After nearly 40 years of primarily playing Martin and Martin-style dreadnoughts, I found this 1948 Gibson J-45 at Eric Schoenberg’s shop in Tiburon, California, and promptly fell in love. Its clarity, volume, warmth, and projection make it perfect for playing acoustic gigs as well as playing around the house and in jam sessions. The bass is big but seems to like being amplified by a mic—bassy but not boomy—and it has a fat midrange and clear, rich treble range. It also has a lot of headroom, allowing me to dig in more than I’d probably ever want without breaking up. It’s a “post-Banner era” Gibson with a rectangular bridge, and the neck is substantial without being chunky. Most importantly, it just sounds like me.

1930s Gibson L-50 Orville Johnson demonstrates his unusual Gibson L-50. Read More

1960 Gibson LG-2 A classic Gibson small-body with a cross-continental history. Read More

1930 Gibson Granada Banjo Bill Evans demonstrates his 1930 Gibson Granada banjo. Read More

1944 Martin 000-18 Bluegrass/jazz flatpicker Grant Gordy discusses and demonstrates his vintage Martin. Read More

1956 Martin D-28 Peghead Nation Flatpicking Guitar instructor Scott Nygaard demos his Martin D-28. Read More

National # 102 National expert Marc Schoenberger shows and discusses one of the earliest National guitars, built in 1926. Read More

A. LoPrinzi LR-15 Orville Johnson demonstrates his 1970s dreadnought. Read More

1966 Martin D-28 Guitarist and educator Mark Hanson demonstrates the dreadnought that has been with him for his entire career. Read More

1957 Gibson L-5CES Peghead Nation instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates his rare Gibson electric archtop with a special pickup configuration. Read More

1949 Gibson L-5N Peghead Nation instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates the guitar he uses in his new Western Swing Guitar course. Read More