Gibson J-45 vs Southern Jumbo - What's the Difference?

[@HighColorado]

ALWAYS puts a smile on my face when I see you guys discussing Gibsons, puts a great BIG smile on my face when they are J45 involved vids!

[@svenklabunde]

I like the sounds of both of them. But the SJ is just beautiful. I especially like the the open tuners.

[@texhaines9957]

Just FYI: in 1942, the Southern Jumbo had a Brazilian Rosewood back and sides with red spruce (aka Adirondack Spruce from the Michigan upper Peninsula). Gibson introduced a 1942 Banner version remake on 2019. Thanks

[@texhaines9957]

I would like the J45, but my son likes the Southern Jumbo! Is the neck profile a little different? I thought so. Thanks,Quinton and Paul

[@mongooseman6717]

In 1965 mine was called the southerner jumbo. It was a drednaught shape with mahogany back. Same pickguard shape as the hummingbird in a sunburst, they had an adjustable bridge at the time.

[@mikkeljulius7313]

They are very alike. But look closely at the angle from bridge pins to bridge. The distance from pin to bridge is narrower on the SJ than on the J-45. Does it make a tonal difference? Maybe, I think.

[@patricklundquist9869]

That is a great catch. Seems like the more acute break angle on the J-45 should create just a hair more down pressure on the saddle.

[@bluetrain477]

It is difficult for me to distinguish the sound on KZbin, even with headphones, but I’m sure it sounds much different live. I was lucky enough to play a j45, j50 and southern jumbo at a shop and the southern jumbo was the clear winner of this specific batch

[@roytube10]

great reveiw. you guys summed it up, basically everything is gonna sound and feel the way each person interprets.

[@strumminandwrenchin9162]

I had a J45 standard as well! But I sold it for a J160E. Now I want a SJ!

[@davidohara6515]

Thanks for the demo. I would like to get hold of either , having tried Taylor and Martin's and a few others, but the one time I tried a j45 it was way quiet , like whispering! The demo was great.looks like more listening is required! Thanks.

[@Gratefulman1965]

I own a 50’s original series J-50. J-45 J-50 SJ. Cosmetic differences only. If I missed a key spec difference please let me know. I love my J-50. Thanks for this guys.🎶

[@andrewhumphrey1047]

There are a key few differences that translate to the tone. Neck is a slim taper like the J45 standard. The main difference other than the bling is the placement of the bridge pins relative to the saddle. It is different and creates a steeper break angle for a quicker tone snap.

[@rzh3443]

My 2015 Sheryl Crow model has an Adirondack top, Waverly tuners and slightly forward shifted bracing ( I think a bit more bass results).

[@rider132]

These are great guitars. I have the model 1 from 2012. Didn’t realize how special they were at the time

[@jjmuni]

Bit like the difference between a ES- 335 and a 345. My Sheryl Crow SJ has a slightly thicker body. So now the comparison between J and AJ pleas.

[@muzikchic555]

Just got my SJ. Such a beautiful even tone and gorgeous looking

[@SamHollidayV]

How she playin?

[@muzikchic555]

@@SamHollidayV dreamy!

[@davidbickle3339]

Love my SJ. It is a wonderful guitar. Thank you Music Villa!

[@andrewhumphrey1047]

Id be all in on the SJ with the 50's shaped neck.

[@uvp5000]

Between these two instruments, I like the sound of the J-45 better than the Southern Jumbo. The bass response is more pronounced and it has that "smiley face" EQ a little better than the SJ. The SJ does have a nicer high-end response. Whenever I decide to purchase a guitar, my criteria are pretty much what Quinto articulated - the sound, and feel in the hands.

[@jonathanhorne6503]

I like the J-45 on first listen. Both very nice and would well serve anyone. I own a 90s Montana Gibson J-160e and it sounds wonderful. These have the solid top and X bracing not like the flat/dead sounding 60s vintage. I’d put it up next to any modern J-45 or its more expensive brother. I wish you would do an occasional production run of them

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

I contacted Gibson on the j-160e models and they said they are no longer in production and that if anyone wants one, they would have to have it on special order.

[@texhaines9957]

Then there is a Eastman E22 with looks similar to the J45. That's a different comparison.

[@patricklundquist9869]

I searched out this comparison to see what was so special about the SJ. I'd owned other Gibson guitars (Les Paul and 335) but never bonded with one until I acquired a J-45 less than a year ago. I have other high-end acoustic guitars that are starting to gather dust because I just can't put this thing down. You are correct about each J-45 or Southern Jumbo sounding different because my guitar sounds better than either of yours...😁

[@davidohara6515]

Nice . Been looking at a j45 but over here they're kind of expensive! Way expensive! Got a j29 coming ( used ) 2014 model, so it should have opened up a bit. I know the spec /wood is different but I'm looking forward to playing it . If it doesn't hit the spot , then I'm back to the j45 hunt ! Thanks for the demo .

[@JonathanAmesPhD]

Would like to see comparisons bet. J45 and Eastman Ss20 /w addy top.

[@patricklundquist9869]

Comparing the Gibson J45 to the Eastman E20SS might not be worth the time since the J45 has mahogany back and sides while the E20SS is rosewood. Eastman E10SS, however, has mahogany back and sides so could make for an excellent shootout.

[@terrytosh7678]

Thosee are some dream guitars right there! Maybe someday....

[@paulsharp6559]

I have the southern jumbo. I like the smaller neck and the pick up better than the standard J 45. And especially the look of the southern jumbo.

[@joshhamaker5581]

Bone nut and saddle in the southern jumbo vs tusq on the J45. Also, the southern jumbo has a steeper break angle (bridge pins are closer to the saddle) than the J45. More differences than just cosmetics.

[@sommossa7120]

Hello, what strings are on the J-45??

[@telebender]

Lucky enough to have a custom ordered Woody Guthrie SJ modelled on Woody's fav SJ from 1945 , that my wife got me as a birthday/engagement gift about 10 years ago. Such a great guitar! Agree that the J-45 is the better sounding 1 in this review (a least to my ears).

[@SillyMoustache]

The southern Jumbo with a little more bling was developed when Gibson realised that their sales of J45s weren't a big as in other parts of the US so they blinged 'em up a little for the "south". Same guitar, more bling.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Another interesting difference is the Southern Jumbo has "tucked" braces into the kerfing as opposed to the J-45. Better structural integrity and better vibration in theory...

[@glcee349]

The Southern Jumbo has different bracing, x brace is up closer and wider than the j45 which is lower and not as wide

[@calvinfernando8265]

I believe you're thinking about the J-35..... the J-35 features the wide X bracing pattern. The SJ and J-45 are braced the same.

[@masterofce]

Well Done Guys.!!

[@joemarshallsmith2055]

For me the main difference is the neck, the J45 has a chunkier neck, whereas the the Southern Jumbo feels a bit less chunky in the hand

[@MrRobYoung]

Is the Southern Jumbo the "Country Western" ?

[@PGrizzy91]

Prefer the subtle looks of the SJ more

[@sure5871]

Saddles are different, thus break angles are different

[@golds04]

Depends -SJ for blues, 45 for non blues. SJ has more bite. Even more pronounced if compared two from early 60’’s. Great guitars. .

[@maxwellfan55]

Pick guards are different. I like the 45 better.

[@tmc5158]

Bridge on the j45 makes it better imo

[@martinkleinman2522]

I like the 45 a bit more, but I wouldn't kick either of them out of my music room.

[@LegsON]

Better tuning machines, better saddle break angle, more beautiful.

[@garywilliams6692]

Both are nice if someone wouldn't beat on them and loosen up that heavy ass hand sounds like crap when you beat on it.

[@rogerthurman1483]

Indeed. I rarely make it past the first few chords of their videos. It isn't a competetion abt who can strum the hardest.

[@Monroenewhome]

Two unpleasantly brittle sounding instruments with no bass. Wouldn't hold a candle to the 60s J50 on my main channel.... even my L00 original smokes these...I'm wary of the custom historics as well. Done buying

[@ryansevilla9588]

The SJ looks better, but the J45 sounds better.

[@paulford2181]

That's it in a nut shell

[@JP-gt8qr]

This guy in the blue shirt, his got way too heavy of hands and any guitar would sound crap the way he plays it. We need better player to review such a beautiful sounding guitars🙏

[@guitgus]

c'est quasi les mêmes sonorités, les accords vont être plus brillants sur l'une ou l'autre mais ça sonne pareil, il aurait été intéressant d'avoir un peu d'autres style de jeu