303-665-7733
Gibson
Serial Number: #20516001
While the Gibson J-185 may not have achieved the same universal name recognition as models like the J-45, SJ-200, and Hummingbird, it has long held a special place among knowledgeable players, who consider it one of the best-sounding acoustic guitars Gibson has ever made. Originally released in 1951, the J-185’s body outline drew inspiration from the celebrated 1920s L-5 models, sharing much of their si... Read More...
Gibson
Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
.860 1st - .930 9th
Vintage Sunburst
While the Gibson J-185 may not have achieved the same universal name recognition as models like the J-45, SJ-200, and Hummingbird, it has long held a special place among knowledgeable players, who consider it one of the best-sounding acoustic guitars Gibson has ever made. Originally released in 1951, the J-185’s body outline drew inspiration from the celebrated 1920s L-5 models, sharing much of their silhouette and proportions. Slightly more compact than an SJ-200 and built with the familiar 24.75” scale length also found on the J-45 and Hummingbird, the J-185 carved out a tonal identity that has made it a favorite for decades.
Gibson now introduces a fresh interpretation of this beloved platform: the J-185 Century 12-Fret. It carries forward many of the hallmark appointments that define the classic J-185, but the shift to a 12-fret neck-to-body joint sets it apart from the standard 14-fret design. This configuration shortens the neck and moves the bridge plate farther from the waist and closer to the body’s widest point, enhancing top movement and improving playing comfort. The result is a warm, lively, and responsive voice that especially suits fingerstyle players and anyone with a lighter, nuanced touch.
Because any J-185 variant is relatively uncommon, let alone 12-fret versions, this new model gives a much wider audience the chance to experience the tonal character that only a 12-fret jumbo can offer. As part of the Century Collection, created to mark 100 Years of Gibson Flat-Tops, the J-185 Century 12-Fret pairs a mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top and is outlined with single-ply cream binding on the top and back.
Its mahogany neck features a fast, comfortable SlimTaper 12-Fret profile and is joined to the body at the 12th fret using a compound dovetail neck joint secured with hot hide glue, consistent with Gibson acoustic build tradition. The bound rosewood fingerboard hosts 19 frets and understated mother-of-pearl dot inlays.
The headstock showcases open-back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons, along with an early-1900s Gibson script logo decal that reinforces the vintage aesthetic. Complementing these details is a sloped rectangle closed-slot rosewood bridge reminiscent of early J-45 instruments. Bone is used for both the nut and saddle, while the bridge pins are TUSQ. The J-185 Century 12-Fret is fitted with a Gibson oval teardrop pickguard and finished with a hand-applied satin nitrocellulose lacquer in Vintage Amber, Vintage Sunburst, or Ebony. It ships in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is offered in both right-handed and left-handed configurations.
Pick up a J-185 Century 12-Fret and discover the expressive, full-bodied sound that only a 12-fret Gibson jumbo can deliver
Gibson
J-185 Century 12-Fret
Vintage Sunburst
Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
12-Fret Jumbo
Solid Sitka Spruce
Single-ply Cream on Top, Back and Fingerboard
Solid Mahogany
.860 1st - .930 9th
Mahogany
Compound Dovetail Secured with Hot Hide Glue
SlimTaper 12-Fret
Indian Rosewood
12"
Mother-of-Pearl Dots
19 Standard
24 3/4"
Black with Early-1900s-style Gibson Script Logo
Bone
Bone
Nickel
Open-back Golden Age Strap Tuners with Cream Buttons
Rosewood, Sloped Rectangle Closed-slot
Oval Teardrop
Gibson Century Collection Premium Tweed Hardshell
An instrument from Wildwood isn't just an ordinary guitar. It's your guitar. Each and every instrument we sell includes a full, point by point setup, an exhaustive evaluation, and expert shipping procedures, with first class, industry leading standards from start to finish. Why? Because you deserve it.
While the Gibson J-185 may not have achieved the same universal name recognition as models like the J-45, SJ-200, and Hummingbird, it has long held a special place among knowledgeable players, who consider it one of the best-sounding acoustic guitars Gibson has ever made. Originally released in 1951, the J-185’s body outline drew inspiration from the celebrated 1920s L-5 models, sharing much of their silhouette and proportions. Slightly more compact than an SJ-200 and built with the familiar 24.75” scale length also found on the J-45 and Hummingbird, the J-185 carved out a tonal identity that has made it a favorite for decades.
Gibson now introduces a fresh interpretation of this beloved platform: the J-185 Century 12-Fret. It carries forward many of the hallmark appointments that define the classic J-185, but the shift to a 12-fret neck-to-body joint sets it apart from the standard 14-fret design. This configuration shortens the neck and moves the bridge plate farther from the waist and closer to the body’s widest point, enhancing top movement and improving playing comfort. The result is a warm, lively, and responsive voice that especially suits fingerstyle players and anyone with a lighter, nuanced touch.
Because any J-185 variant is relatively uncommon, let alone 12-fret versions, this new model gives a much wider audience the chance to experience the tonal character that only a 12-fret jumbo can offer. As part of the Century Collection, created to mark 100 Years of Gibson Flat-Tops, the J-185 Century 12-Fret pairs a mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top and is outlined with single-ply cream binding on the top and back.
Its mahogany neck features a fast, comfortable SlimTaper 12-Fret profile and is joined to the body at the 12th fret using a compound dovetail neck joint secured with hot hide glue, consistent with Gibson acoustic build tradition. The bound rosewood fingerboard hosts 19 frets and understated mother-of-pearl dot inlays.
The headstock showcases open-back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons, along with an early-1900s Gibson script logo decal that reinforces the vintage aesthetic. Complementing these details is a sloped rectangle closed-slot rosewood bridge reminiscent of early J-45 instruments. Bone is used for both the nut and saddle, while the bridge pins are TUSQ. The J-185 Century 12-Fret is fitted with a Gibson oval teardrop pickguard and finished with a hand-applied satin nitrocellulose lacquer in Vintage Amber, Vintage Sunburst, or Ebony. It ships in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is offered in both right-handed and left-handed configurations.
Pick up a J-185 Century 12-Fret and discover the expressive, full-bodied sound that only a 12-fret Gibson jumbo can deliver
20516001
Gibson
J-185 Century 12-Fret
Vintage Sunburst
Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Solid Sitka Spruce
Single-ply Cream on Top, Back and Fingerboard
Solid Mahogany
.860 1st - .930 9th
Mahogany
Compound Dovetail Secured with Hot Hide Glue
SlimTaper 12-Fret
Indian Rosewood
12"
Mother-of-Pearl Dots
19 Standard
24 3/4"
Black with Early-1900s-style Gibson Script Logo
Bone
Bone
Nickel
Open-back Golden Age Strap Tuners with Cream Buttons
Rosewood, Sloped Rectangle Closed-slot
Oval Teardrop
Gibson Century Collection Premium Tweed Hardshell
