1949 Gibson J-50, Serial Number 1991 24
This 1949 Gibson J-50™ is an honest, well-played example of one of our classic slope-shoulder, flat-top acoustics. Introduced in 1942, with production briefly interrupted during World War II, the J-50 served as the natural-finished counterpart to the J-45™. This largely original example has been thoughtfully serviced over the years, ensuring it plays every bit as well as its decades of honest use would suggest.
The natural finish exhibits tight, even lacquer checking throughout, accompanied by the kind of honest playwear expected from a guitar that has remained in active service for more than 75 years. Scattered moderate pick wear is present around the soundhole, primarily along the lower edge of the pickguard near the bridge and to the bass side of the low E string. Light wear to the fretboard in the cowboy chord positions, scattered nicks and dings around the body and headstock, and finish wear extending the length of the neck all speak to years of music making. There are no breaks or evidence of major structural damage. A worn area along the bass-side waist appears to resemble a faint set of initials, though they are no longer legible. The Factory Order Number (FON) 1991-24 remains clearly stamped on the heel block.
Structurally, the guitar has required only a small amount of thoughtful maintenance over the years. Most recently, the team at Gibson Repair and Restoration expertly repaired a cracked X-brace, cleated a back crack, and installed a replacement compensated bone saddle. It also appears the first three frets were replaced with matching fretwire many years ago, consistent with the wear present in the cowboy chord area of the fretboard.
The original Kluson® Deluxe single-line tuners remain in place, with the early "PAT APPLD" stamped cases and single post/gear hole. Numbers have been etched into the backs of the tuner casings, likely many years ago as an identification mark by a previous owner. The same numbers are also etched into the upper corner of the pickguard. The original aluminum endpin remains installed at the tail of the guitar, while a vintage white plastic strap button has been added to the treble side of the heel.
The full-but-comfortable Medium D mahogany neck carries the naturally broken-in feel that only decades of regular playing can create. Despite the honest finish wear from nut to heel, it remains exceptionally comfortable in hand and is ready for many more years of music making.
Tonally, this J-50 delivers the broad, mid-forward, boomy voice that has made these post-war Gibson acoustics so enduringly popular. Strong bass response is balanced by rich mids and a dry, woody character, creating a sound that is unmistakably vintage Gibson.
The guitar ships in a new Gibson Deluxe Protector Jumbo Acoustic case and includes a vintage brown and green Geib hardshell case. While not original to the guitar, it is era-correct and remains an excellent companion despite one damaged hinge.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gibson flat-top acoustic, all Gibson Certified Vintage flat-top acoustic guitars released in 2026 will include a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity featuring the official “100 Years of Flat-Tops” logo.
Weight: 4.28 lb.
Neck Depth: 1st Fret: .93", 9th Fret: 1.00"
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply cream top, single-ply cream back
Body Finish Nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Slope shoulder dreadnought
Body Styles Flat top acoustic
Bracing X-bracing
Side Mahogany
Top Spruce
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 19
Frets Medium/vintage
Inlays Dot, mother-of-pearl
Joint Glued-in, set neck
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 43.4mm / 1.71in
Profile Medium D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Belly up, Brazilian rosewood
Bridge Pins White plastic bridge pins
finish Nickel
Pickguard Tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard
Saddle Material Bone
Strap Buttons Original aluminum endpin with vintage white plastic strap button added to treble side of the heel
Truss Rod Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover Single-ply black bell truss rod cover
Tuner Plating Nickel
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe Patent Applied single-line white button tuners
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, vintage-style Gibson pick container
Model: GCVP0199
Case Era-correct Geib 4-latch brown/green hardshell case, Gibson Deluxe Protector Jumbo Acoustic Case
Headstock Open book
Headstock Inlay Gibson logo, gold silkscreen
Strings Gauge 12-53
Gibson Certified Vintage 1949 Gibson J-50, Natural
Gibson Certified Vintage 1949 Gibson J-50, Natural
Free & Fast Shipping
Free & Fast Shipping
Orders placed by noon CST Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) will ship the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day. All orders over $100 receive free ground shipping within the United States.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Limited 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.
1949 Gibson J-50, Serial Number 1991 24
This 1949 Gibson J-50™ is an honest, well-played example of one of our classic slope-shoulder, flat-top acoustics. Introduced in 1942, with production briefly interrupted during World War II, the J-50 served as the natural-finished counterpart to the J-45™. This largely original example has been thoughtfully serviced over the years, ensuring it plays every bit as well as its decades of honest use would suggest.
The natural finish exhibits tight, even lacquer checking throughout, accompanied by the kind of honest playwear expected from a guitar that has remained in active service for more than 75 years. Scattered moderate pick wear is present around the soundhole, primarily along the lower edge of the pickguard near the bridge and to the bass side of the low E string. Light wear to the fretboard in the cowboy chord positions, scattered nicks and dings around the body and headstock, and finish wear extending the length of the neck all speak to years of music making. There are no breaks or evidence of major structural damage. A worn area along the bass-side waist appears to resemble a faint set of initials, though they are no longer legible. The Factory Order Number (FON) 1991-24 remains clearly stamped on the heel block.
Structurally, the guitar has required only a small amount of thoughtful maintenance over the years. Most recently, the team at Gibson Repair and Restoration expertly repaired a cracked X-brace, cleated a back crack, and installed a replacement compensated bone saddle. It also appears the first three frets were replaced with matching fretwire many years ago, consistent with the wear present in the cowboy chord area of the fretboard.
The original Kluson® Deluxe single-line tuners remain in place, with the early "PAT APPLD" stamped cases and single post/gear hole. Numbers have been etched into the backs of the tuner casings, likely many years ago as an identification mark by a previous owner. The same numbers are also etched into the upper corner of the pickguard. The original aluminum endpin remains installed at the tail of the guitar, while a vintage white plastic strap button has been added to the treble side of the heel.
The full-but-comfortable Medium D mahogany neck carries the naturally broken-in feel that only decades of regular playing can create. Despite the honest finish wear from nut to heel, it remains exceptionally comfortable in hand and is ready for many more years of music making.
Tonally, this J-50 delivers the broad, mid-forward, boomy voice that has made these post-war Gibson acoustics so enduringly popular. Strong bass response is balanced by rich mids and a dry, woody character, creating a sound that is unmistakably vintage Gibson.
The guitar ships in a new Gibson Deluxe Protector Jumbo Acoustic case and includes a vintage brown and green Geib hardshell case. While not original to the guitar, it is era-correct and remains an excellent companion despite one damaged hinge.
This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, new Limited Lifetime Warranty, and exclusive Gibson Certified Vintage accessories including a leather guitar strap, matching leather luggage tag, and vintage-style Gibson pick container.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gibson flat-top acoustic, all Gibson Certified Vintage flat-top acoustic guitars released in 2026 will include a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity featuring the official “100 Years of Flat-Tops” logo.
Weight: 4.28 lb.
Neck Depth: 1st Fret: .93", 9th Fret: 1.00"
Guitar Specifications
Body Specs
Body Specs
Back Mahogany
Binding Multi-ply cream top, single-ply cream back
Body Finish Nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Slope shoulder dreadnought
Body Styles Flat top acoustic
Bracing X-bracing
Side Mahogany
Top Spruce
Neck Specs
Neck Specs
Fingerboard Material Brazilian rosewood
Fingerboard Radius 12 in. | 304.8 mm
Fret Count 19
Frets Medium/vintage
Inlays Dot, mother-of-pearl
Joint Glued-in, set neck
Neck Material Mahogany
Nut Material Nylon
Nut Width 43.4mm / 1.71in
Profile Medium D
Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in
Hardware Specs
Hardware Specs
Bridge Belly up, Brazilian rosewood
Bridge Pins White plastic bridge pins
finish Nickel
Pickguard Tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard
Saddle Material Bone
Strap Buttons Original aluminum endpin with vintage white plastic strap button added to treble side of the heel
Truss Rod Adjustable
Truss Rod Cover Single-ply black bell truss rod cover
Tuner Plating Nickel
Tuning Machines Kluson Deluxe Patent Applied single-line white button tuners
Misc Specs
Misc Specs
Accessories COA, LOA, Limited Lifetime Warranty, GCV leather guitar strap, GCV leather luggage tag, vintage-style Gibson pick container
Model: GCVP0199
Case Era-correct Geib 4-latch brown/green hardshell case, Gibson Deluxe Protector Jumbo Acoustic Case
Headstock Open book
Headstock Inlay Gibson logo, gold silkscreen
Strings Gauge 12-53
