Gibson J-165 EC Maple Acoustic-Electric Guitar
The J-165 EC Maple is a welcome addition to Gibson's distinguished line of L-Series small-body acoustics. For players wanting a comfortable, small-body acoustic with the tonal characteristics of a Jumbo, the J-165 EC maple answers the call. The J-165 EC Maple has the same shape as Gibson's Jumbos, but with smaller dimensions.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides, and top)

The top of the J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from AAA-grade Eastern maple, giving the J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic an evenly biased, warm tone, with robust, well-defined lows and sparkling highs. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with "the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities," and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

Nickel Grover Mini Rotomatic Tuners

Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the mini Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Crown Peghead Logo

Gibson put the first crown peghead logo on an ES-300 back in 1940, and it has graced the headstocks of many legendary Gibson guitars ever since, including today's J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic. Over the years, it has also been called a "thistle" because of the group of flowering plants with the sharp prickles, though Gibson has preferred to call it a "crown."

Tapered Dovetail Neck Joint

The dovetail neck joint is one of the oldest—and best—ways of securely joining the neck to the body of a guitar. It is also a complex and expensive neck joint to build, but the result is a tight, locking connection that supports the neck at the proper neck-pitch angle, allowing the body and neck to become one solid piece of resonating wood, with no metal to impede vibration. This process is done entirely by hand, requiring patience and skill.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Split Parallelogram Inlays

The fingerboard of Gibson's J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-165 EC Maple's split parallelogram inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge—instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck, Gibson Acoustic's rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the J-165 EC Maple.

Fishman Aura Pro Acoustic Pickup System

Gibson's J-165 EC Maple Modern Classic comes equipped with a built-in Fishman Aura Pro, featuring Fishman's popular Aura Acoustic Imaging Technology. This ground-breaking pickup system reproduces the natural sound of the J-165 EC as miked in a professional studio, and onstage, thus eliminating the complicated setups of expensive microphones. Aura Pro uses digital algorithms to create images of various microphones' captured sounds. Players can then blend these images with an acoustic guitar's pickup to produce an immediate and dramatic improvement in amplified sound. The Fishman Aura Pro's preamp includes a tuner, and is mounted on the bass side rim of the upper bout.

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