Commemorating a legacy of marvelous acoustic guitarcraft, the Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret is an intriguing spin on original 1940s "Workhorses" with compelling, vintage-inspired breaks from tradition. Entering as part of the Gibson Century Collection of acoustics, the J-45 Century is an alternate timeline spin on Gibson's iconic round-shoulder dreadnought.

Way back when in the early '40s, Gibson launched their J-45 round-shoulder dreadnought acoustic guitar. The now indispensable dreadnought shape served as the basis for generations of American acoustic guitar music and dreadnought builds alike with a bold, full-bodied form and 14-Fret neck assembly. Nicknamed "The Workhorse" for its versatility and sonic zest, the J-45 became a classic in the Gibson line and out. Today's J-45 Century 12-Fret explores an alternate route of history with a different angle on neck design and appointments for something reverent but altogether fresh.

This Gibson J-45 Century 12-Fret kicks off familiarly to other Gibson J-45s. The model's iconic round-shoulder dreadnought body assembles from a classic combo of Sitka spruce and mahogany. Introducing authentically vintage acoustic voices into every performance, this Workhorse dreadnought body is then decked in a satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish with cream binding for a smooth, rich, aesthetic character and feel.

It's here where this J-45 bends from tradition with its neck. A mahogany neck joins in the picture at this point through compound dovetail neck joint assembly using vintage-accurate hot hide glue adhesive. The SlimTaper-profiled neck meets the body at the twelfth fret, in contrast to the usual historic fourteenth. This 12-Fret neck and board length inspires all-new playing angles to the J-45 for something to certainly write home about. A rosewood fingerboard joins here with this neck as it is lined with nineteen frets and clean Mother of Pearl Dot fret inlays.

This charming 12-Fret J-45 tops everything here off with a lineup of fine hardware appointments. First, the body is matched with a rectangular rosewood bridge landing at the base of the 24.75" scale with a bone saddle and TUSQ bridge pins. This setup makes for a sturdy connection and solid transfer of motion string-to-body. At the scale's opposite end, a bone nut lands toward the iconic Gibson headstock lined with Golden Age Strap tuning machines with cream buttons. This Gibson Century acoustic features a few unique aesthetic appointments including a Gibson L-00-style pickguard as it travels with an included premium Gibson Century Collection tweed hardshell case.

A century in the making, this J-45 Century 12-Fret does it all with style.

• Gibson Century Collection 12-Fret acoustic guitar model
• Round-shoulder J-45 dreadnought body shape
• Satin-finished Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides
• Mahogany neck in SlimTaper 12-Fret profile
• 12-Fret neck with compound dovetail neck joint and hot hide glue assembly
• Rosewood fingerboard with nineteen frets and Mother of Pearl inlays
• Bone nut and Golden Age Strap tuning machines
• Rectangle rosewood bridge with bone saddle and TUSQ bridge pins
• Gibson Century Collection tweed hardshell case included