SameDayMusic.com: Gibson J-185 Acoustic-Electric

With a slightly smaller body than Gibson's fabled Super Jumbos, the Gibson J185 Acoustic Electric Guitar offers an excellent alternative for players seeking a smaller body style without sacrificing acoustic power and projection.

The first Gibson J-185 was introduced in 1951, giving players a broader choice of flat-top acoustic guitars. Traditionally, the J-185 features a body length of 20 1/4 inches, a width of 16 inches, and a body depth of 4 7/8 inches, producing a big sound with clear acoustics, making it equally impressive for powerful strumming or delicate fingerpicking, and everything in between.

Features
Gibson Logo

Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Crown Peghead Logo

Tortoise Pickguard

Rosette

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Split Parallelogram Inlays

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)

L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System

Bracing

Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint

Radius Top

Nitrocellulose Finish

Body Binding

Hardshell Case Included

Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners
Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with style and performance exactly suited for the J-185. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Crown Peghead Logo
Gibson put the first crown peghead logo on an ES-300 back in 1940, and it has graced the headstocks of many legendary Gibson guitars ever since, including today's J-185. Over the years, it has also been called a thistle because of the group of flowering plants with the sharp prickles, though Gibson has preferred to call it a crown.

Pickguard
The tortoise pickguard for the J-185 is Gibson's standard 1950s-style Jumbo shape. As with all of Gibson Acoustic's pickguards, the coloring, inlay, and binding are all done by hand.

Rosette
The rosette on the J-185 is a double-ring rosette, with the main ring consisting of seven-ply binding, and the second ring three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the J-185.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Split Parallelogram Inlays
The fingerboard of Gibson's J-185 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-185's split parallelogram inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge--instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck, Gibson Acoustic's rolled edge is slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the J-185.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The top of the J-185 is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from AA-grade Eastern maple, giving the J-185 a perfect balance of sound and playability.

L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System
Gibson Acoustic's J-185 comes equipped with the popular Element Active Acoustic Pickup System from L.R. Baggs, which features a low-profile undersaddle element--or transducer--that's proven more stable and durable than many standard ribbon-type pickups. Combined with an onboard preamp with an unobtrusive and removable volume control mounted just inside the soundhole, the Element delivers performance not previously attainable from an undersaddle pickup. Its sleek and effective design removes unnecessary internal components to enhance the coupling between the pickup and the guitar, and improve the sensitivity of the transducer for a robust, lively, and natural acoustic sound with excellent dynamics and delicate high end. The Element works with a standard 9V battery, which is housed inside the guitar in L.R. Bagg's new Battery Bagg.

Bracing
The bracing pattern inside the J-185 was created in 1951 as a smaller version of the design used in the Gibson's legendary Super Jumbos. This traditional X pattern delivers an exceptionally balanced tonal palette ideal for both the stage and studio environments, making the J-185 a standard choice among today's discerning players.

Technical Description

Body
Top Species: AA-grade Sitka Spruce

Back and Sides: AA-grade Eastern Maple

Fingerboard
Species: Rosewood

Inlays: Split Parallelograms

Hardware
Tuners: Nickel Grover Rotomatic Tuners

Pickups: L.R. Baggs Element Active Acoustic Pickup System

Gibson J-185 Acoustic-Electric Guitar (With Case) Reviews

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Gibson J-185 Acoustic-Electric Guitar (With Case)

Product Description

Technical Description

Gibson J-185 Acoustic-Electric Guitar (With Case) Reviews

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