Gibson Montana J-45 Special; Satin Vintage Sunburst

Gibson Montana J-45 Special; Satin Vintage Sunburst

First introduced in 1942, the Gibson J-45 has earned its reputation as “The Workhorse” — a go-to instrument for generations of players thanks to its no-nonsense design, rich tone, and timeless style. The new Gibson J-45 Special carries that legacy forward, offering the same classic round-shoulder dreadnought charm in a more accessible package, handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana by Gibson’s expert luthiers.

Built with a solid Sitka spruce top and genuine solid mahogany back and sides, this J-45 delivers that warm, balanced voice with excellent dynamic range — perfect for strumming, fingerpicking, or anything in between. Traditional scalloped X-bracing gives the top room to breathe and respond, while the slightly thinner “concert depth” body helps tighten up the low end for a leaner, more focused bass response. It also makes the guitar more comfortable to hold, whether you’re playing at home or on stage.

The neck is made from utile and carved to Gibson’s SlimTaper profile, offering a fast, easy-playing feel from the first fret to the last. It’s joined to the body with a compound dovetail neck joint using hot hide glue — the old-school method preferred for its tonal integrity. A smooth rosewood fretboard with a 12" radius and mother-of-pearl dot inlays sits up top, featuring 20 standard frets for classic acoustic playability.

Down at the bridge, you’ll find a traditional belly-up rosewood design paired with a TUSQ saddle for reliable intonation and tone transfer. The nut and bridge pins are also made from TUSQ, while Grover Rotomatic tuners keep your tuning solid through long sessions and sets.

For live performance, the J-45 Special comes loaded with an L.R. Baggs Element Bronze pickup — a studio-quality undersaddle system with a soundhole-mounted volume control that’s easy to reach and intuitive to use. It’s fully plug-and-play, ready to go from the living room to the stage without fuss.

Finished in a smooth satin nitrocellulose lacquer, this guitar is available in Satin Vintage Sunburst or Satin Wine Red, giving it that beautifully worn-in look straight out of the case. Speaking of which, it comes with a premium soft shell case to keep it protected wherever inspiration strikes.

Select Your New Guitar In Person at Our Store!
Bonners Guitar Store, located on the South coast in Eastbourne, has a large dedicated showroom full of Electric, Acoustic and Bass Guitars. Whether you're looking for your first instrument, or something prestigious, our showroom is the perfect environment to touch, play, and select from an extensive range of guitars. When you visit Bonners Guitar Store, you'll be given the space and time to test several instruments in a comfortable, private environment, allowing you to ensure that you're making the right purchase decision.

We're located just off the A27 main road with plenty of on-site parking. If the train is more convenient for you, we're just a 2-minute walk from Hampden Park railway station (linked directly to London Victoria). 

Trade-In Offer - Upgrade to a New Guitar Today
Do you own a guitar you are considering upgrading to a new instrument? Take advantage of the Bonners part-exchange scheme and save yourself the hassle of selling on the private market. We accept most major brands of guitars that are in good condition and in full working order. Complete our online trade-in form, and we'll get right back to you with a guide-price valuation.

Next, arrange to visit our store, where we can inspect your guitar to confirm it is in the expected condition. Once checked and the price is agreed, you're all set to trade it for your chosen new model! Call us on 01323 639335 if you would like to discuss trade-in options further.

Online guitar valuations are guide prices only. Confirmed valuations are subject to an instrument inspection by one of our team when you bring it to the store