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.
The J-185 Original is now fitted with the all-new Gibson-exclusive Baggs™ HiFi DNA™ pickup system. This active design utilizes two lightweight sensors mounted to the internal bridge plate, each paired with its own optimized preamp. The result is a natural, full-bodied amplified tone that faithfully represents the guitar’s inherent character, without altering its unplugged voice. The Baggs HiFi DNA system offers comparable gain-before-feedback to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted controls for volume and tone allow quick, intuitive adjustments on the fly, remaining virtually unseen by the audience. With its refined electronics and included hardshell case, the J-185 Original is ready for both stage and studio use the moment it’s picked up.
Body
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
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
Pickup system Baggs HiFi DNA
Controls 1 volume, 1 tone
Hardware
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
Miscellaneous
Accessories Includes Gibson Accessory Kit
Strings Gauge 0.053, 0.042, 0.032, 0.024, 0.016, 0.012
Case Hardshell