10 Best Gibson Acoustic Guitars Ever Made ★ Acoustic Tuesday 245 

I have a vintage J-35 that is one of the first 100 pre-production models ever made. It was made in 1932. My Grandfather bought it in 1933 and It is the 64th one made and one of only 4 still in existence according to the Gibson records. One of the things that made the early J-35's so special was the old growth timber that they were made from. It produced a unique sound and tonal quality that you just can't get with a reproduction model made today. It has much in common with the early J-45's which were made about a decade later. I highly recommend getting your hands on an early model J-35 and trying it out. I do not think you'll be disappointed.

My favorite Gibson is my 1936 L-00. My great grandmother bought it for my grandfather as his High School graduation present. It was passed down to my Dad and now on to me. My Dad surprised me with the original pick as well!

I loved the sound of that True Vintage J-200. I thought it stood out. The TV J45 also sounded great!!!! The Keb Mo was solid too!!! I kept waiting for the Hummingbird and or the obvious choice, the J45 Standard. I just got a J45 within the last year. I stands up against my late '80's Martin D35 and J40. I used both of those guitars on a solo album that I just released (Chasing Ghosts in the Dark), but I wish I had the Gibson J45 during those recording sessions. The Martins sound great but I have also developed an ear for the "Gibson" sound. Both are distinctive and each has their own personality. I will have to get more info on the small bodied Gibson's that were prominent on your list. Thanks for the list and always the instruction!!!!!

All amazing guitars Ton, thanks. My favorite Gibson is the Hummingbird my wife gave me many years ago.

I recently played a new Sheryl Crow Country & Western that was just fantastic. I’m not usually a fan of large-bodied Gibsons, but that one was a gem. It did not stay in the shop for long.

Very well done video. Also a lot of fun!

The best acoustic guitar I ever played was owned by my late friend and genius songwriter James Hughes. It was/is a slope-shouldered Dreadnought Gibson acoustic dating from 1942, made I understand in Kalamazoo. It was either a Southern Jumbo or a J-45 (there was some ambiguity because it had double parallelograms on the fretboard). I have played and owned many, many acoustic guitars over the years, including guitars by Martin, Seagull, Maton, Levin, Fylde, Blueridge, Guild, Harmony, Lowden and many other hand-made acoustics from the UK and the USA. But nothing compared to James's slope-shouldered 1942 Dreadnaught. Funnily enough, the closest to it was the Blueridge BG-140 - also a slope-shouldered Dreadnought - a modern replica of the Gibson. The other stand-out guitars for me were one particular small-body Guild and a very special Fylde. The tone of James's Gibson is rich, sweet, complex and unlike so many acoustics, not too bright tonally, especially not the 1st and 2nd (unwound) strings, meaning that when strumming it was just gorgeous.

I have a 2011 Gibson Advanced Jumbo, adi top, rosewood back & sides. Fantastic tone with lots of punch.

'Owned a 1969 Gibson J-200 (maxed out), with "tooled cowhide-looking" hardshell case, "hair-on" "leather", padded inside decor... Dad bought it for me for my band(s) touring, performances & recording...AND, it was my highschool graduation gift from him, in ... 1969. (Not a wealthy family... He paid dearly for it & went into debt for it...). It was my fourth guitar I ever owned. Btw, I started learning to play guitar at age 6 (+ or -)... I told Dad I wanted to play trumpet...next day he comes home from his blue collar job with a $25 junior-sized blond six string for me... so much for my trumpet dreams... But that's ok. It's been "one heck-of-a" ride...with my guitars, .... and other instruments I've mastered(?) over the decades. .... Just sharing with you....

Nice list but no Advanced Jumbo? Dad had the original 1936 model ended up trading it for a birdland, an es355 and about $1000. That was in the '80's before we knew what it would be worth today, lol

I love vintage Gibsons - got a chance to play some when I was (sadly) too young to fully appreciate. My favorite - 1950's J185! But I'm really curious about vintage Gibson "others": Recording King (M5, Carson Robison), Kalamazoo (KHG-11, Senior), etc. I've seen a few of these come along at very reasonable prices. Possible part 2 for this episode??? (I made the comments about Recording King and Kalamazoo before I heard your #1 pick!)

Advanced Jumbo will always be my favorite. Lost mine in a house fire. Recently I checked into replacing it with a new one and they were 5,000 dollars 🤦‍♂️. So that’s one I’ve lost forever I guess. I loved it but not enough to drop 5k on. But let me tell ya…the AJ is one LOUD powerful guitar. Total different animal than other Gibsons. It’s more like a D28 on steroids without all the overtones

I love my j15❤️

Love the list you presented. My dad’s J 45, I gave to my son. I play a ‘65 Gibson TG 25-N tenor. 😉

Just got into Gibson Acoustics thanks for your rundown, I currently have the historic Advanced Jumbo and Historic Humminbird with the historic J-45 Banner incoming tomorrow

best guitar I have ever played was a j45 that I owned in the 60's. I have never heard or played anything that sounded as good and played as easy as that guitar; That goes for any brand. You know we all go into the music shop to try all the brands and over the years must have played thousands and I have been chasing guitars to find one to match that j45 and haven't found it yet.

OK, looks like I’m a month or so late responding to this, but here goes: Good on you for such an eclectic mix. And double good on you for including the Smeck Stage Deluxe. Here is my story. I am a life long Martin fan. I bought my first Martin in the early 60’s at the age of 15, a D-18 from the 40’s with a big hole in the side. My second Martin I bought from John Fahey (it is on the cover of his 6th album). To show you the depth of my brand loyalty, I went on my honeymoon at the age of 21 to Nazareth Pennsylvania, to the Martin factory (staying in an astonished shitty local motel)…Over time, I zeroed in on rosewood Martin OM’s and went through four of them-OM 21, OM 28, Om 28V and finally OM 42, purchased at the factory with Dick Boak selecting the best two from the eight they had in stock, leaving the final choice to me (this was a special deal because I was working on a project with Martin). Anyway, I played that OM-42 faithfully as my dream guitar for 19 years. And then…. I walked into our local vintage guitar shop and there was a 2014 Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe, Adi top, hide glue dovetail joint, 1.8” nut, dark 30’s style sunburst. And so my life long romance with Martin ended that day and dust settled on the OM 42.. There is a long story about the Smecks, as you probably know. Ry Cooder, Jackson Brown and Jerry Jeff Walker all became fans of these old guitars in the 70’s, which were originally Hawaiian guitars with huge 2” nuts, and they talked them up. Walker’s song “This Old Beat Up Guitar” is about a Stage Deluxe he got in a pawn shop. But any original Smeck needed the neck either replaced or cut down to playable dimensions. Seems like Jackson bought every one he could find. Gibson, after coming up with a reissue in 1994 at 100 copies, then (to their sorrow, evidently) contacted Jackson Brown in the 2011 or so and asked him to spec out a signature guitar based on the Smecks. After five years of back and forth and relentless guitar geek micromanaging on Jackson’s part, came up with the signature model in Walnut, with an Adi top, which sold out. They followed up with limited editions in both mahogany and rosewood (Roy Smeck Radio Grande) including the 2014 version that I bought (40 made), whose design was based on an early 1935 original blue print from famous luthier Flip Scipio (used without his permission). Just so you know, the early Smecks are better, with scalloped braces and only two tone bars. Since they were using the same slope shouldered jumbo body that all the j35, J45, J50’s used, but with a 12 fret neck, the bridge, x-braces and sound hole are moved down closer to the center of the lower bout. And the Smecks are about 5” deep with no taper, so the internal air volume is huge. That is why they call those instruments the grand piano of guitars. You can buy an original for abut 8K to 15K depending on condition, but the limited editions like mine are very reasonable in the 2K to 4K range, built from those excellent Scipio 1935 blueprints. I think there are a couple on reverb. They did another limited batch two years later with torrified tops. Is this a long enough post? Anyway, thanks for including the Smecks and they should have been number 1… Keep up the good work.

Great list Tony. I would have to mention my '48 L4, and my '96 J100X Mahogany. Huge voice. Thanks

That Smeck stage deluxe will haunt my sleeping hours. My god what a gorgeous tone emanating from that guitar!

Interesting that 4 models were 12 fretters.... I have a 2017 CS Limited J-45 12 fret that I just love playing and hearing. Great video Mr. T.

Hello sir . I am in awe of your knowledge, your playing, your bravery to speak your opinion knowing you may get kick back Thank you for your channel . I have recently started my collection. Not only Guitars but banjos as well . I started with a 70s Black Dove. I picked up 3 Gibson RB250 Banjos. ( Recently I picked up a Gibson LPO ANY information on the Gibson LPO thoughts or feelings ….. thank you in advance . Ps. I picked 62 instruments since my 15th back surgery…. So now I work on instruments. I picked up a Framus “1960s” love it . Wore out $so I’m working on it now. I’m also a fan of the AD 60 Alvarez and actually picked up 2 Kazou Yairi guitars one old one newer. A couple Taylor’s and Martins. I know there is controversy about Zagar. I received one by “default” My brother bought on a 50 model he called and was so excited of how it played and it’s sound was incredible. After that call I lost him . So I have his guitar and it plays good . I bought an 80 series for 750 and wrote the owner told my story and let me know the last song he played before he put it in the case . Anyway …. Thank you Guitarly yours , DanielCarmack

You made my day when you said Kalamazoo KG11. These things are awesome. I own a '34 and adore it. Those depression era neck profiles.....oh boy.

Great video Tony!

My favorite would be the J45, although I prefer the 1942 Banner Vintage Sunburst. I also like some of the Iris guitars that YOU led me too, including the Iris OGe ( deep body Gibson L-2). Main issue with Gibsons I've played is that the necks are varied and difficult for me to play long. Iris will cut/ shape a neck I can use. Thanks Tony

Hi. Do you guys have any information on the 1998 Gibson "1947 Southern Jumbo."? Thank you

This is kind of a sad story. When I was a little boy about four I played my dad's Gibson J 45 I believe it was a 45. I played it as a teenager and the young adult. The last time I have seen it was around 2000. I'm not sure what year it was but I was born in 65 so the guitar must have been from the early 60s or late 50s. I can't remember it exactly but it had a very narrow neck, almost 1 inch 9/16 th. I can still remember the smell. The guitar was promised to me and when he passed away in 2008 his wife would not give me the guitar, she told me that she was holding on to it to keep out of Harm's Way. This really screwed up my head, I probably aged 10 years and the anger that I had was incredible. I hired a lawyer to send a demand letter unfortunately the letter wasn't that demanding but she was willing to gift me his cameras because I'm a photographer as long as I paid for her legal fees and I told her no if the guitar was not included. I asked her if she would send me photographs of the guitar and if she can give me the serial number so I could purchase one like that but she never did. When I went down to Florida she did give me a banjo and told me I could sell it or throw it away she didn't care but it was a gold star banjo from the '80s. I do have a question, I have I believe it's from 1970, the guitar is a Gibson Bossa Nova and I was wondering if they were rare guitars. I read that only six or seven were found on shipping records. Just curious. Anyway I need to send that in and get it to playing condition.

My favorite Gibson acoustic I have ever played was a Dove. The store had 5 of them in at the moment, and only one of them really sounded amazing the other four sounded like the entry level Yamahas. They also had a SJ-200 that was close. Typically my favorites are the SJ-200, Hummingbird or Dove.

I spent a week at a recording studio\ little witch house in the mountains of Oregon and dropped a Gibson L-00 because the strap broke. Huge chunk of the top and back fell off. Luckily the studio owner (owner of the guitar) wasn't too bummed but oh boy I've never been so scared. He had it beautifully fixed within a few days. I love that guitar.

I think the keb mo spoke to me

My favorite Gibson was a J-200 built in Boseman, purchased new in 1990 from the legendary Heart of Texas Music in Austin. There's quite a story that goes with it, but that's for another day. In a fit of depression/frustration I foolishly sold it in 1996. It was a remarkable guitar.

My personal weakness among Gibson guitars is the 1994-1998 Gospel. It wasn’t expensive. It wasn’t flashy. It even had a laminate back and sides. But they were amazing. Also, I’ve never picked up a Hummingbird that I didn’t like. My wallet hated them!😂 Hence, I don’t have one.

Hea Tony good show as always. A whole 45 min. About that turning 40 , when i was 20 never thought i would make 30, And now just turned 70 {unreal & fast}. Bittersweet week, cant call it champa bay anymore. The sweet side is i have been so depressed my girl suggested i think about getting a new guitar.{thank you lightning}. And since my focus has been on slide guitar, and you mentioned the new Beard lineup i may take a look . Thanks Tony, your friend Guy B. in Ruskin FL.

Really cool vid. Amazing sounds. I have two 70’s Gibsons. With old guitars if you don’t know what to look for, or you are buying online with limited details offered (GC which I do like) a neck reset may be required. Not an easy job and takes some equipment. Deteriorated binding. Wood splits. Buzzing . All kinds of stuff.

Great video... I really loved watching & listening to these outstanding guitar voices, and your take on each of them. Thanks for putting this one out for all us "pickers" out here to relish & enjoy. All the best !!! Keep THIS stuff coming....!!! Can't wait for the next one.

The best sounding guitar I've ever played was a Dove. An early 2000s one. The second best sounding guitar was a Koa J200.

I have one of the new L-00 Original models I got used for $1800, and of all my guitars, it is the one where if something happened to it, I would immediately replace it with an identical guitar. I also have a J-45 TV and was happy to see it show up on the list as well 😊

Ah, I hung in there thinking the Gibson LG1 would defiantly be there. I’m very surprised it’s not. A stunning Gibson in the 1940s-1950s range!

My favorite Gibson is the j-45 that I own. Nice action and the tone you think of when you think of acoustic guitar.

All time fav so far is my 2011 Maple J-185, best sounding Gibson i’ve played so far. Surprised me when i played it because Maple was the last thing i would have thought would appeal to me, since i was on the hunt for a J-45 at the time and was disheartened by the ones i was playing, my buddy owned the guitar shop and after playing 8 different J-45’s, he brought me the 185, and i was like no,no,no, i thought Maple would be too bright, he said just try it, so i did, and my other friend i was with, whipped around, and was like, what is that! Lol, then he wanted to play it! and we both had to agree, it was the best of the bunch i played, so much for not wanting Maple 🤷🏻‍♂️ Cheers!

I've heard the Roy Smeck is quite amazing (although I've never played one here Downunder - yet alone seen one)

Enjoy the act show. Just hard to believe no mention of a humming bird ,true the sound is not as twangy live but it's one of the most preferred recording guitars.

I think the Collings Waterloo line sound comes close to the old small body Gibsons, but it seems they dropped production during the pandemic. Word was that many of their workers left after taking advantage of the real estate boom in Austin. Hopefully they will restart at some point.

I have a Gibson Hummingbird 12 string 2017. Gibson only made 200 'bird 12s and the 'bird Cherry Burst has always been too gaudy for my taste, and I was lucky enough to score one in Historic Burst, a more aesthetically acceptable finish for me. All hardware is gold. It sounds enormous, full bodied, very woody and articulates bass, mid and treble tones with clarity and punch. Easily beats my 12 string Martin Shenandoah on its home ground.

I always loved your Sothern Jumbo so I hope it made the list... Might not be your top pick, but It's gotta be up there. Yep, it is on there.

Ok .. being serious now can you recommend a good modern year SJ that checks almost all the right spec boxes. I really want an SJ for the neck profile but have no clue which ones I should be trying out... I big fan of the blonde SJ's and found S200 blondes but they are little too flashy for my tastes. Do they make an SJ in Wine Red??

P.S., I appreciate what you do. I have played guitar for years and I enjoy your channel. If you haven't, please take a week to work on using the "pinky" of the left hand. I am trying to emphasize the need to develop the little finger to my 12 year old grandson and he will not yet consider it.

My 2020 Southern Jumbo is fabulous, not True Vintage but sounded better than the TV model in the shop. The only instrument that gets me to put down my Martins!

Hello Tony, I heard that you read one of my comments a while back, thanks. This week the time was perfect for my morning walk. Thanks again. REMEMBER, the state motto of Nebraska, "it isn't for everybody "

What is the song at 9:05?

I’ve got a 30s Kalamazoo 59 country and western. These are the only Gibsons I have, but will Someday get myself a nice newer jumbo. I just can’t get away from Martins long enough to do it. My Hd-28 and d-16 are just a dream to play and sound amazing too. Heck I’ve got a 70s Japanese handmade Alvarez that sounds as good as my Martins! But there’s something about the sound of a Gibson acoustic on some songs that really brings it together too. Okay, yes, I too like them all but also, cannot afford them all!

wow. and, whoa. so many cool guitars I've never even heard of 👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺

These comparisons are fun, but I don’t know how you can compare a J200 to a J45 and then to an L-00. They are such different guitars.

I have a miniature Gibson guitar I have had it for the last25 Years. And on the back of it has numbers on it It is so cute💝

When I hear "Gibson Acoustic Guitar" the first thing I actually think of is, "Broken Headstocks." ;) MANY years ago, I was interested in buying a Gibson guitar and asked a guitar tech about them, he said, "There are two types of Gibson acoustic guitars, those that have had a broken headstock and those that are GOING to have a broken headstock!" I bought my Hummingbird anyway!! It is my gig guitar and has had a broken headstock twice (so far). It takes almost nothing as far as an impact to break the headstock due to the lack of any reinforcement at the neck/headstock joint. TBF, the Martin D35 has the same construction (unlike the 18/28/41/42/45) and the same propensity to break if it falls off its stand or whatever. If you gig a lot, there's a good chance that at some point a guitar is going to fall off a stand, drop off your shoulder because the strap popped loose, bang into something while you are performing, etc. My Hummingbird fell off/was knocked off its stand twice and broke the headstock (in different places) both times. Fortunately, a broken headstock is a pretty easy repair for a tech and the guitar was back "on the road" in each case a couple of days later. FWIW, I recently looked at some new Gibson J45's at Guitar Center. I thought they sounded inferior to other brands of guitars of the same style/class/price range hanging next to them - primarily Martins and Taylors. So I really suggest NOT buying a Gibson that you haven't played first. OR, if you order one, be sure it can be returned if you don't care for the sound. Of course, that's good advice for any guitar brand, though Taylor is probably the closest in consistency from instrument to instrument in the same model. Whether that's good or bad depends on whether you like the Taylor sound! ;)

12 fret Southern Jumbo, one of the reproductions using old woods

I love my L-00 Deluxe And my songwriterBut believe it or not the best sounding and fun guitar is my Gibson gospel Reissue 1993. She has the ability to be played in any style . The arch back is laminated believe it or not. I will match her tone to any other guitar.The Gibson Gospel is definitely a sleeper. Oh and the cheapest Gibson I own. Only guitar I play more than the gospel is my Thompson Cuban mahogany back and sides dreadnought Which might just be for sale at the right price.

Number 3 . I pic that one ☝️. Love that sound ❤

I think the current equivalent to the true vintage is the custom shop historic collection

1942 banner j45 re issue? just got one!

So no vintage j50 which is affordable in comparison to j45’s?

Thoughts on the re-issue of the Gibson Gospel

If I (or any regular person) could afford one, I'd buy a Nick Lucas. Hands down the best incomparable guitar Gibson ever made. If someone could capture 95% of that tone in a modern guitar, I'd be all over it. My second would be a Roy Smeck. The best I've heard were converted from squarenecks. Then the J200 and J45, then the Dove and Hummingbird (assuming one can find one that doesn't sound like crap; lots of dull ones).

LOVE my Southern Jumbo.

half of these guitars sound like plywood cigar box guitars. Play a 1963 or 1964 b25. A student guitar. sounds fantastic! I still have my first acoustic a 1963 B26 Natural. still sounds fantastic against most small body guitars of any manufacture.

I'm kinda fond of my Hummingbird Mahogany avant garde

Advanced Jumbo, L series, Nick Lucas and I'm set.

Gibson like Martins each have a unique sound that blindfolded I can tell if it’s one or the other. Other nice playing guitars like Taylor, and others with the exception of Bourgeois don’t have a distinctive and unique sound. So meh to Taylor. I own two Martins and a 90s Montana Gibson J-160. I’d love to add a J-45 to my herd. I’ve owned the J-160for a decade and I’ve plugged it in fewer than 10 times.

Hmm... No Arch-tops/carved-tops...??? What's with that? Gibson literally invented the f-style models for the rest of the world to emulate!

Would never give you a hard time over something you haven’t heard. Nebraska is one of those albums that might be too dark for some. Inspired me to write better songs. His 2005 album Devils and Dust might be a little more your style. Has some more uplifting tunes. With much love.

I like the LG-2

Surprised you didnt have a Hummingbird on your list

My Dove blows these away, no contest!

J 29 is a great guitar

hard to believe you omitted the best Gibson acoustic ever made. Or, perhaps it's the only one I have ever owned - the Gibson B-15. mine is ~1966

No love for the Hummingbird?

ugh. Which gibson are you being told to sell now?

My Hummingbird is one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played.

Speaking of grammar - it’s FEWER problems- not LESS problems 👍

Modern day Faded Series Hummingbird

Hummingbird roy orbison had one

I’m sad there’s no LG-2 on the list

How about a C-0 CLASSIC (1967 or 1968) ??? made in Kalamazoo...

Like my Gibson J 160 1973 or 74.

Is one of them the CEO-7? 😝

This was great! Any plans on doing this with other brands (Guild, Martin, Taylor...) unless you've done it already?

Gibson 12 fret

b25 natural

no late 50s (slope shoulder) Country Western? HMMM sir, HMM

um, I can't see the purpose of ranking reissue model guitars when the originals were and remain vastly superior. you also forgot to mention the L-5 which is probably the most important and influential guitar Gibson ever made.

I doubt I'll ever own another Gibson. I don't rate their quality at all on electric guitars and whilst I've never owned a Gibson acoustic they always seem to look fantastic but sound pretty average compared to others for a similar or often lower price which I'd wager again is often a build quality issue. iconic yes but I'll stay away

Gibson custom shop commercial. If $8000 is your upper limit, you can afford a "true" vintage 50's J45 , SJ , or Country Western, in some cases even a J35.

51 j-50

Here is the man Nat Myers gettin after it on his KG-11 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ia7x_sTghX0.html in case you want to hear somebody really play one.

Bang bang butter milk 🥛 pick

Have you ever looked at any Walden guitars? I have their B1E and G3030RCE, and I have to say I think they are fantastic. Especially when considering the value you're getting for the price. Would love to hear your perspective on them.

solidarity with the women of the US - a woman's right to choose

Had a '57 Gibson Southern Jumbo. Traded it. Stupid!!!

How could they have the audacity to make a modern "Banner" J45? The real ones were only made during WWII. "ONLY A GIBSON IS GOOD ENOUGH."

I saw something from four years ago suggesting Gibson had had a couple of company take-overs. Are they OK now? I sincerely hope so.

$1,000.00 > $10,000 ?? Hardly based in reality. For this price range you are better off buying a good used car that can get you and your Fender acoustic to and from jam sessions