A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance and exceptional electronics

The J-185 is believed by many to be one of the best Gibson acoustic instruments, yet it seems to be fairly obscure, much to the delight of devoted Gibson lovers. Originally released in the early 1950s and designed to be slightly smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200™, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains an unsurpassed balance of lows, mids, and highs, with equal response to every note on the fretboard. Acclaimed by many as the perfect body size and shape for any player, and handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana, it comes equipped with the new Gibson-exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA™ pickup system. HiFi DNA offers unprecedented realism when amplified, delivering the unique tone of your guitar and every nuance of your playing to your audience like never before.

The back and sides of the J-185 Original are crafted from flame maple for undeniable beauty and outstanding projection, while the Jumbo-sized body gives it warmth and punch. The back is surrounded by multi-ply binding. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers a broad dynamic range with outstanding articulation and is reinforced with scalloped X-bracing and framed with multi-ply binding. The result is a very balanced-sounding guitar that works well in a variety of genres, whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or playing single-note lines.

The 24.75” scale mahogany neck attaches to the body with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint and hot hide glue for excellent tonal transfer and resonance. It features a fast-playing and comfortable SlimTaper™ profile. The bound rosewood fretboard has a 12” radius for equally easy chording and leads and is fitted with 20 standard frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays. At the headstock, you’ll find a set of precision Gotoh® tuners with keystone buttons and a bone nut. The headstock also features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl. The belly-up bridge is crafted from rosewood, features mother-of-pearl cross inlays, and is equipped with a bone saddle and TUSQ® bridge pins.

Installed inside is Gibson’s exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA pickup system. This minimally invasive design uses two lightweight, flexible sensors mounted on the bridge plate, each with its own preamp and EQ to eliminate interaction and inductance issues. Summed to mono, they deliver a more accurate amplified version of your guitar’s unique voice, with no loss of dynamic range, and yield a true representation of the character, warmth, and response that Gibson acoustic guitars are famed for, with comparable gain-before-feedback to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls are easily accessible during performance while remaining nearly invisible to your audience.

The Gibson J-185 Original is handcrafted by the expert luthiers and craftspeople at the Gibson Acoustic Craftory in Bozeman, Montana, to deliver everything you want in a high-quality acoustic. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case for safe storage and transport, and is ready to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance and exceptional electronics

The J-185 is believed by many to be one of the best Gibson acoustic instruments, yet it seems to be fairly obscure, much to the delight of devoted Gibson lovers. Originally released in the early 1950s and designed to be slightly smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200™, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains an unsurpassed balance of lows, mids, and highs, with equal response to every note on the fretboard. Acclaimed by many as the perfect body size and shape for any player, and handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana, it comes equipped with the new Gibson-exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA™ pickup system. HiFi DNA offers unprecedented realism when amplified, delivering the unique tone of your guitar and every nuance of your playing to your audience like never before.

The back and sides of the J-185 Original are crafted from flame maple for undeniable beauty and outstanding projection, while the Jumbo-sized body gives it warmth and punch. The back is surrounded by multi-ply binding. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers a broad dynamic range with outstanding articulation and is reinforced with scalloped X-bracing and framed with multi-ply binding. The result is a very balanced-sounding guitar that works well in a variety of genres, whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or playing single-note lines.

The 24.75” scale mahogany neck attaches to the body with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint and hot hide glue for excellent tonal transfer and resonance. It features a fast-playing and comfortable SlimTaper™ profile. The bound rosewood fretboard has a 12” radius for equally easy chording and leads and is fitted with 20 standard frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays. At the headstock, you’ll find a set of precision Gotoh® tuners with keystone buttons and a bone nut. The headstock also features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl. The belly-up bridge is crafted from rosewood, features mother-of-pearl cross inlays, and is equipped with a bone saddle and TUSQ® bridge pins.

Installed inside is Gibson’s exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA pickup system. This minimally invasive design uses two lightweight, flexible sensors mounted on the bridge plate, each with its own preamp and EQ to eliminate interaction and inductance issues. Summed to mono, they deliver a more accurate amplified version of your guitar’s unique voice, with no loss of dynamic range, and yield a true representation of the character, warmth, and response that Gibson acoustic guitars are famed for, with comparable gain-before-feedback to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls are easily accessible during performance while remaining nearly invisible to your audience.

The Gibson J-185 Original is handcrafted by the expert luthiers and craftspeople at the Gibson Acoustic Craftory in Bozeman, Montana, to deliver everything you want in a high-quality acoustic. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case for safe storage and transport, and is ready to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

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Highlights

Flamed maple back and sides
Sitka spruce top with traditional scalloped X-bracing
Mahogany neck with a SlimTaper profile
Bound rosewood fretboard with mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays
Gotoh tuners with keystone buttons
Baggs HiFi DNA pickup and preamp system
Hardshell case

Baggs HiFi DNA advanced bridge plate pickup

More colors to paint with

Built on the benefits of the acclaimed Baggs HiFi pickup system

HiFi DNA offers greater sensitivity to the movement of the guitar’s soundboard

Delivers more dynamic realism, warmth, nuance, and tactile immediacy

Closes the gap between a guitar’s sound at home and that same guitar’s sound on stage

The perfect blend

HiFi DNA features dual bridge plate sensors

Each HiFi DNA sensor employs its own dedicated, custom-voiced, class A studio-quality preamp

Dedicated preamps maintain the purity and articulation of each sensor

Dual sensors are blended together for perfectly optimized output

The best of both worlds

HiFi DNA sensors are lighter, larger, more flexible, and omnidirectional

The system captures more of the natural voice and dynamic range of your Gibson acoustic guitar

HiFi DNA captures string detail and body resonance, often lacking in under-saddle pickups

Output-wise, HiFi DNA delivers similar gain before feedback to under-saddle pickup systems

Your sound, in higher definition

Gibson and Baggs have achieved a big leap forward in acoustic guitar amplification

Better-preserved fidelity translates to a more accurate amplified version of your guitar’s unique voice

From light fingerstyle to heavy strumming, HiFi DNA preserves the guitar’s dynamic range

Provides a true representation of the character, warmth, and response Gibson acoustic guitars are famed for

Guitar Specifications

Body Specs

Back Flame Maple

Binding Multi-ply top, multi-ply back

Body Finish Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Body Shape J-185

Body Styles Jumbo

Bracing Traditional hand scalloped X-bracing

Side Flame maple

Top Sitka Spruce

Neck Specs

Fingerboard Material Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in

Fret Count 20

Frets Standard

Inlays Mother-of-pearl Parallelograms

Joint Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body

Neck Material Mahogany

Nut Material Bone

Nut Width 43.81mm / 1.72in

Profile SlimTaper

Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in

Electronics Specs

Controls Soundhole Mounted Volume and Tone

Output Jack 1/4"

Preamp Baggs HiFi DNA

Under Saddle Pickup Baggs HiFi DNA

Hardware Specs

Bridge Traditional belly up

Bridge Pins Tusq

Pickguard J-185

Saddle Material Bone

Truss Rod Cover Black and White

Tuner Plating Nickel

Tuning Machines Gotoh Keystone

Misc Specs

Accessories Includes Gibson Accessory Kit

Model: OCJB85HFVSL

Case Hardshell Case

Strings Gauge 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012

Gibson J-185 Original with HiFi DNA, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst

Name: Gibson J-185 Original with HiFi DNA, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst
Brand: Gibson
SKU: OCJB85HFVSL
Price: 3799.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

Gibson J-185 Original with HiFi DNA, Left-Handed, Vintage Sunburst

Price

£3,799

Price incl. VAT. Free Shipping.

Details

Flame maple back and sides, Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck with a ...

more

Finish

Vintage Sunburst

Hand

Right

Left

HiFi DNA

This guitar is equipped with HiFi DNA™, the game-changing new acoustic guitar pickup system developed in collaboration between Gibson and Baggs™. HiFi DNA offers greater sensitivity to soundboard motion and delivers more of the unique voice and dynamic range of your Gibson guitar.

Shop All HiFi DNA Guitars Learn More

Free & Fast Shipping

Orders placed before 1:00 PM Monday - Friday will be processed the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day. All orders over £50 receive free ground shipping. During sale and promotion periods delivery might take a little longer than expected.

Lifetime Warranty

Shop and play with confidence knowing that your instrument is protected by our limited lifetime warranty. Learn more about warranties and exclusions here .

Case Included

Your instrument ships with a factory-supplied hard- or soft-shell case for safe storage and transportation. Please refer to the product specifications for details.

Setup Included

Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.

Find a Store Left Handed

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A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance and exceptional electronics

The J-185 is believed by many to be one of the best Gibson acoustic instruments, yet it seems to be fairly obscure, much to the delight of devoted Gibson lovers. Originally released in the early 1950s and designed to be slightly smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200™, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains an unsurpassed balance of lows, mids, and highs, with equal response to every note on the fretboard. Acclaimed by many as the perfect body size and shape for any player, and handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana, it comes equipped with the new Gibson-exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA™ pickup system. HiFi DNA offers unprecedented realism when amplified, delivering the unique tone of your guitar and every nuance of your playing to your audience like never before.

The back and sides of the J-185 Original are crafted from flame maple for undeniable beauty and outstanding projection, while the Jumbo-sized body gives it warmth and punch. The back is surrounded by multi-ply binding. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers a broad dynamic range with outstanding articulation and is reinforced with scalloped X-bracing and framed with multi-ply binding. The result is a very balanced-sounding guitar that works well in a variety of genres, whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or playing single-note lines.

The 24.75” scale mahogany neck attaches to the body with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint and hot hide glue for excellent tonal transfer and resonance. It features a fast-playing and comfortable SlimTaper™ profile. The bound rosewood fretboard has a 12” radius for equally easy chording and leads and is fitted with 20 standard frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays. At the headstock, you’ll find a set of precision Gotoh® tuners with keystone buttons and a bone nut. The headstock also features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl. The belly-up bridge is crafted from rosewood, features mother-of-pearl cross inlays, and is equipped with a bone saddle and TUSQ® bridge pins.

Installed inside is Gibson’s exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA pickup system. This minimally invasive design uses two lightweight, flexible sensors mounted on the bridge plate, each with its own preamp and EQ to eliminate interaction and inductance issues. Summed to mono, they deliver a more accurate amplified version of your guitar’s unique voice, with no loss of dynamic range, and yield a true representation of the character, warmth, and response that Gibson acoustic guitars are famed for, with comparable gain-before-feedback to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls are easily accessible during performance while remaining nearly invisible to your audience.

The Gibson J-185 Original is handcrafted by the expert luthiers and craftspeople at the Gibson Acoustic Craftory in Bozeman, Montana, to deliver everything you want in a high-quality acoustic. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case for safe storage and transport, and is ready to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance and exceptional electronics

The J-185 is believed by many to be one of the best Gibson acoustic instruments, yet it seems to be fairly obscure, much to the delight of devoted Gibson lovers. Originally released in the early 1950s and designed to be slightly smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200™, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains an unsurpassed balance of lows, mids, and highs, with equal response to every note on the fretboard. Acclaimed by many as the perfect body size and shape for any player, and handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana, it comes equipped with the new Gibson-exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA™ pickup system. HiFi DNA offers unprecedented realism when amplified, delivering the unique tone of your guitar and every nuance of your playing to your audience like never before.

The back and sides of the J-185 Original are crafted from flame maple for undeniable beauty and outstanding projection, while the Jumbo-sized body gives it warmth and punch. The back is surrounded by multi-ply binding. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers a broad dynamic range with outstanding articulation and is reinforced with scalloped X-bracing and framed with multi-ply binding. The result is a very balanced-sounding guitar that works well in a variety of genres, whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or playing single-note lines.

The 24.75” scale mahogany neck attaches to the body with a compound dovetail neck-to-body joint and hot hide glue for excellent tonal transfer and resonance. It features a fast-playing and comfortable SlimTaper™ profile. The bound rosewood fretboard has a 12” radius for equally easy chording and leads and is fitted with 20 standard frets and adorned with mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays. At the headstock, you’ll find a set of precision Gotoh® tuners with keystone buttons and a bone nut. The headstock also features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl. The belly-up bridge is crafted from rosewood, features mother-of-pearl cross inlays, and is equipped with a bone saddle and TUSQ® bridge pins.

Installed inside is Gibson’s exclusive, custom-voiced Baggs™ HiFi DNA pickup system. This minimally invasive design uses two lightweight, flexible sensors mounted on the bridge plate, each with its own preamp and EQ to eliminate interaction and inductance issues. Summed to mono, they deliver a more accurate amplified version of your guitar’s unique voice, with no loss of dynamic range, and yield a true representation of the character, warmth, and response that Gibson acoustic guitars are famed for, with comparable gain-before-feedback to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls are easily accessible during performance while remaining nearly invisible to your audience.

The Gibson J-185 Original is handcrafted by the expert luthiers and craftspeople at the Gibson Acoustic Craftory in Bozeman, Montana, to deliver everything you want in a high-quality acoustic. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case for safe storage and transport, and is ready to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

Read less