Gibson is one of the leading manufacturers of both acoustic and electric guitars today. And like all well-built guitars, they tend to tonally open up and sound even better after years of playing. If you've progressed to the level of buying a Gibson, you may not be sure which is the right option for you and your style of music.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Acoustic Guitars
- Best Folk Guitar:: Gibson J-45 Studio
- Best All Around:: Hummingbird Original
- Best Live Performance:: Gibson Dove Original
- Best For Solo Artists: Gibson Songwriter
- Best Blues Guitar:: Gibson L-00
In this article, we've chosen our seven picks for best Gibson acoustic guitar. We have included guitars suited for many different genres of music in order to help you find your next guitar.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Folk Guitar  |
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Best All Around  |
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Best Live Performance  |
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Best Special Edition  |
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Best Blues Guitar  |
| VIEW ON SWEETWATER → |
Best For Solo Artists  |
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Best Signature Model  |
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Best Rosewood Model  |
| VIEW ON SWEETWATER →VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best Affordable Model  |
| VIEW ON SWEETWATER →VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Best Classic Jumbo  |
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Best Vintage Tone  |
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Most Versatile  |
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Best Smaller Guitar  |
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Review of our Top Picks
Gibson J-45 Studio - Best Folk Guitar
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Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
No discussion of iconic acoustic guitars is complete without the J-45. This guitar has been a favorite of folk and blues performers for decades, and the J45 studio version features updated styling.
Its round-shouldered dreadnought body has the same look as the original J-45, but the advanced-response neck gives it a playability like no other. This guitar has an L.R. Baggs VTC pickup system, and it has a solid Sitka spruce top with solid walnut back and sides.
Our Star Rating
Because of its quality playability an versatile tone, we give this one four out of five stars.
hummingbird Original - Best All Around
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The Hummingbird is another iconic Gibson, and it's been widely loved and played for over 50 years. This guitar has a classic tonewood configuration--spruce and mahogany--meaning that it's tonally suitable for many different genres.
It comes in Heritage Cherry Sunburst with the distinctive etched pickguard that has set it apart for decades. For playing live, it comes with L.R. Baggs Element VTC electronics
Our Star Rating
Because of its excellent build quality and balanced tone, we give this one five out of five stars.
Gibson Dove Original - Best for Live Performance
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The Gibson Dove is a guitar whose legacy is entwined with the political and social upheaval of the 1960s. Today, it's still one of the most distinctly beautiful Gibson guitars offered.
With a Sitka spruce top and maple back and sides, it's a guitar that's designed for bright, clear projection. It also has beautiful appointments like peraloid inlays, a bone nut and saddle, and a distinctive, etched dove pickguard.
Like many other high-end Gibson's, it comes with an L.R. Baggs VTC pickup system.
Our Star Rating
We think this guitar is especially for those who like a clearer sound when playing live, and we give it four out of five stars.
SJ-200 125th Anniversary - Best Special Edition
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The SJ-200 is a jumbo guitar with a boomy, full voice that's perfect for fingerpicking and flatpicking. This guitar has been a fixture in country music, and the 125th Anniversary SJ-200 pays tribute to that tradition.
It has a responsive Lutz spruce top with stunning figured maple back and sides. Its luxurious inlays and L.R. Baggs electronics make it a stage-ready instrument.
Our Star Rating
This guitar is a work of art that's especially good for country musicians. We give it four out of five stars.
Gibson L-00 - Best Blues Guitar
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You don't often see high-quality parlor guitars made, but the Gibson L-00 is an exception. It has the look of old "blues box" guitars, and its small body makes it a tonally sound choice for those who want to play the blues.
It has a solid Spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides, which give it the rich, midrange-heavy tones loved by many blues players.
And while its antiques sunburst finish may make it look like a relic, it comes with high-quality L.R. Baggs VTC electronics for when you want to play on stage.
Our Star Rating
This guitar may not be right for all types of music, but it's a top-of-the line blues instrument. We give it four out of five stars.
Gibson Songwriter - Best For Solo Artists
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If you're a songwriter who also performs solo, you may not need the extra-full voice of a larger acoustic. Gibson's Songwriter is a dreadnought that's slightly smaller than most, making it easier to handle and more playable than many larger guitars.
Its hand-scalloped bracing adds all the resonance you need, and the solid rosewood back and sides add rich and complex overtones to your sound.
The Songwriter features a distinctive pickguard and dazzling abalone rosette, and it comes with L.R. Baggs VTC electronics for natural sound onstage.
Our Star Rating
We think this guitar is an especially good choice for solo performers, and we give it five out of five stars.
Sheryl Crow - Country Western Supreme - Best Signature Model
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Gibson doesn't often offer signature models, but this one is worth a look. Designed in collaboration with Sheryl Crow, this model is a classically styled dreadnought that's especially useful when fingerpicking or flatpicking.
It has a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides for rich overtones and a balanced sound. It comes with Amulet M electronics, which roll off extra bass response in order to avoid feedback issues.
Our Star Rating
We think this is one of Gibson's best signature guitars, and we give it four out of five stars.
Gibson J-185 EC Modern Rosewood -- Best Rosewood Model
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This beautiful instrument might be the best Gibson acoustic guitar for players who would prefer something a little different. The J-185 EC Modern Rosewood has an all-solid Sitka spruce and rosewood build --something more commonly found on dreadnoughts. Many jumbo Gibson guitars have maple backs and sides for crisp note definition and projection.
With rosewood, you get overtone-rich, complex sound. This instrument also has a slightly shallower body than most jumbos. The shallow body means that you get less bass-forward sound, and that feature makes the J-185 a great choice for the session musician. Its sound translates well when mic'd, but the L.R. Baggs undersaddle pickup also makes it easy to plug in and play.
As far as looks go, the J-185 EC is a great option if you like a little sparkle but would rather avoid the excess ornamentation often found on jumbo guitars. This acoustic-electric sports an iridescent rosette, mother-of-pearl split parallelogram inlays, and a simple tortoise-pattern pickguard.
A Rosewood Burst finish is a bit of a departure from the tobacco-colored vintage sunburst you often see on Gibson acoustics. Grover Rotomatic tuners and a Tusq nut and saddle support spot-on intonation, too.
Our Star Rating
We think this guitar is the best Gibson with rosewood back and sides on the list, and we give it four out of five stars.
Gibson J-15 -- Best Affordable Model
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If you're familiar with the Gibson J-45, you know that its tone has featured prominently on countless records. Now, the Gibson J-15 lets you have a version of this piece of acoustic guitar history at a lower price. Just like the studio version of the J-45, the J-15 has a back and sides made of walnut.
While walnut is typically used on more budget-minded Gibson acoustics, it's a respectable tonewood in its own right. It has a somewhat warm, earthy sound that appeals to acoustic guitar players across genres. The scalloped bracing allows for unfettered soundboard vibration. This gives you a highly resonant sound that's incredibly responsive to every nuance of your playing.
Like many Gibson acoustic instruments, the J-15 has a relatively simple aesthetic. The solid Sitka spruce top has an antique natural finish for a classic acoustic aesthetic. Aside from a simple rosette, the body is relatively unadorned.
Our Star Rating
While it still isn't a cheap guitar, the J-15 is the best of the more affordable models on the list. We give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Gibson SJ-200 -- Best Classic Jumbo
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The ancestors of this luxuriant guitar enjoyed plenty of time on stage and in the studio. And if you want a newer version of one of the most famous Gibson acoustic guitars, the SJ-200 just might be right for you.
If you aren't too familiar with jumbo guitars, the tonewood combination used on the SJ-200 might strike you as odd. Like many of the best acoustic guitars, it does have a solid spruce top. However, the back and sides are made of flamed maple. Maple may seem like an odd choice of wood for an acoustic guitar, but it's ideal for a Southern jumbo.
These guitars were designed to be heard even in large groups, so they needed to be able to project. Maple is a hardwood that's especially great for projection. It also supports excellent note definition, which is great for flatpicking. And of course, the figuring on the flamed maple makes it an especially visually distinctive instrument.
The SJ-200 may be the best Gibson acoustic guitar for players who like flashy instruments. Crown inlays, a mustache-style bridge, and a highly decorated pickguard complete its incredible look.
Our Star Rating
Of the Gibson acoustic guitars on the list, we think this one is the best classic jumbo. We give it four out of five stars.
Gibson J-50 -- Best Vintage Tone
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In the 1950s and 1960s, dreadnoughts with rounded shoulders were especially popular. And if you've ever played a round-shoulder dreadnought like the J-50, you may know why. Square-shoulder dreadnoughts do sometimes produce an overabundance of overtones, but those with rounded shoulders offer a more focused sound that may be better for recording or other applications.
The J-50 is a somewhat less popular relative of the J-45. This electro-acoustic comes equipped with high-quality L.R. Baggs VTC electronics for impressive, natural live sound. The J-50 is a great choice for the folk or country artist who wants an authentic sound and feel. The natural finish, simple dot inlays, and 50s-style pickguard set this instrument apart from the rest, and the rounded neck profile plays like a guitar straight out of the 1950s.
Our Star Rating
We think this classic-looking round-shoulder Gibson guitar has the best vintage tone on the list, and we give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Gibson Southern Jumbo Original -- Most Versatile
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The name of this guitar might be a little confusing -- a Southern Jumbo like this one is different from the extra-large jumbo body of the SJ-200 and similar models. Instead, the Southern Jumbo Original is essentially a round-shoulder dreadnought.
Thanks to both its tonewood selections and body style, the Southern Jumbo Original is also one of the most versatile acoustic guitars you can find. It's responsive enough that flatpickers, fingerpickers, and strummers can all get a decent tone from it.
Just like almost all high-end acoustic guitars made by Gibson, this one comes with quality electronics to make liver performance a breeze. It comes with the L.R. Baggs VTC undersaddle pickup -- this pickup provides a much more natural response than most undersaddle piezos.
And thanks to a bone nut and saddle, belly-up bridge, double antiqued binding, and nickel open-backed tuners, the Southern Jumbo Original has both a vintage look and vintage sound you're sure to love.
Our Star Rating
This is one of the most versatile acoustic guitars out there, and we think it's the most versatile on the list. We give it 4.5 out of five stars.
Gibson Acoustic 50s LG-2 -- Best Smaller Guitar
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Many of the most famous Gibson acoustic guitars are dreadnoughts and jumbos. But if you prefer a smaller instrument that's comfortable to play on the couch, stage, or both, you might find that this LG-2 is just right. Designed to emulate the instruments of the 1950s, this smaller guitar is made with the winning combination of solid Sitka spruce and solid mahogany.
Don't let its small size fool you, though -- the LG-2 is made with a compound dovetail neck joint for natural transfer of resonance. The neck also is made in the traditional vintage "V" shape. this neck structure tends to be advantageous for players with larger hands, as it takes up a bit of hand length. If you have smaller hands, though, it may make playing more difficult.
While this smaller guitar is built and spec'd like a smaller-bodied guitar from the 1950s, it features modern electronics for outstanding live tone. The L.R. Baggs VTC system includes a soundhole-placed volume control for easy shaping of your sound. It's also a great choice for use in the studio -- a high-quality condenser microphone can easily and accurately capture its sound.
Our Star Rating
We think this one is the best of the smaller acoustic guitars on the list, and we give it 4.5 out of five stars.
Buying Guide: How Do You Choose The Best Gibson Acoustic Guitar?
Gibson has been making quality guitars since 1902, and today, their instruments are still regarded as some of the best in the world. When shopping for a Gibson acoustic, you don't need to worry about purchasing a quality instrument--these guitars are made with solid, hand-selected woods for great tone and an appearance to match.
The most important thing when buying a Gibson is to choose one that suits your style of playing. Here's what to keep in mind:
Tonewood Choices
Gibson uses quality tonewoods in all of their guitars, and some of these are very unique. here are some of the woods featured on guitars on our list:
Sitka Spruce
Sitka spruce is a sustainable tonewood that has been used to build acoustic instruments for centuries. It has a rich and fairly well-balanced tone, although it tends to favor midrange and higher notes. It's one of the most common top woods used on acoustic guitars.
Lutz Spruce
Lutz spruce is a hybrid of Sitka and white spruce, and it's the type of wood that responds to a strong attack (like strumming or vigorous picking). This makes it a great choice for larger-bodied guitars like Southern jumbos.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a beautiful tonewood that favors midrange sounds, meaning it provides a tone that's suitable for many different musical genres. It can be used as a wood for the top of guitars, but it's also commonly used on the back and sides of instruments. It tends to pair well with a spruce top, since the mahogany balances out the brightness of a spruce top.
Walnut
Walnut is less common, but it's commonly used on guitars geared toward blues playing, since it has a fairly dark tone and projects well. It falls between the tonal properties of mahogany and maple, and Gibson uses it on some models of J-45.
Body Style And Size
Body style and size is one of the most important factors to consider when shopping for your Gibson guitar. Here are some of the body styles included on our list.
Double Zero Acoustic Guitars
Smaller guitars like this parlor-style model are great for those who play music that emphasizes treble frequencies. These guitars are often used in blues music, as blues playing is easier on guitars that can project and don't have a lot of sustain. They also are easier for smaller players to handle.
Round-Shouldered Dreadnought
Many players believe that the round-shouldered dreadnought takes off some of the bass sound of traditional dreadnoughts, and this is part of the thought behind round-shouldered guitars like the J-45. Round-shouldered dreadnoughts also have a vintage look about them, which is especially appealing to some folk and blues players.
Standard Dreadnought
This classic, square-shouldered guitar shape has been favorite over the decades. It provides plenty of bass response and is ideal for creating complex overtones. Many of Gibson's most famous acoustic guitars are standard dreadnoughts.
Southern Jumbo
This large-bodied guitar may not be the right choice for everyone, but it's an excellent performance guitar. Its large body creates a boomy, bass-heavy tone that takes especially well to both fingerpicking and flatpicking. These guitars may be somewhat difficult for smaller-bodied players to handle. However, they are especially popular with country musicians.
Electronics
Because Gibson's are professional-class acoustic guitars, most models come equipped with electronics. Most come with the L.R. Baggs VTC system. This is a state-of-the-art pickup system that avoids the artificial sound of the common piezo pickup systems often found in acoustic-electric guitars. The VTC system is designed to read the response of your guitar's soundboard, amplifying sound in a way that sounds much more natural. The system also includes a dynamic EQ, which adjusts based on your playing. This helps you avoid feedback issues, and it helps keep you sounding your best.
In Conclusion
Due to their superb sound and excellent build quality, you can't really go wrong with any Gibson acoustic. That said, our top pick is the Hummingbird. This guitar has a tonewood configuration great for any musical style, and its distinctive look makes it an eye-catching choice for any performer. A great runner-up is the Songwriter, a slightly smaller guitar that offers classic good looks and excellent playability. When shopping for your Gibson, be sure to look closely at specs and choose one that suits your music, and you'll be on your way to selecting the guitar of a lifetime.