Head to head
Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst vs Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
Acoustic$2,499
No ratings yet74Overall / 100
The verdict
The Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret, 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 J-185 Century 12-Fret, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst wins on
- Lower price ($2,499 vs $3,199)
Gibson J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst wins on
No standout advantage.
Scorecard
| Metric | J-185 Century 12-Fret, 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 | J-185 Century 12-Fret, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst | J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | — | 20 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | — | LR Baggs VTC |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $2,499 | $3,199 |
| Back | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Binding | Single-ply top and back | Multi-ply top, single-ply back |
| Body Finish | Thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | J-185 | J-45 |
| Bridge | Rosewood rectangle | Traditional belly up |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | Tusq |
| Case | Century Series tweed hardshell case | Hardshell Case |
| Finish | Nickel | Nickel |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother-of-pearl dot | Mother-of-pearl dots |
| Fretboard radius | 12 in. | 304.8 mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Joint | Dovetail, 12th fret | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body |
| Model | OCJB8512VSL | OCRS4550VS |
| Nut | Bone | Bone |
| Pickguard | Teardrop, tortoiseshell | 50's, Tortoise |
| Profile | SlimTaper | Rounded |
| Saddle Material | Bone | Bone |
| Scale length | 628.7mm / 24.75in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Side | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012 |
| Top wood | Sitka spruce | Sitka Spruce |
| Tuners | Closed square | Grover Strap Cream Button |
| Accessories | — | Includes Gibson Accessory Kit |
| Body Styles | — | Round Shoulder |
| Bracing | — | Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing |
| Controls | — | Volume and Tone Controls |
| Fret Count | — | 20 |
| Nut width | — | 43.81mm / 1.72in |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | Black |
| Tuner Plating | — | Nickel |
| Under Saddle Pickup | — | LR Baggs VTC |
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