Gibson J-45ADJ 1962 Ex Amy Wadge Cherry Sunburst

1962 Gibson J-45 ADJ Cherry Sunburst – Formerly Owned by Amy Wadge

This is something rather special.

A genuine 1962 Gibson J-45 ADJ in Cherry Sunburst, formerly owned by the acclaimed singer-songwriter Amy Wadge — and, rather wonderfully, a guitar with a genuine songwriting history attached to it.

This is the actual instrument presented to Amy by her publishers, BDI Music and Buck Music, to celebrate the phenomenal success of “Thinking Out Loud”, the number one hit she co-wrote with Ed Sheeran in 2014.

Amy has used this very guitar in her studio for songwriting and recording, giving it a provenance that goes considerably beyond simply owning a great vintage Gibson. This is a working songwriter’s instrument that has been part of the creative process of one of the most successful songs of the era.

The guitar comes with the original presentation card from BDI Music and Buck Music, documenting the gift, and Amy will provide a personal letter of authenticity for the next fortunate owner.

As a vintage J-45, it is an exceptional example.

The guitar is completely honest and gloriously original in appearance, with plenty of beautifully developed lacquer checking and the signs of use you would expect from a 60-plus-year-old instrument that has actually been played and used for its intended purpose.

It is important to be completely transparent about its history. This guitar has received maintenance and repair work over the years, and we feel this should be regarded as part of its history rather than something to hide.

There has previously been a repair to the back of the guitar, which has been professionally re-glued and stabilised. There is also a very small split in the top adjacent to the soundhole, extending towards the neck. This is a type of top split that is not uncommon on vintage Gibson acoustics of this age. It has been noted as part of the guitar's condition and should be considered when viewing the instrument.

The bridge plate also has a small crack and some lifting on the bass side. It is currently stable, and the guitar remains very playable, but we have included this information so that the next owner has a complete and accurate picture of the instrument.

These points aside, the guitar presents extremely well for its age and, most importantly, plays beautifully. The neck is particularly impressive, with a lovely low playing action and a wonderful feel. The guitar has clearly been maintained with the intention of keeping it playing rather than simply preserving it as a museum piece.

The original adjustable rosewood bridge remains fitted, and the original machine heads are still in place and functioning as they should. The guitar has been properly looked after throughout its life, and the maintenance carried out over the years means it is ready to be enjoyed by its next owner.

This is a guitar with genuine history, and that history is evident in the way it feels and sounds.

The 1962 J-45 ADJ represents one of Gibson's classic early-'60s specifications. The familiar round-shoulder body combines a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, giving these guitars their distinctive combination of warmth, projection and midrange character. The adjustable bridge and saddle arrangement also allows the playing action to be set to suit the player, while the rosewood fingerboard and bridge and original-style machine heads complete the period specification.

And tonally, this is exactly why the J-45 became known as “The Workhorse”.

A good J-45 has an incredibly useful balance. There is plenty of warm, woody low end, a strong and articulate midrange and enough top-end definition to keep individual notes clear. They respond beautifully to a light touch but can be driven hard with a pick, producing that compressed, punchy Gibson voice that works so naturally for strumming, flatpicking and, above all, songwriting.

The classic J-45 formula of spruce over mahogany is responsible for much of that character: warm, dry and focused rather than overly hi-fi, with a strong fundamental and a wonderfully musical midrange.

This particular guitar has that wonderful vintage quality where the instrument seems to have settled into its voice. It is woody, open and remarkably responsive, with a depth and complexity that is difficult to replicate in a new instrument.

There is no pretending this guitar is untouched — the lacquer checking, honest playing wear and previous maintenance are all part of its story. What matters is that the work has allowed the guitar to remain a genuinely enjoyable and playable instrument.

We have given it a light clean and fitted a fresh set of strings. The original strings that Amy used are also included in the case, adding another small but rather lovely piece of its history.

The guitar is supplied with a later Gibson brown Tolex hardshell case, along with the original presentation card from BDI Music and Buck Music. Amy Wadge will also provide a personal letter of authenticity for the next owner.

This is one of those rare occasions where the instrument, condition, provenance and musical history all come together. It is a superb 1962 J-45 in its own right, but also an instrument with a genuine connection to Amy Wadge and the songwriting history of “Thinking Out Loud”.

A wonderfully honest vintage Gibson, full of character, provenance and musical history.

One for the player, the collector — or perhaps the songwriter looking for a little inspiration from an instrument that has already been part of something rather extraordinary.