wood&nickel
New member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH-UcAQlHWg&ab_channel=AcousticLetter
As played by Tony Polecaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R8y__bfRqE&ab_channel=TheFellowshipofAcoustics
Tom Williams - Oh Boy (Live in Plaxtol Church). A real banner J-45 in action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9Q_HP9ZWc&ab_channel=TomWilliams
A real Gibson J-45 1942 Banner was used to record this track: America the beautiful by Lauren Sheehan
https://open.spotify.com/track/4IpNyYltFN6pxZGK54dDp1?si=49ceecf520044b03
Custom shop series - Prof John Thomas influenced
Condition: Almost mint, almost like new
The most accurate J45 1942 banner that gibson reissued
Asking $3800 (A steal!)
Sms Nine 7 eight I 8 eight O 0
http://kalamazoogals.com/
Adirondack spruce top
Beautiful teardrop sunburst finish - ultra thin ‘McFadden’ nitrocellulose finish
Hide glue construction
Premium Honduran mahogany back & sides
Fat, round neck carve inspired by a 1942 J-45
Cut-through bone saddle
Bone nut
Wide X-bracing
1.75" nut width
24.9" Scale length
This guitar is a faithful reproduction of a 1942 Gibson J-45 FON 923-45. Produced with a limited number of 20 in 2013, it was released to conjunction with the publishing of a book called Kalamazoo Gals. Written by Professor John Thomas, the book was a culmination of 6 years of research, interviews with those involved and forensic level investigation into a period in the history of Gibson guitars that had been mis-represented up to this point.
Following the USA’s entry into the Second World War in 1941, young and able bodied men were conscripted into the army and manufacturing was moved over to aiding the war effort. Gibson played its part by constructing airplane wings, machine gun parts and radio equipment. The consensus was that either Gibson only produced a handful of instruments or none at all during this time.
In the early 2000s, Professor Thomas stumbled upon a photograph taken in the mid-40’s of a group of 70 women in front of the Gibson factory. His interest peeked, this lead him to discovering the true story of the ‘Banner’ guitars, produced between 1942 and 1946. These guitars are referred to as such due to the banner decal that adorns the headstock with Gibsons motto of ‘Only a Gibson will do’.
Through access to shipping logs, Prof Thomas discovered that 25,000 guitars were in fact shipped in this period, 9,000 of which were flattops. These were built by a mainly female workforce who had no prior training but who produced some of the finest instruments to leave Kalamazoo. This guitar is a tribute to these ladies and their work.
This guitar is exquisite. The ultra thin ‘McFadden’ nitrocellulose finish gives the guitar a vintage feel which will age well over time. The sunburst looks great and really captures the look of the original, showcasing the Adirondack Spruce top (noted for its stiffness and resonance and commonly used in manufacturing during the pre-war period).
The back and sides are premium Honduran Mahogany as is the neck. Fretboard is a wonderful dark rosewood, fitted with period correct frets. Under the hood guitar boasts spruce x-braced, hide glue construction.
As played by Tony Polecaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R8y__bfRqE&ab_channel=TheFellowshipofAcoustics
Tom Williams - Oh Boy (Live in Plaxtol Church). A real banner J-45 in action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9Q_HP9ZWc&ab_channel=TomWilliams
A real Gibson J-45 1942 Banner was used to record this track: America the beautiful by Lauren Sheehan
https://open.spotify.com/track/4IpNyYltFN6pxZGK54dDp1?si=49ceecf520044b03
Custom shop series - Prof John Thomas influenced
Condition: Almost mint, almost like new
The most accurate J45 1942 banner that gibson reissued
Asking $3800 (A steal!)
Sms Nine 7 eight I 8 eight O 0
http://kalamazoogals.com/
Adirondack spruce top
Beautiful teardrop sunburst finish - ultra thin ‘McFadden’ nitrocellulose finish
Hide glue construction
Premium Honduran mahogany back & sides
Fat, round neck carve inspired by a 1942 J-45
Cut-through bone saddle
Bone nut
Wide X-bracing
1.75" nut width
24.9" Scale length
This guitar is a faithful reproduction of a 1942 Gibson J-45 FON 923-45. Produced with a limited number of 20 in 2013, it was released to conjunction with the publishing of a book called Kalamazoo Gals. Written by Professor John Thomas, the book was a culmination of 6 years of research, interviews with those involved and forensic level investigation into a period in the history of Gibson guitars that had been mis-represented up to this point.
Following the USA’s entry into the Second World War in 1941, young and able bodied men were conscripted into the army and manufacturing was moved over to aiding the war effort. Gibson played its part by constructing airplane wings, machine gun parts and radio equipment. The consensus was that either Gibson only produced a handful of instruments or none at all during this time.
In the early 2000s, Professor Thomas stumbled upon a photograph taken in the mid-40’s of a group of 70 women in front of the Gibson factory. His interest peeked, this lead him to discovering the true story of the ‘Banner’ guitars, produced between 1942 and 1946. These guitars are referred to as such due to the banner decal that adorns the headstock with Gibsons motto of ‘Only a Gibson will do’.
Through access to shipping logs, Prof Thomas discovered that 25,000 guitars were in fact shipped in this period, 9,000 of which were flattops. These were built by a mainly female workforce who had no prior training but who produced some of the finest instruments to leave Kalamazoo. This guitar is a tribute to these ladies and their work.
This guitar is exquisite. The ultra thin ‘McFadden’ nitrocellulose finish gives the guitar a vintage feel which will age well over time. The sunburst looks great and really captures the look of the original, showcasing the Adirondack Spruce top (noted for its stiffness and resonance and commonly used in manufacturing during the pre-war period).
The back and sides are premium Honduran Mahogany as is the neck. Fretboard is a wonderful dark rosewood, fitted with period correct frets. Under the hood guitar boasts spruce x-braced, hide glue construction.
Last edited:
