1967 Gibson J-50 Adj

The Gibson J-50 Deluxe is essentially the same as the J-45 Deluxe except the natural finish replaces the J-45’s sunburst finish. Like the J-45, it has a jumbo body with a solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. In 1967, most had an adjustable rosewood bridge, a 14/20-fret rosewood finger board with pearl dot inlay, large black or tortoise pick guard, and full body binding, top and back. And of course it had the huge sound for which vintage Jumbo Gibsons have been famous for decades.

This guitar appears to have serial number 103683 (although it’s double-stamped and hard to read), which dates it as early 1967—fifty-three years of making music. Contrary to what might be expected, there are relatively few cosmetic concerns; there are a number of dings, etc., and substantial crazing throughout the finish (“to let the sound out,” as my luthier says). The pick guard is vintage Gibson tortoise, not the black which had become the norm in 1967. The frets are in very good shape, but there is some slight wear at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd frets—the “cowboy positions” where I play. The most conspicuous cosmetic issue is the replacement of the original sound-deadening adjustable bridge with a semi-moustache J-100 style bridge. The nicely aged binding around the top and bottom is all intact.

Fortunately, there are not any obvious structural issues, with only a single small repaired crack in the top (not distinguishable in the pictures from the finish crazing). The neck looks straight and the neck joint seems solid, the top is flat, the braces are intact (although there seems to have been a repair of the X-brace), and the action is set up at a fast and comfortable 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. The nut is a full 1 5/8”, rather than the narrow 1 ½” nuts of the earlier 1960s. The tuners are vintage open tuners—probably replacements, but there are no previous screw holes visible. There is also an old crack in the grain of the headstock which is solid and was probably glued long ago.

In other words, it looks like what it is: a great Gibson jumbo guitar which has been playing the hard-driving music for which it was made. This guitar is never going to be for a collector to put in a museum; it sounds impressive, but its looks are not cosmetically perfect. However, this is a great player’s guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it hard, well, and often. This guitar will reward such a player with great performances, and it really deserves no less.

The included hard shell case is not original to this guitar, but it is a solid vintage Gibson case. The hinges and latches all work perfectly, and the exterior is remarkably clean and has few torn or worn places. While the interior is worn, there are no stains, and the guitar fits it perfectly. It is an excellent Gibson complement to this vintage Gibson guitar, and naturally it provides great protection for this valuable instrument.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.

Thank you for your interest in this great Gibson guitar.