A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance
The J-185 is believed by many to be one of Gibson's best 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 slight smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains 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.
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
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
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
Electronics Specs
Controls Volume and Tone controls
Under Saddle Pickup LR Baggs VTC
Hardware Specs
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
Misc Specs
Accessories Includes Gibson Accessory Kit
Model: OCJB85VS
Case Hardshell Case
Strings Gauge 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012
Gibson J-185 Original, Vintage Sunburst
Gibson J-185 Original, Vintage Sunburst
Free & Fast Shipping
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
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
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
Setup Included
Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
Three Free Months of the Gibson App
For a limited time only, receive a three-month subscription to the Gibson App for free with the purchase of this product. Click here to learn more about the Gibson App.
A Jumbo with unparalleled tonal balance
The J-185 is believed by many to be one of Gibson's best 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 slight smaller than its larger companion, the SJ-200, the J-185 still offers superior performance and tone. The J-185 Original maintains 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.
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
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
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
Electronics Specs
Controls Volume and Tone controls
Under Saddle Pickup LR Baggs VTC
Hardware Specs
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
Misc Specs
Accessories Includes Gibson Accessory Kit
Model: OCJB85VS
Case Hardshell Case
Strings Gauge 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012
