Famous Gibson J-45 Guitar Players

The Gibson J-45, often called the “workhorse” of acoustic guitars, was introduced in 1942 as a replacement for the J-35. It became Gibson’s most iconic and widely used model, featuring a sloped-shoulder design distinct from Martin’s dreadnoughts. Known for its sunburst finish, warm bass, and solid projection, it was designed as a durable, no-frills guitar with modest aesthetic touches like dot inlays and single binding. The J-45 initially featured a spruce top and mahogany back and sides.

In 1968, Gibson briefly produced square-shouldered J-45s before returning to the slope-shoulder design in the late 1990s.