Gibson OCJB8512AN J-185 Century, 12-Fret, Vintage Amber

Vendor: Gibson
Regular price: $2,499.00
Sale price: $2,499.00
Regular price: ~~$2,499.00~~
Unit price: per

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We have 1 in stock, in-store.

Description

*These are stock photos. For actual photos of the instrument, please contact us.

The impressive tone of a 12-fret Gibson jumbo
The Gibson J-185 may not be as well-known as some of its stablemates, such as the J-45™, SJ-200™, and Hummingbird™, but among guitarists in the know, it is one of the most beloved acoustic guitars in Gibson history. First introduced in 1951, the body was based on the famous Gibson 1920s-era L-5 models, and has the same basic shape and size. It is also similarly shaped, although slightly smaller than the SJ-200, with the shorter 24.75” scale length found on the J-45 and Hummingbird, giving it a distinctive tonality all its own.

CASE/GIG BAG: Hard Case Included.

Gibson now proudly releases a new take on this classic design: The J-185 Century 12 Fret. It retains many of the classic features that players love about the J-185, but features a 12-fret neck-to-body joint instead of the standard 14-fret joint. Why is this important? With a 12-fret neck joint, the neck is shorter and the position of the bridge plate is relocated, which places it further from the body’s waist and closer to the center of the widest area of the body, where it can drive the top more efficiently, making the guitar more comfortable to hold and play and resulting in a tone that is warm, punchy, and resonant and that responds ideally to the dynamics of fingerstyle players and players with a lighter picking attack.

J-185 models of any type are relatively rare, let alone versions with a 12-fret neck. Now, the beautiful tone of a 12-fret neck is available to all in the form of the Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret. Part of the new Century Collection celebrating 100 Years of Gibson Flat-Tops, it features a mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top, with single ply cream top and back binding framing the body’s perimeter.

The mahogany neck has a fast-playing SlimTaper™ 12-Fret profile and attaches to the body at the 12th fret with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint that is fastened with hot hide glue, just like all of the Gibson acoustic models. The bound rosewood fretboard is equipped with 19 standard frets and adorned with simple mother-of-pearl dot inlays.

The headstock is outfitted with open-back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons and features an early-1900s Gibson script logo decal for a vintage-inspired touch. Another vintage-inspired detail is the sloped rectangle closed-slot rosewood bridge, which is similar to those found on early J-45 models. The nut and saddle of the J-185 Century 12-Fret are bone, while the bridge pins are TUSQ®. The J-185 Century 12-Fret features a Gibson oval teardrop pickguard and a hand-sprayed satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish in your choice of Vintage Amber, Vintage Sunburst, or Ebony. It comes packed in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is available in both right and left-handed versions. Pick up a J-185 Century 12-Fret today and experience the sweet tone of a 12-fret neck Gibson jumbo acoustic for yourself.

Features

Mahogany body
Solid Sitka spruce top
Mahogany neck with a 12-fret neck-to-body joint
19-fret rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays
Golden Age open back strap tuners with cream buttons
Premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case

Specs

Back: Mahogany
Binding: Single-ply top and back
Body Finish: Thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Shape: J-185
Side: Mahogany
Top: Sitka spruce

Hardware

Case: Century Series tweed hardshell case
Model: OCJB8512AN
Strings Gauge: .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053

Inspection and Set-up

At Easy Music Center, we care for our instruments from the moment they arrive to when they ship to your door. All instruments are stored in a climate controlled environment and put through a 12-point inspection checklist before being shipped.

First, we check the finish of the instrument, carefully inspecting any blemishes on the surface. Next, we check the playability and setup by inspecting and adjusting the truss rod (if available), bridge, nut, and frets to manufacturer factory specifications. Any request made outside of manufacturer factory specifications can incur additional charges for parts and labor. If the instrument has electronics, we test all of the electronic components to make sure they are functioning properly.

After a thorough inspection, we then move on to maintenance. We start by lubricating any moving parts on the instrument, such as tuning machines. We then move on to cleaning and oiling the fretboard along with the frets.

Once maintenance is done, we stretch and tune the strings and play test the instrument. After this, we do a final inspection and clean/detail the instrument before packing it up for shipment.

We’re excited to be a part of your instrument buying experience.

Humidity Care

Acoustic guitars and ukulele are made of wood, and wood is sensitive to changes in climate. Shifts in temperature or relative humidity can affect your instrument in multiple ways, some of which can lead to costly repairs if you’re not careful. Solid woods in particular are especially prone to the effects of climate fluctuation. For example, extended exposure to low relative humidity (below 40% RH) can dry out the wood, causing it to shrink and run the risk of cracking. Similarly, excessive humidity can cause the wood to absorb moisture and swell, potentially causing other problems. Without adequate humidity control (especially in drier local climates), acoustic instruments can crack and their necks can warp, causing problems with fretting, intonation and playability.

So how do you prevent this kind of damage? Easy: by keeping your guitars and ukulele properly humidified (ideally between 40-60% RH). The easiest way to do this is by storing your instruments in a case with a case two-way humidifier inside. A two-way humidifier will slowly absorb or release moisture inside your case, maintaining humidity to help ensure your instrument doesn’t suffer damage. Using a digital hygrometer can help you monitor humidity levels around your instrument.

Symptoms of a dry acoustic instrument:

Low action. Strings are very close to the fretboard.
Hump on the fretboard where the neck joins the body.
Sunken top across the soundboard between bridge and fingerboard.
The back of instrument looks very flat when it is dried out.
Sharp fret ends extend beyond the edge of the fretboard.
The plane of the neck angle on a dry instrument hits above the top of the bridge.

Symptoms of a wet acoustic instrument:

High action. Strings that are unusually high off the fretboard, making it difficult to play.
Unusually swollen top
Unusual warp on the top, back or both at the end-block
Improper neck angle. Sighting the neck to the bridge, the frets will appear to hit below the bridge.

The D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System

Using patented technology, the D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System features disposable, moisture-filled packets with a breathable membrane that provides two-way humidity control, meaning it can either release or absorb moisture to consistently maintain a predetermined relative humidity (RH) level of 45-50 percent.

Music Nomad Humilele Ukulele Humidifier

Music Nomad the leader in equipment care products, has developed an easy to use, no mess, and low maintenance Ukulele humidifier. The Humilele rests securely on top of the strings to safely and evenly hydrate your Ukulele to avoid these problems.

Final Notes on Humidity Control

To monitor the amount of humidity your instrument is receiving, we recommend the purchase of a digital hygrometer, a device that gauges and provides a read-out of humidity levels. It can be kept in the room where you store your instruments, or, better yet, in a central location inside the instrument case, preferably Velcro’d to the outside of the accessories compartment (facing the heel). The optimal range for your guitars and ukulele is 45-55% RH.

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