Head to head
Gibson 1952 J-185 Reissue, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst vs Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
The verdict
The Gibson 1952 J-185 Reissue, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst and Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst are closely matched overall — 74 to 74 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson 1952 J-185 Reissue, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst wins on
No standout advantage.
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Lower price ($3,199 vs $5,199)
Scorecard
| Metric | 1952 J-185 Reissue, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 74 | 74 |
| Build | 91 | 91 |
| Playability | 75 | 75 |
| Sound | 60 | 60 |
| Value | 63 | 63 |
Full specifications
| Spec | 1952 J-185 Reissue, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | Flame Maple | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | 20 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | None | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $5,199 | $3,199 |
| Accessories | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Back | Flame Maple | Mahogany |
| Binding | Multi-ply top, multi-ply back | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | Thin Finish Nitrocellulose, VOS | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-185 | J-45 |
| Body Styles | Jumbo | Round Shoulder |
| Bracing | Traditional Hand Scalloped X-bracing, with hide glue | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Bridge | Belly up, holes at rear, open slot | Traditional belly up |
| Bridge Pins | Bone | Tusq |
| Case | Period Correct Case | Hardshell Case |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother-of-pearl Parallelograms | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 20 | 20 |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | CSRS8552VSL | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Nut width | 43.81mm / 1.72in | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Pickguard | J-185 | 50's, Tortoise |
| Profile | V | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | Bone |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Flame maple | Mahogany |
| String gauges | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black | Black |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | Nickel |
| Tuners | Gotoh Keystone | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Under Saddle Pickup | None | LR Baggs VTC |
| Controls | — | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Finish | — | Nickel |
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