The Gibson J-160E is one of the company's most recognizable acoustic-electric guitars. Closely associated with The Beatles, the model was used extensively by the band, including during their landmark first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and on many of their recordings from the first half of their career.
Originally introduced in 1954, the J-160E was Gibson's second acoustic guitar to feature onboard electronics, following the CF-100E introduced in 1951. It was equipped with a coverless P-90 pickup mounted through the top just below the end of the fretboard. While it shares the round-shoulder body shape of models such as the Southern Jumbo and J-45™, the J-160E was designed from the beginning as a dual-purpose instrument capable of both acoustic and electric performance, with greater emphasis placed on its amplified sound.
The J-160E Original is based on those vintage instruments while incorporating a number of modern updates. It features solid mahogany back and sides paired with a solid Sitka spruce top. Unlike the laminated top and ladder bracing found on vintage models, the J-160E Original uses traditional scalloped X-bracing to deliver a full, round-shoulder acoustic voice when played unplugged.
The mahogany neck features Gibson's SlimTaper™ profile and is joined to the body at the 15th fret using a compound dovetail neck joint. As with all Gibson acoustic guitars, the neck is fitted using hot hide glue to maximize resonance and tonal transfer. A bound rosewood fingerboard is fitted with 20 standard frets and pearloid trapezoid inlays.
Additional appointments include a rosewood belly-up bridge with a bone saddle and TUSQ® bridge pins, a bone nut, and nickel Gotoh® Keystone tuners for accurate and stable tuning.
Like the original model, the J-160E Original is equipped with an onboard pickup. Instead of the traditional P-90, it features a P-90 DC pickup that delivers classic P-90 tone while eliminating hum for quieter amplified performance. The pickup is controlled by top-mounted master volume and tone controls with 60s-style gold Top Hat knobs featuring silver reflectors and is connected to a side-mounted output jack.
A Gibson hardshell case is included for protection during storage and transport. Combining the iconic design of the original J-160E with updated construction and electronics, the J-160E Original continues the legacy of one of Gibson's most distinctive acoustic-electric guitars.
