J-45 Orville Artisan 130th Anniversary Limited Edition Ebony
Ornately inlaid J-45 finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, Ebony-finished solid Sitka spruce top with Unitone-finished solid mahogany back and sides, SlimTaper mahogany neck with ebony fretboard
Celebrating 130 Years of Artistry
Gibson Gazette: Read More about the J-45 Orville Artisan 130th Anniversary Limited Edition here.The Gibson Custom J-45™ Orville Artisan 130th Anniversary Limited Edition celebrates 130 years of Gibson with elegant inlays on an iconic Gibson model. These inlays were inspired by some of the early harp guitar designs made by Orville Gibson, the founder of Gibson. This guitar commemorates a longstanding tradition of artistry that has existed since the beginning. This limited-edition J-45 features mother-of-pearl and abalone “Harp Lady” inlays throughout the fingerboard and headstock. Some of Orville Gibson’s early harp guitars were finished in a similar colorway with an Ebony-finished top and Unitone back and sides. This limited-edition guitar is an elegant piece that represents one of the most legendary names in guitar design.
The Gibson J-45 was first released in 1942 and later became known as "The Workhorse” of acoustic guitars due to its utilitarian approach. With its round-shoulder design and 24.75” scale length, the J-45 has since been used for everything from early country-western to modern pop music. The classic combination of a spruce top with mahogany back and sides makes for a well-balanced instrument that fits neatly underneath a singer’s voice. The J-45 is one of the most recorded acoustic guitars in history, so it’s only fitting that 130 years of Gibson is celebrated with a version of this iconic model that displays extremely complex inlay work that was inspired by some of Orville Gibson’s earliest instruments.
While the J-45 usually has simple details like dot inlays on an unbound fretboard, this 130th Anniversary J-45 is much more ornate. Patience is required from skilled artisans due to the sheer amount of detailed work that is needed in each one of these works of art. Crafted at the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana, this guitar features delicate inlay work throughout the instrument. From the small details in the ebony bridge to the complex inlay work on the fingerboard, no stone is left unturned. The fingerboard inlay gets its “Harp Lady” name from the inlay designs used on early harp guitars made by Orville Gibson. Complex inlays continue throughout the headstock with the extended “Harp Lady” design, an abalone Gibson logo, and an abalone border around the bound headstock. The pickguard features an inlaid abalone border with a unique “130” inlay displayed on the corner of the pickguard. A mother-of-pearl truss rod cover, engraved “Anniversary” in script font, covers the adjustable truss rod on the front of the headstock. To complete the anniversary details, a special 130th Anniversary label is placed in the sound hole.
Mixing inlay designs from early Orville Gibson-crafted harp guitars with the iconic J-45 creates a unique piece of Gibson history. This limited-edition Gibson Custom J-45 Orville Artisan 130th Anniversary celebrates 130 years of making some of the most iconic guitars in the world. This guitar comes with a deluxe hardshell case and a Gibson 130th Anniversary Certificate of Authenticity.
Key Features:
Limited Edition of 30, Each Guitar Individually Numbered on Sound Hole Label
Harp Lady Fretboard and Headstock Inlays
Ebony-Finished Top
Unitone-Finished Back and Sides
Over 100 Pieces of Shell Inlay Across the Fretboard and Peghead
Body Style
Round Shoulder
Body Shape
J-45
Top
Sitka Spruce
Back
Mahogany
Side
Mahogany
Bracing
Traditional Hand-scalloped X-bracing
Binding
Multi-ply Top and Back, Single Ply Fretboard and Headstock
Body Finish
Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Profile
SlimTaper
Scale Length
628.65 mm / 24.75 in
Fingerboard Material
Ebony
Fingerboard Radius
304.8 mm / 12 in
Neck Material
Mahogany
Fret Count
20
Frets
Standard
Nut Material
Bone
Nut Width
43.815 mm / 1.725 in
Inlays
Harp Lady in Abalone and Mother of Pearl
Joint
Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body, Hide Glue Set
Finish
Gold
Bridge
Traditional Belly Up; Ebony with 130th Anniversary Abalone and Mother of Pearl Inlays on Wings
Saddle Material
Bone
Tuning Machines
Waverly Open Back
Pickguard
Tear Drop; Agoya Pearl Shell with Abalone "130" Inlay and Border
Truss Rod
Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover
Mother of Pearl; Engraved "Anniversary"
Bridge Pins
Cream TUSQ with Abalone Dot
Strap Buttons
Gold End Pin
Strings Gauge
.012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053
Case
Gibson Custom Deluxe Hardshell
Accessories
Certificate of Authenticity