Gibson Custom Shop 1939 J-55

The Big Brother

In 1936, Gibson scored a runaway hit with the J-35. Because it was so affordable (only thirty-five bucks compared to a cool c-note for a D-28!), it allowed Depression-era musicians the opportunity to experience the magic of a Gibson without breaking the bank. It was so successful that they decided to expand their line in 1939 to include an upgraded version that came with some high-end appointments without raising the price too much. Thus, the J-35's big brother--the J-55--was born.

The J-55 cost fifty-five dollars, and that extra twenty bucks got you some cool upgrades, including an ebony "mustache" bridge, an ebony fingerboard, and a bound neck. Though it only remained in production for four years, it earned a sterling reputation with vintage guitar enthusiasts because of its rarity, huge sound, and elegant good looks.

Now, our friends at the Acoustic Custom Shop at Gibson Montana have done a marvelous job of capturing the magic of those original golden-era Gibsons in the 1939 J-55. Let's take a closer look and see how they do it!

Modern Mojo

So, how do Gibson's luthiers imbue these modern guitars with so much vintage mojo? The answer is twofold: they use high-quality tonewoods, and they assemble them using time-consuming old-world manufacturing techniques. With spectacular materials and tons of elbow grease, they are able to achieve incredible levels of vintage accuracy. They hand-scallop every brace, and they use hot hide glue to attach each brace to the body with hot hide glue to maximize energy transfer. Though these procedures are time-consuming, they pay incredible dividends to each instrument's resonance and responsiveness.

Speaking of which, this guitar also comes with a super-thin VOS nitrocellulose lacquer finish that allows the wood to breathe and resonate like a vintage guitar.

Take it From the Top

When talking tonewoods, it is always most appropriate to start at the top--the thermally-aged red Adirondack spruce top, that is! Here at Wildwood, we love Adirondack spruce because of the way it supercharges an acoustic guitar's tone. It imparts a woody, articulate attack, extra headroom and midrange punch, and a big volume boost--all of which are present in these '39 J-55s.

Adirondack spruce was what Gibson used in the thirties, but vintage J-55s have the benefit of "opening up" over decades of use. So, to help these modern recreations sound more like vintage instruments, Gibson thermally ages the tops. By removing excess moisture from the wood, the fine folks at Gibson Montana are able to simulate the tonal properties of old wood from one of these "played-in" old guitars. As a result, the ’39 J-55 has incredible openness and warmth.

Paired with the warmth and midrange punch imparted by the mahogany back and sides, this thermally-aged Adirondack spruce sounds glorious. All in all, the 1939 J-55 sounds big, open, and warm with a wide dynamic range. It captures the spirit and vibe of those original J-55s with impeccable accuracy, and playing one feels like stepping into one of your favorite old records.

Jammin' J-55s

We're proud to present the Custom Shop '39 J-55, a guitar that is a fitting tribute to one of the coolest Depression-era acoustic guitars out there. With their dedication to old-world manufacturing techniques, the wizard-like luthiers of Bozeman have imbued these guitars with a vintage heart and soul. We invite you to sit down take on for a spin, and set off on what will no doubt be the first of many fretboard adventures!