Gibson 2019 J45 vs J45 Studio | TFOA 

I just bought a J45 Studio last month. I went in with my mind set on either a Taylor or a Martin. I own a Les Paul and I love it so I'm not sure why I didn't consider Gibson for my acoustic. Anyway... I played several Martins and several Taylors and got to talking with the sales guy about Gibsons and just wondered why they were so expensive. After we talked a while he brought out a J45 Studio. I played it and it sounded really good. The neck was definitely better than the Taylor or Gibson (for my hands anyway). I played the Taylors and Martins and switched between those and the Gibson and ended-up choosing the Gibson. I did have a friend with me for an unbiased critique of the sound differences and he too agreed that the Gibson sounded the best. The sales guy said that particular J45 Studio was the best sounding of all the J45 Studio guitars they had gotten in. The more I play it the more I love it. I primarily finger pick and it is really conducive to that for whatever reason. The electronics are very good too.

The studio aesthetically looks nicer, I like the lighter colors and the visible wood grain, makes the guitar really stand out compared to the standard but the standard sounds sooooo good.

They both sound great. I have a 2020 Les Paul Studio Smokehouse Burst and will be buying a J-45 Studio soon. Perfect pair.

The playing and strumming styles are very different.I've played both models side by side and both great.I really love the attack of the walnut.it's and awesome peice

They're both very nice but I like the bassy depth of the Standard!

Those two J -45's sounded very good together.... a tonally complementary combination

The J45 Studio has a more 60's folk guitar sound which I like. The slightly larger boomier J45 a move bassy blue grass sound.

They sound great and very different, however I think the studio player has a much lighter hand which accounts for a lot of the sound.

Great to read such warm praise about these fabulous Gibson acoustics in the comments.

At the time of this comment they make a studio rosewood as well and it is to die for

I really love all these review vids. I just bought one of these j45 studios. I went in expecting to buy a used j15, Taylor 410 or Martin OM knowing that I couldn't afford a j45, but also knowing it was past time to upgrade my laminate. The j15 was pretty good, the Breedlove OM I played was also good and very comfortable. The couple of Martins I played were decent but, like my current laminate Martin DXM, it was all warmth on the strum but lacking personality and clarity with flat picking and finger picking, honestly boring. Then the guy showed me the j45 studio, which had great action and clarity like the j15 but also WAY better bass resonance and better electronics (both volume and tone control) than the j15. My dream guitar is still a Hummingbird, but I'm super happy with my 45 studio. For what it's worth, I do get to play a j45 standard somewhat regularly. Of course it's great, but the studio's walnut body adds something to my play that I feel is missing with the mahogany's warmth on the standard model. I just hope y'all get something out there that suits your ears, your fingers and your wallets!

I appreciate that they are quite different. But both of them should beautiful (with good ear phones). I'd have to get the studio, and put the remaining cash down as a deposit for a cruise. I get the guitar, the wife gets the holiday.

That sounded awesome 👍🏻 both of them. I’ve got a J-45 Studio headed my way in the mail. Looking forward to playing it for sure.

I prefer the mellow sound of the studio, the slimmer body and lower price also influence me. Nice demo. 👍😷

For awhile I just got caught up in the beautiful guitar playing in this video. You two are fantastic. That's all I can say. Definitely a fan of this channel. This is a solid way (pun intended) to do a j45 review.

Almost sounds like the studio is a little more crisp

No contest, IMO. The Studio sounds okay, but obviously lacking the fullness and richness of the J45 Standard.

The studio is amazing. And played with the standard j 45 they pair together so well. It would be hard to pass up the studio especially for the money. I'm with ya I like the tone of the walnut better.

You guys blend nicely together with two beautiful instruments. I think I need a J-45 Standard

Don't let yourself bother with any of the comments - I myself think, that you both did a very nice job and your playing style suits the most probable customers. I've got the studio and love it, but there is definitively a lack of output (you can hear it very well in this vid) comin' from the studio... at least compared to the standart. But in any live situation (with PA) or in the studio it won't matter. Plus: The slim body compensates any lack of loudness with definition and comfort! Besides: Well done guys! Every information I need in a review is here. Had a lot of fun :) Best wishes from Hamburg, Germany Phil :-)

Another good review guys, you tell the differences and the price, just the things we want to know and, unlike many other reviews you guys don’t talk to much, great, keep it up!

I HAVE A J200 STUDIO….BOUGHT IN 2012, AND AN SJ200 ORIGINAL FROM 2020……I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE STUDIO…ITS OPENED UP BEAUTIFULLY AND ITS BEEN PLUGGED IN 2 NIGHTS A WEEK SINCE 2012. BE PATIENT AND THE SOUND WILL BE GREAT.

The differences in sound work well together too.

Great reviews. What mic are using to amplify them? Cheers, Jim

Mic placement guys! The Standard mic looks like it is pointed more at the sound hole and the studio more on an angle. Anyway.... comparisons like this are useful but much much better if you’re particular about mic placement and the same player plays the same thing the same way on both. Thanks for the effort.

Mahogany/Spruce is magic.

Sound great in that room

I played both of them at Guitar Center every time I visit. I found myself always going back to the Standard. It is definitely worth the extra price but the the Studio is a very beautiful sounding guitar as well. It's all personal preference. Personally I'd rather invest on the Standard just because I own other bright sounding guitars already.

I wish they made a Gibson cologne lol love the smell of the nitrocellulose lacquer along with the fresh wood

Great video! Can you make a "versus" video about the Martin D41 reimaged and the Martin D42 reimaged?

I’m dissatisfied with the current Gibson standard model 😔 a: Grover tuning machine is a not very good precision🤔Why not use GOTOH ? b:Nat and saddle poor quality 😔Why not use bone?🤦‍♂️ I also have 2016 J-45 but I changed a and b.

Actually another very big difference, which is eliminates the "studio" version for me is that it has a 16" fretboard radius, while the J-45 Standard has the traditional Gibson 12" fretboard radius. That is what Gibson's own website, as well as the Sweetwater website say anyway. I notice that your website contradicts this difference. Which is it?

I'm liking the studio. Especially for a plugged in setting.

Please do the Hummingbird studio vs hummingbird standard (rosewood & walnut)

I don't like the thinner body....going in the wrong direction...the walnut is fine for a tonewood but the thinner body equates to thinner sound...the J45 is worth the extra money if you have it...

I simply bought both. I got the Custom with natural top first and then a mint used J-45 Standard today. I preferred the J-45 custom over the J-15

Good video. I'm in the market for a J45, and they both sound great. Liked and subscribed - good to be a part of the Fellowship ☺

The Fellowship of Acoustics has never done a bad video demonstration. They could make a cardboard box sound good.

Cool video thanks for sharing. You should give the last price for each instrument that do a review on. I watched a video on two Martin guitars. You didn't give the list price there either. I will look forward to your next video.

I don’t know if you guys will still see this, but would the J-45 Studio be about the same size as the Taylor 322e? And would you have a personal preference between the Gibson H-44 Studio and the Taylor 322e? Thanks very much. Great video.

I'm thinking that I might go for a Studio purely because I like fingerpicking and the body isn't as deep. I think it'll be more responsive to fingerstyle

Hey could y'all do old Gibson comparison's? Like 1940's Gibson j-45 vs hummingbirds? I own a few old j-45, but have never played a humming bird, or do old banners etc. I love old Gibson's, happy playing!

Cant believe im daying this but im leaning towards the studio.. clearer

The standard just sounds so much richer. At least in the comparison of these two individual guitars.

I have both the J45TV and a J45 Studio Rosewood. The Studio, in Rosewood, is notably brighter than the J45TF. However, the character of the sound is notably different from the players vantage point. When I play it, it's loud, but lacks the full body sound of my J45TV. When I have my friend play it, and I am at a listeners vantage point, the sound does not seem to be that different. If you're considering a Studio, I think Rosewood is the way to go. The Walnut version, to my ears, is not worth the current asking price. Just my thoughts.

Did these prices go way up after covid or what? I cannot find these new for 1500 anywhere

You guys kick ass man! Love the j45 studio I just bought one a couple months ago and I am amazed by this beautiful instrument. The Walnut back and sides just fits my style. And like you said I'm not a big guy so it's very comfortable to play. And the neck width is awesome I like the thickness. Anyways , thanks guys you are wonderful.

You need teh j-45 studio Rosewood!

I’ve just ordered Gibson j45 cutaway it’s a 2018 so I got a great discount from the guys at peach guitars U.K. 😎

Does Gibson make a parlor guitar? Id like something a bit smaller and sweet. BTW Ive owned my J45 since 1964.

Is the depth of the Standard due to mic placement?

Thanks very much for this vid!

From the way it looks the mic could have been placed better for the J-45 Studio. It appears like it is forward of the sound hole. I could be wrong but that is the way it appears. I have seen other videos where the Studio sounded much better.

I want a Standard J-45 but it's just too pricey. The Studio is fine but doesn't sound like a J-45 IMO.

Did you mention the size difference?

Is it just me or does the guy on the right sound like he’s playing softer and with a lighter pick? Also mic placement on the right is a little off. I’ve played the studio and it’s not a quiet guitar

If you are listening this in a good earphones you know the studio is lacking some bass and i think thats why it sounds brighter compare to the standard

J45 sounds better to me. As it should for the price difference. I’ve owned 2 j45’s and was thinking about trying the studio but after seeing this I’ll probably go for another 45 or maybe a southern jumbo

Is the walnut on the studio solid walnut?

I just cant get into walnut as a tonewood.

is the 700 dollars worth it? or should i go with the studio?

Studio all the way

Please don't play the guitars over each other if you are going to do a comparison video. Maybe for an intro do a jam session- but leave the rest of the review with some A to B comparisons please.

Why call it the studio? Mahogany has been proven as the go to studio guitar wood... Either way they both sound 'glassy' and smooth. I love j45's, can't wait to own one. I guess my d18 Ge custom will have to do for now ;)

It’s hard to compare when one guy plays harder than the other.

I have the studio and to me it has a richer sound love it

Nice tone duetting

You mean g 45??

this demo its a fail, the guy with the j45 plays strong and the guy with the studio plays super soft all the time, diferent type of players for do an demo video have no sense..

Standart player have like style as David Gilmour :)

The neck's mahogany -- that's not US grown. Most likely African or maybe Central American.

I have a 2019 Gibson J45 Studio Walburst, and I couldnt be more dissatisfied. Wish I would have never bought it. The sound is just too soft for me. Been playing Guilds and Taylors, and thought I'd go Gibson. Bad choice on my part. Would give it away if I could afford it. I've offer it to people for $1000 and no body who plays it wants it. Again, the sound is very low and soft with no presence. I'm stuck with a $1699 guitar I cant dump for $1000.

Lot of hard reverb in that room.

2 completely different playing styles...... crappy review studio guy did a horrible review ...too bad UPDATE...Returning the Studio model.... in my life...it's worth the extra money to play what makes me happy ..The studio is nice , the Standard ....it's the sound I wanted.... Good Luck in your search..... You can't lose , either one is great

studio sounds thin.

Strum the damn thing!!

Both guitars are played/beat on at the same time. The mic is horrid. It is frustrating seeing all the horribly done guitar reviews/evaluations. First, they want to chat for 90 percent of their video, as though anyone is interested. Then, they do moronic things such as playing two guitars at the same time when the purpose of the video is to compare them.

I avoid all studios like the plague and save up for the standards or deluxes or custom shops but I'll never settle for a Studio model from any manufacturer. I don't skimp on my cars, motorcycles, planes, or with anything in life so why would I settle for a Studio? I'd rather play nothing and wait until I can afford a better model before settling for a Studio. Now if somebody gave me a Studio for free I'd take it sure, but it would be on EBay real quick so I can buy the guitar I really want.

j45 destroyed the fake studio poser guitar

Sounds like sowing on the mountain