Remember these?

[abstamaria]

I am very sorely tempted to get a "standard" J45, which retains the mahogany sides and back, but can't justify a use for it, as we play only pre-Burns Shadows. It would be nice to get a sunburst.

Andy

[GoldenStreet]

Gibson B-45 12-string (there seems to have been one communal Shadows acoustic 12, as used on My Grandfather's Clock, Chelsea Boot, With A Hmm Hmm On My Knee, etc):



This was the favoured instrument of Gordon Lightfoot, distinctive by its square shouldered design, but I recall there were stress problems on the bridge, resulting in a modified version with a trapeze tailpiece (similar to the B-25 12-string).

Bill

[JimN]

The most famous and influential use of the original model of the B-45 was shortly after its 1962 introduction, when the Rooftop Singers used two of them on their worldwide 1963 hit Walk Right In.

The guitars appear to be tuned below concert pitch, as was the usual practice of the day (aimed at reducing tension - but made unnecessary by the later availability of light gauge strings):

[GoldenStreet]

I am very sorely tempted to get a "standard" J45, which retains the mahogany sides and back, but can't justify a use for it, as we play only pre-Burns Shadows. It would be nice to get a sunburst.

Andy

It might not quite fit with the stage symmetry, but is (as with other flattops) a superb instrument for recording. The Shads could never hope to reproduce the authentic "Apache" sound on stage with all electric instrumentation.

Bill

[GoldenStreet]

It was a great sound and almost like a new discovery, at the time, for those not familiar with the recordings of Huddie Ledbetter and his Stella 12-string. I see from the clip that one of the guitars has a trapeze tailpiece.

B45.JPG (14.1 KiB) Viewed 8389 times

Bill

[abstamaria]

It might not quite fit with the stage symmetry, but is (as with other flattops) a superb instrument for recording. The Shads could never hope to reproduce the authentic "Apache" sound on stage with all electric instrumentation.
Bill

Thanks, Bill. I agree. Our rhythm guitarist uses a J200 on stage, probably the only one to do so in these parts for Shadows music. Our earlier rhythm guitarist used an Emily Lou Harris version, a smaller one that fits her petite size better. Everyone else uses an electric.

I was just wondering where we would use a J45. I do want one - maybe if I can sell the Seagull Artist we use as back-up ...

Regards,

Andy

[JimN]

The J-45 is the sound of the mid-sixties Shadows, whether on acoustic rhythm for the "electric" numbers of the period or for things like Little Bitty Tear and The Girl From Ipanema.

JN

[GoldenStreet]

Our earlier rhythm guitarist used an Emily Lou Harris version, a smaller one that fits her petite size better. Everyone else uses an electric.
Andy

I was in Macaris in Charing Cross Road a couple of weeks ago, and for the first time was able to examine an L200 at close quarters. I would imagine the sound quality between that and the J200 is minimal.

Bill

[Patrice]

Hi all,

I just want add (and excuse me Jim if you already said the same thing before !)
One possibility to recognize a pre 1969 J 45 (in sunburst or cherry sunburst finish) or a J 50 (in Blonde finish) is to take a look to the shape of its boby:
Before 1969 its body is "round shouldered dreadnought" and after "Square shouldered dreadnought) like a Martin D shape.
If you add that the cherry sunburst finish on the J 45 appears in 62... (You're the king !)

On the same way, the B 45-12 (top of the twelve strings models) is only made with "round shoulders" during the first year of production : 1961.
As soon as 1962 its body shape is then, and now always : "Square shouldered dreadnought. (Like models used by the Shadows)
In the same time the body of the "little" model B 25-12 has always a shape of : "round shoulders".

For Andy:
About the smaller body size of the Emmylou Harris model owned by your "earlier rhythm guitarist" :
For the "Jumbo" models there are three sizes:
The J 200 = 17 inches wide
The J 185 (introduced in 1951) = 16 inches wide (one inch smaller !)
The Everly Brothers Model (introduced in 1962) = 16 1/4 inches wide...
So I suppose (?) that the Emmylou Harris signature model of your friend is like a J 185 and had (has) a 16 inches body size ?

At least:
There is a REAL curiosity to remark in the film The Young Ones:
Bruce (during Peace Pipe) plays a J 50 (Blonde finish + round shoulders !) "Banner Headstock".
A VERY rare (in this Blonde finish...) Gibson guitar made during the War II.
During the war (1942-1946) Gibson added on the headstock of its guitars a "banner" (a decal) which said : Just a Gibson Is Good Enough"...(!) "Même pas peur "!
The question is : How Bruce was able to play on a so rare guitar in the film ?
Because somebody bought this J 50 in the US during the War II or just after ?
Certainly. But ?

Amitiés à tous
Patrice

[JimN]

Patrice: Bruce told me at Tilburg that his natural finish Gibson used in "The Young Ones" was a J30 rather than a J50. Gibson have just reissued the 1930s J30.

JN