| For a century, Gibson flat‑top acoustics have defined the sound of American music—an unmistakable voice you don’t just hear, but feel in your bones. From radio broadcasts and living‑room song circles to the world’s most iconic recordings, these instruments have carried melodies into our homes and hearts for generations. To honor 100 years since the very first Gibson flat‑top, we proudly introduce the Gibson Century Collection: a beautifully curated family of 12‑fret acoustics that channel the minimalist elegance of early 20th‑century design while offering a more intimate, inviting playing experience. Their warm, expressive tonal character makes them ideal companions for fingerpicking, vocal accompaniment, and nuanced, dynamic performance. Explore the Gibson Century Collection, available worldwide on Gibson.com, at Gibson Garage locations, and via authorized Gibson dealers. “Gibson acoustics have clearly shaped music history, and they’ve influenced how we at Gibson think today as well,” says Mat Koehler, Vice President of Product at Gibson. “The all‑new Century Collection is made using the same proportions and principles that make the originals some of the most collectible vintage acoustics: deeper‑set 12‑fret necks for easy reach, perfect bridge placement in the heart of the soundboard, featherweight construction and bracing, a thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and the unique Gibson scale length that gives our guitars soul.” Each model in the Gibson Century Collection features a 12‑fret neck‑to‑body joint. This vintage‑inspired configuration shortens the neck and shifts the bridge plate closer to the body’s widest point. This placement enhances top movement, increases responsiveness, and improves overall playing comfort, resulting in a warm, lively, and articulate voice that rewards a lighter touch. Together, the J‑45 Century 12‑Fret, L‑00 Century 12‑Fret, and J‑185 Century 12‑Fret celebrate 100 Years of Gibson Flat‑Tops with refined craftsmanship, satin nitrocellulose finishes, SlimTaper™ 12‑Fret neck profiles, and premium Century Collection tweed hardshell cases—honoring the past while inspiring the next century of acoustic music. |
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| Gibson Century CollectionDownload Gibson Century Collection assets: HERE. Take a deep dive into the new Gibson Century Collection on the Gibson Gazette: HERE. |
| J-45 Century 12-Fret: |
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| Gibson Century Collection J-45 12-Fret in Vintage Sunburst. A new Workhorse reborn with a 12‑fret designThe J‑45 Century 12‑Fret reimagines Gibson’s iconic “Workhorse” with a vintage‑inspired 12‑fret neck‑to‑body joint that shifts the bridge plate deeper into the body, allowing the soundboard to move more efficiently and deliver a warm, punchy, resonant voice with exceptional responsiveness to fingerstyle and lighter dynamics. Built with a mahogany body, Sitka spruce top, single‑ply cream binding, and a SlimTaper™ 12‑Fret mahogany neck joined via a compound dovetail and hot hide glue, it carries a rosewood fretboard with 19 frets and mother‑of‑pearl dots, plus a sloped rectangle closed‑slot rosewood bridge, bone nut and saddle, TUSQ® bridge pins, and a hand‑sprayed satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Vintage cues like open‑back Golden Age tuners with cream buttons and an early‑1900s Gibson script logo complement its place in the Century Collection, bringing this once‑rare 12‑fret J‑45 feel and tone to every player. Each J‑45 Century 12‑Fret ships in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is offered in both right‑ and left‑handed versions, inviting players to experience the distinctive, resonant voice of a 12‑fret Gibson flat‑top. |
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| Gibson Century Collection J-45 12-Fret in Vintage Amber. L-00 Century 12-Fret: |
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| The Gibson Century Collection L-00 12-Fret guitars in Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Amber, and Ebony. The sweet voice of a Gibson parlor acoustic with a 12‑fret neck The L‑00 Century 12‑Fret brings a fresh voice to one of Gibson’s most beloved small‑body acoustics, preserving the compact feel and “perfect balance” long associated with the L‑Series while introducing a 12‑fret neck‑to‑body joint that shifts the bridge plate into a more central, more resonant zone of the top. This shorter‑neck design allows the soundboard to work more efficiently, enhancing playing comfort and producing a warm, articulate, and lively tonality that responds beautifully to fingerstyle techniques and lighter, more nuanced attacks. As part of the Century Collection celebrating 100 Years of Gibson Flat‑Tops, it pairs a mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top framed in single‑ply cream binding. Its mahogany neck features a comfortable SlimTaper™ 12‑Fret profile and a compound dovetail joint secured with hot hide glue, supporting a rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets and mother‑of‑pearl dot inlays. Vintage‑inspired details include open‑back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons, an early‑1900s‑style Gibson script logo decal, and a sloped‑rectangle closed‑slot rosewood bridge, complemented by a bone nut and saddle, TUSQ® bridge pins, a classic L‑00‑style pickguard, and a hand‑applied satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Each L‑00 Century 12‑Fret ships in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is offered in both right‑ and left‑handed configurations, inviting players to experience the distinctive character and inviting resonance of a Gibson parlor acoustic. J-185 Century 12-Fret: |
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| The Gibson Century Collection J-185 12-Fret guitars in Vintage Amber, Ebony, and Vintage Sunburst. The remarkable voice of a 12-fret Gibson jumbo The J‑185 Century 12‑Fret offers a fresh interpretation of one of Gibson’s most admired jumbo acoustics, building on the original 1951 design that drew its silhouette and proportions from the 1920s L‑5 while maintaining the familiar 24.75” scale length shared with the J‑45™ and Hummingbird™. Its shift to a 12‑fret neck‑to‑body joint shortens the neck and moves the bridge plate closer to the body’s widest point, allowing the top to move more freely and enhancing both responsiveness and playing comfort. The result is a warm, lively, and expressive voice that suits fingerstyle players and anyone with a lighter, more nuanced touch. As part of the Century Collection celebrating 100 Years of Gibson Flat‑Tops, it pairs a mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top outlined in single‑ply cream binding. Its mahogany neck features a fast SlimTaper™ 12‑Fret profile and a compound dovetail joint secured with hot hide glue, supporting a bound rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets and mother‑of‑pearl dot inlays. Vintage‑inspired appointments include open‑back Golden Age strap tuners with cream buttons, an early‑1900s Gibson script logo decal, and a sloped rectangle closed‑slot rosewood bridge reminiscent of early J‑45 models. A bone nut and saddle, TUSQ® bridge pins, a Gibson oval teardrop pickguard, and a hand‑applied satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Vintage Amber, Vintage Sunburst, or Ebony complete the build.Each J‑185 Century 12‑Fret ships in a premium Century Collection tweed hardshell case and is offered in both right‑and left‑handed configurations, inviting players to experience the expressive, full‑bodied sound that only a 12‑fret Gibson jumbo can deliver. |
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| The Gibson Century Collection J-185 12-Fret in Vintage Amber. Gibson Century Collection case: |
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| Gibson Century Collection guitars arrive with a stunning custom hardshell case. The Gibson Century Collection models include custom hardshell cases that pay homage to the early days of Gibson flat-tops, featuring 1930s-style “Aeroplane Cloth” tweed exteriors, a stenciled Gibson script logo, and bold red Art Deco stripes. Open the lid, and you’re met with a historic purple felt interior, another luxurious nod to vintage Gibson cases that once cradled the iconic brand’s earliest masterpieces. Lightweight yet unmistakably premium and protective, these unique hardshell cases complete the Century Collection experience with a sense of authenticity, style, and collectible desirability. |
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| Gibson Century Collection hardshell case. Watch the first video for the 100 Years of Gibson Flat-Tops series on Gibson TV, narrated by country legend Emmylou Harris, and featuring appearances by Gibson artists Brett Tomberlin and Syd Taylor HERE. Explore all Gibson and Gibson Custom acoustic guitars HERE. |
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