you might have before bidding.

Good luck!