Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reis. VS IBC

Steel-String Guitar with Pickup

Inspired by Gibson Custom
Type: Dreadnought
Back and sides: Solid mahogany
Top: Solid thermally-treated spruce
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays
Single-ply binding on top and back
Scale length: 629 mm (24.8")
Nut width: 43.9 mm (1.73")
Bone nut
19 frets
Pickup: LR Baggs Element VTC Bronze
Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle
Pickguard: Faux tortoiseshell
Three-on-a-Plate machine heads
Colour: Vintage Sunburst
Includes case

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3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since August 2025
Item number 622689
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Top Spruce, Solid
Back and Sides Solid Mahogany
Cutaway No
Fretboard Rosewood
Nut width in mm 43,90 mm
Frets 19
Pickups Yes
Colour Vintage Sunburst
Case Yes
Incl. Gigbag No

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4.666 AED 1.091,60 €

The price in AED is a guideline price only

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128

Sales Rank

in Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars

Entering a new era of Epiphone

Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC, acoustic guitar

The "Inspired by Gibson Custom" series has been created for guitarists who want top-tier instruments without the custom shop price tag. Designed by Epiphone's US Custom Shop team, the Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC takes a legendary guitar and gives it a modern twist – with the premium specs to match. This slope-shoulder dreadnought shape is perhaps the single most iconic model in Gibson's steel-string stable; the Epiphone reissue here is an homage to the very first Banner series of the J-45, from the year 1942. And because it's an instrument for playing, not just a historical pastiche, Epiphone has used solid woods throughout, with a roasted spruce top and mahogany sides and back. All this gives the J-45 an acoustic profile that makes it sound like it has already been played by a pro for years. To get this effect across to the largest possible audience, it is also fitted with an LR Baggs VTC Bronze pickup system which gives the guitar a great live presence.

Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC, acoustic guitar, solid spruce top

A must-have steel-string

A J-45 is quite simply a must-have for any self-respecting acoustic aficionado, seeing as it's one of the most influential models in the instrument's history. And the sound of the Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC is something really special, with a very rounded mid-range (thanks to the mahogany back and sides) and a direct response under a plectrum or when fingerpicking (the work of the roasted spruce top). A sound this good calls for a degree of playability to match, and players will definitely not be disappointed here thanks to the guitar's comfortable 12" fingerboard radius and broader 44mm nut width, paired with its substantial vintage V-shape neck profile. Like the spruce top, the mahogany neck has been heat-treated, good for both increased stability and for underpinning this reissue of the Banner J-45's vintage sound.

Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC, acoustic guitar, rear view

Over 80 years and counting...

The shoulder-slope acoustic guitar is one of the most historical and most widely-used studio steel-strings. They traditionally produce a dry, direct sound, perfect for recording – pro musicians across all styles and genres have known this for over 80 years, and the Epiphone J-45 reissue is no exception. But it's also an excellent live instrument thanks in no small part to the LR Baggs VTC Bronze piezo pickup, which musicians can use to minutely and discreetly adjust the tone and volume of their sound during a performance, ensuring a warm, authentic tone whatever the context. Ambitious hobbyists and seasoned session musicians alike will find in this vintage Gibson-inspired instrument both an infallible tool for everyday use and an evocative echo of long-forgotten musicmaking – but without having to pay the price of a US-made Gibson.

Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue VS IBC, acoustic guitar, headstock

About Epiphone

Today, Epiphone is known only as the Asian budget offshoot of Gibson. Yet both companies were once independent, equal, and also bitter rivals. The roots of Epiphone go back to the 1870s and to Anastasios Stathopoulo, a Greek instrument maker, who emigrated to America in 1903 with his son Epaminondas ("Epi" for short). Epi changed the name of the firm to the "Epiphone Banjo Company" after taking over the family business in 1928. During this year, Epiphone also began to manufacture guitars, which rapidly came to dominate their sales. In 1957, Epiphone was taken over by C.M.I., which already included Gibson, but continued as a separate brand until 1970, when manufacturing was outsourced to Asia. Well-known Epiphone models include the Casino, played by the Beatles, and the Sheraton, John Lee Hooker's instrument of choice.

Party like it's 1942

This classic recipe, taken straight from the pages of a vintage Gibson catalogue, is one to savour for musicians of all genres and playing styles. Singer-songwriters in particular are sure to place this inspiring instrument, Epiphone's homage to the original J-45 from 1942, right up there with their all-time on-stage favourites. With its range of modern features, though, the Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue Vintage Sunburst IBC also cuts a fine figure recording in the studio, with a playability that will keep even seasoned session musicians coming back for more. And thanks to its matte finish and the deep, dusky sunburst, this guitar feels like an old friend the moment it's taken out of the (very premium) case it ships with. Anyone looking for a steel-string acoustic with an authentic feel and a sound to match will have plenty to celebrate with this 1942 J-45 reissue.

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Absolute Empfehlung!

Vienna_Tom 22.08.2025

Ich bin mit meiner Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue absolut zufrieden. Die Verarbeitung ist erstklassig, die Werkseinstellungen sowie das Setup sind hervorragend abgestimmt. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich der außergewöhnlich gute Klang, der meine Erwartungen nicht nur erfüllt, sondern sogar übertroffen hat. Auch das mitgelieferte Case macht einen sehr hochwertigen Eindruck und die zusätzlichen Extras wie das Soundhole Cover mit integriertem Humidifier runden das Gesamtpaket perfekt ab. Klare Empfehlung!

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Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reis. VS IBC

Steel-String Guitar with Pickup