Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” 1942 Banner J-45 Vintage Sunburst (175)

All solid wood, vintage voiced J-45 feel and tone with pro L.R. Baggs electronics and a hardshell case, without the vintage price tag or headaches.

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Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” 1942 Banner J-45 Vintage Sunburst (175)

All solid wood, vintage voiced J-45 feel and tone with pro L.R. Baggs electronics and a hardshell case, without the vintage price tag or headaches.

$1,299.00

0% for 36-48 months available

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Quick Specs

All solid body: thermally aged Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides
Sloped shoulder J-45 dreadnought body for classic warmth and projection
Mahogany V profile neck with laurel fingerboard and Legend frets
12.01" radius fingerboard, 24.72" scale length
L.R. Baggs VTC under saddle pickup with soundhole volume and tone
Bone nut and saddle, plus included hardshell case with Inspired by Gibson logo

FREE Player-Perfect™ Pro Setup ($100+ Value)

Our techs are all seasoned players, so they dial in every guitar like it’s going into their own rig—perfect intonation, action set exactly right, ready to rip from the first note.

Want it YOUR way? Tell us at checkout: string gauge, action height, whatever you need. We’ll nail it before shipping.

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14-Day Sound Check Guarantee

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Vintage Workhorse J-45 Vibe Without The Vintage Headache

If you have always wanted that worn in 1940s J-45 sound and feel but do not have vintage money or patience for vintage drama, this Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” 1942 Banner J-45 hits the sweet spot. All solid woods, thermally aged Sitka spruce, real bone, and a proper L.R. Baggs VTC system make this a serious tool for working players, not just a pretty tribute.

The slope shoulder J-45 body gives you that classic warm, woody thump with enough projection to hold its own in a mix. Out of the included hardshell case it already feels like an old friend, and Epiphone nailed the Banner era details without turning it into a museum piece you are afraid to take to a gig.

Thermally Aged Sitka Top & Solid Mahogany Body

The star of the show is the thermally aged solid Sitka spruce top. Baking the spruce mimics decades of natural aging, which dries the wood, stiffens it up, and lets it respond faster. Translation for players: a more open, broken in voice with that dry, woody bloom you usually only get from a guitar that has seen a lot of songs and a lot of smoke filled rooms.

Solid mahogany back and sides round out the tone with a focused low end and strong, musical mids. Traditional hand scalloped X bracing lets the top move freely, so you get volume and sensitivity without the boominess that can kill a mix. The aged gloss finish feels smooth, looks subtly vintage, and does not get in the way of the wood doing its thing.

Comfortable Vintage V Neck That Fights Back Just Enough

The one piece mahogany neck with a V profile is a big part of the feel. It fills your hand in a satisfying way that encourages relaxed left hand technique, but it is not some huge club that wears you out. If you are coming from skinny electric necks, give it about five minutes and you will wonder why you ever fought tiny necks in the first place.

The laurel fingerboard, 12.01 inch radius, and 20 Legend frets keep things playing smooth up and down the neck. Chords stay comfortable, single note lines feel controlled, and bends stay in tune instead of fretting out. The factory 0.012–0.053 set sits right in that zone where you get real acoustic power without feeling like you are wrestling barbed wire.

Stage Ready With L.R. Baggs VTC Electronics

Plugged in, the L.R. Baggs VTC system is ready for anything. The under saddle pickup captures the natural character of the guitar without turning it into a piezo ice pick, and the preamp adds just enough polish to sit nicely in a mix. It is the kind of system you see on a lot of pro stage rigs for a reason.

Volume and tone controls live discreetly in the soundhole, so you can tweak your sound on the fly without a big plastic control panel carved into the side of your guitar. Set it flat into a good DI or acoustic amp and you are off to the races, whether that is a bar gig, a worship stage, or a studio date.

Authentic Banner Details, Built To Be Played

Looks and details matter too. The headstock has the classic Gibson open book shape, the Epiphone banner up top, and the “Inspired by Gibson” double diamond logo on the back, so it looks right from every angle. Open back tuners with cream buttons, teardrop pickguard, and tasteful binding seal the vintage deal without going over the top.

Bone nut and saddle help every note ring true, with better sustain and clarity than you get from cheaper synthetic materials. Nickel hardware, a solid rectangular laurel bridge, dual action truss rod, and proper strap buttons keep things stable in the real world. And the included hardshell case with the Inspired by Gibson logo means you can actually take this thing out and work it hard, not baby it.

Dialed In And Ready From Moore Guitars

This Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” 1942 Banner J-45 Vintage Sunburst is sitting in our Evansville, Indiana shop right now, inspected top to bottom and ready to go. We run every acoustic through our Player-Perfect setup so it feels alive in your hands, not like something that just came off a warehouse shelf.

If you have been chasing that classic J-45 voice in a reliable, stage ready package that does not blow up your budget, this is the kind of guitar you buy once and keep for decades.

Questions about this guitar? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to Rob or Cory, real players, real conversation, no scripts.

Anatomy of a Tone Machine

Perfect for: Americana & Folk • Singer-Songwriter • Country & Roots Rock • Worship • Studio & Session Work

Tone

Warm, woody low end with that classic J-45 style thump
Focused, musical mids that sit perfectly in a mix
Thermally aged Sitka top adds a played in sweetness and quicker response
L.R. Baggs VTC keeps the plugged in tone natural and dynamic

Playing Feel

Slope shoulder body feels comfortable whether you are sitting or standing
Vintage V neck fills your hand in a satisfying way without feeling huge
12.01" radius and Legend frets keep chords clean and bends smooth
Factory 0.012–0.053 strings hit the perfect balance of tone and comfort

Versatility

Equally at home on the couch, on stage, or in the studio
Handles strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle without breaking a sweat
L.R. Baggs system plays nice with DIs, acoustic amps, and modelers
Roll back your touch for intimate ballads or dig in for full strum power

Complete Technical Specs

Body Specs

Type	Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Style	J-45
Shape	Sloped Shoulder Dreadnought
Top	Solid Thermally Aged Sitka Spruce
Back	Solid Mahogany
Sides	Solid Mahogany
Bracing	Traditional Hand Scalloped X-bracing
Binding	4-ply Top, 1-ply Back
Finish	Aged Gloss

Neck Specs

Wood	Mahogany
Profile	V Profile
Joint	Dovetail

Fingerboard Specs

Material	Laurel
Radius	12.01"
Frets	20, Legend
Inlays	Mother of Pearl Dots

Electronics Specs

Pickup	L.R. Baggs VTC Under Saddle
Controls	Soundhole Mounted Volume and Tone Controls

Hardware Specs

Bridge	Rectangular, Open Slot
Bridge Material	Laurel
Saddle	Bone
Tuners	3 on a plate, open back with cream buttons
Hardware Finish	Nickel
Nut	Bone
Pickguard	Teardrop
Truss Rod	Dual Action
Truss Rod Cover	2-ply Bell, Black
Strap Buttons	2
Case	Hardshell case with Inspired by Gibson logo (included)

Measurements

Scale Length	24.72" / 628 mm
Nut Width	1.72" / 43.8 mm
Factory Strings	.012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053

The Lowdown

We get it. Buying a guitar you haven’t played is a big decision. You need to know it’s going to feel right, sound right, and inspire you the second you open the case. We put together the questions we’d be asking if we were in your shoes—the real-world stuff that specs alone can’t answer. If there’s anything else you’re wondering about, just give us a call.

Real talk, a true 1940s Banner J-45 is a dream for most of us, but it also comes with vintage prices and vintage quirks. This Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson” 1942 Banner J-45 nails the core recipe: thermally aged Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, slope shoulder body, and classic Banner era styling. You get that warm, woody, broken in vibe and a reliable modern build that you can actually gig without stressing every ding.

Thermal aging basically speeds up what happens to spruce over decades of playing. The process dries and stiffens the top, which helps it respond faster and resonate more freely. In your hands that means a more open, broken in sound right out of the case, with a quicker attack, sweeter highs, and that dry, woody character people love in well played vintage acoustics.

The V profile on this J-45 is a comfortable, vintage inspired carve that gives your thumb a natural place to sit. Compared to a slim modern C, it fills your hand a bit more and encourages a relaxed grip, which can actually reduce fatigue over long sets. It is not an extreme boat neck, just a nice, rounded V that feels solid and confident under your fingers.

Absolutely. The L.R. Baggs VTC is a pro level system you will find on a lot of high end acoustics. It delivers a natural, full range sound that takes EQ and effects really well, so it works great straight into a DI, an acoustic amp, or a recording interface. The soundhole volume and tone controls make it easy to tweak on stage without cluttering up the side of the guitar with a big control panel.

Of course. Every guitar gets our full Player-Perfect™ setup, but tell us your preferred string gauge and action at checkout, and we’ll dial it in exactly to your spec before it leaves the shop.

This guitar is covered by our 14-Day Return Policy. If you’re not completely inspired by it, just let us know. We’ll make it right.

If you order before 3 PM CST on a weekday, it ships the same day. We’ll get it into your hands fast with free, insured 2-3 day shipping.

Call us at (888) 794-8482. You’ll talk to a real musician who can answer anything you need to know.

Player-Perfect™ Setups

Every guitar we sell is dialed in by seasoned musicians. We obsess over the details—perfect intonation, immaculate fretwork, and ideal action—so your guitar is ready to rip right out of the case. No exceptions.

Advice From Real Players

Call us and you get a fellow musician, not a script. We'll help you compare neck profiles, talk tone, and find the right guitar for you—even if it's not this one. Our reputation is built on honest conversation.

49+ Years Of Trust

Family-owned since 1976, we stand behind everything we sell. That's why we have a 72-Hour Love-It Guarantee. If you're not inspired, send it back on our dime for a full refund. Your satisfaction is our legacy.

BBB Accredited • Top 300 Reverb Seller • Fender Top Rated Dealer