Gibson Custom J-185 1952 Antique Natural CS HRC
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Gibson custom
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A 1950s Icon at the Heart of Gibson's "Small Jumbo" Line
Launched in 1951, the Gibson J-185 was designed as a more compact alternative to the majestic SJ-200, retaining the spruce/maple combination dear to the brand. This Custom Historic 1952 faithfully reinterprets the early 1950s codes: open slot bridge, multi-ply binding, and VOS finish, all combined with high-end lutherie highly prized by musicians and collectors.
Who Is It For and Which Styles?
With its comfortable "small jumbo" format and short scale length, the J-185 suits intermediate to expert guitarists seeking a responsive and precise acoustic. Ideal for folk, pop, country, fingerstyle, and vocal accompaniment, it excels both in the studio and on stage thanks to its controlled projection and note clarity.
Sound Characteristics
The thermally treated Sitka spruce top immediately delivers a "already open" guitar feel: bright attack, harmonic richness, and natural sustain. The flamed maple back and sides provide fast transients, controlled lows, and bright highs for a balanced and articulated spectrum. The hand-scalloped X bracing maximizes projection without limiting dynamics, while the bone nuts and fine VOS nitro enhance vibration transmission and long sustain.
Recommended Compatible Accessories
Protect and optimize your J-185 with a Gibson hard case in J-185 format, phosphor bronze 12-53 strings (original gauge), a capo for acoustic guitars suited to a 12" / 305 mm radius, a comfortable leather strap, a case humidifier to stabilize humidity, and a stand compatible with nitrocellulose finishes.
Technical specifications
| Format | J-185 | Nut | Bone |
| Top | Thermally treated Sitka spruce | Nut width | 1.725" / 43.8 mm |
| Back | Flamed maple | Inlays | Mother-of-pearl parallelograms |
| Sides | Flamed maple | Neck/body joint | Dovetail mortise and tenon, compound assembly |
| Bracing | Hand-scalloped X bracing, animal glue joints | Bridge | "Belly-up" type, rear string holes, open slot bridge with mother-of-pearl Maltese cross |
| Binding | Multi-ply binding on top and back | Saddle | Bone |
| Finish | Thin nitrocellulose, aged VOS (Vintage Original Spec) finish | Bridge pins | Bone |
| Pickguard | J-185 model | Tuners | Gotoh Keystone |
| Material | Mahogany | Tuner finish | Gold |
| Profile | V | Truss rod cover | Black |
| Scale length | 24.75" / 628 mm | Serial number | 23253190 |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood | Weight | 1900 g |
| Fingerboard radius | 12" / 305 mm | Strings | 0.053 - 0.042 - 0.032 - 0.024 - 0.016 - 0.012 |
| Number of frets | 20 | Accessories | Delivered with a Gibson accessory kit |
| Frets | Standard | ||
Questions frequently asked
What sound does the combination of thermally treated Sitka spruce and flamed maple provide?
The top made of thermally treated Sitka spruce offers a bright attack, rich harmonics, and natural sustain. The back and sides in flamed maple deliver quick transients, controlled bass, and bright trebles.
Is the Gibson Custom J-185 1952 suitable for fingerstyle and singing?
This model is suitable for fingerstyle, vocal accompaniment, folk, pop, and country. Its small jumbo body and hand-scalloped X bracing support controlled projection and good note clarity.
How comfortable is the neck to play?
The mahogany neck features a V-shaped profile, a short scale length of 628 mm, and a nut width of 43.8 mm. The rosewood fingerboard has a 305 mm radius and includes 20 standard frets.
What finish is applied on this J-185?
A thin VOS (Vintage Original Spec) nitrocellulose finish with an aged appearance is applied. The multi-ply binding on the top and back, as well as the Maltese cross openwork bridge in mother-of-pearl, reflect the 1952 design codes.
What strings and accessories should be used with this guitar?
The original setup uses a 12-53 gauge, i.e., 0.012 to 0.053. It is possible to use phosphor bronze strings 12-53, a capo suited to a 12-inch radius, and a stand compatible with nitrocellulose finishes. A Gibson accessory kit is included.
