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Gibson Unveils New Keb’ Mo’ J-45

Gibson Unveils New Keb’ Mo’ J-45

The new Keb’ Mo’ J-45 is the follow-up to Keb’s popular original L-00 signature guitars, and it offers a rich, bright tone and full, and tight bass.

The guitar features a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a 25” scale mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, custom Keb’ Mo’ profile, and open-back Grover tuners. The neck joins the body at the 12th fret, giving this guitar the rounder, more full-bodied tone, and exceptional playing comfort that only a 12-fret neck can provide. Equipped with L.R. Baggs electronics, it’s studio and stage-ready, the moment you take it out of the included hardshell case.

“This J-45 guitar is a great acoustic workhorse which offers a richer, brighter, sound that delivers tight bass tones that record beautifully with a microphone, or a pick-up,” says Keb’ Mo’. “The Gibson team has worked hard to make this guitar great and I’m out on the road now playing it every night. This is a quality guitar from Gibson, a brand you can trust.”

With five GRAMMYs, 14 Blues Foundation Awards, and a groundbreaking career spanning nearly 50 years under his belt, Keb’ Mo’s soulful vocals and masterful guitar-playing never fail to inspire. A respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger, Keb has topped the Billboard Blues Chart seven times. His most recent album, Good To Be, is available everywhere.

The Smiths’ 1984 press shot. From left to right: Andy Rourke, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, and Mike Joyce.

Bassists from California’s finest Smiths tribute bands weigh-in on Andy Rourke’s most fun-to-play parts.

Listen to the Smiths, the iconic 1980s indie-rock band from Manchester, and you’ll hear Andy Rourke’s well-crafted bass lines snaking around Johnny Marr’s intricate guitar work, Mike Joyce’s energetic drumming, and singer Morrissey’s wry vocal delivery.

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The Hummingbird Studio EC features a mahogany body and sides with a Sitka spruce top, a Round SlimTaper profile mahogany neck, and L.R. Baggs electronics.

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A forward-thinking, inventive, high-quality electro-acoustic design yields balance, playability, and performance flexibility.

High-quality construction. Flexible, responsive, and detailed-sounding pickup/mic system. Lots of bass resonance without feedback or mud.

Handsome, understated design may still estrange traditionalists.

$1,599

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Though acoustic amplification has improved by leaps, bounds, and light years, the challenges of making a flattop loud remain … challenging. L.R. Baggs has played no small part in improving the state of acoustic amplification, primarily via ultra-reliable pickups like the Anthem, Lyric, andHiFi Duet microphone and microphone/under-saddle systems, the overachieving, inexpensive Element Active System, and theM1 andM80 magnetic soundhole pickups—all of which have become industry standards to one degree or another.

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During routine quality checks, Blackstar has identified a problem with specific Debut 100 Series amps.

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