Gibson J-185 Original (Baggs HiFi DNA Preamp) - vintage sunburst
The first Gibson J-185, introduced in 1951, quickly became popular thanks to its more accessible size compared to the Super Jumbo SJ-200, and its consistently clear and powerful tone. It is the ideal steel-string acoustic guitar that bridges the gap between the two benchmarks: the J-45 and the J-200.
The GIBSON Original Collection SJ-185 (OCJB85HFVS) retains the fundamental characteristics of the original model, enhanced with a Baggs HiFi DNA preamp.
The all-solid-wood construction combines traditional woods with a Sitka spruce top, a maple body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard (20 frets).
This combination enhances clarity and percussiveness, particularly in the low end. The tonal balance, however, remains excellent, with no frequencies sacrificed.
Add to this its jumbo body size, and you get an acoustic guitar that is both powerful and warm—one that will particularly appeal to singer-songwriters and fans of country, Americana, or traditional folk music.
The J-185 Original is equipped with the exclusive Baggs HiFi DNA system.
The HiFi DNA system uses two sensors placed under the bridge instead of the usual piezo pickup. They perform recordings of the vibrations of both the strings and the soundboard. The result is an even more natural and dynamic sound that faithfully reproduces the instrument’s original acoustic character.
Each Baggs HiFi DNA sensor has its own active preamp. The volume and tone controls are located on the inner edge of the soundhole.
- SKU Gibson OCJB85HFVS
- Steel-string acoustic guitar (bronze/steel strings)
- Jumbo
- Made in the USA
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Solid figured maple back and sides
- Traditional hand-carved X-bracing
- 2-piece maple neck, “Slim Taper” profile
- Indian rosewood fingerboard, 20 frets
- Scale length: 25.5"
- Radius: 12"
- Neck width at 1st fret: 1.725" / 43.81 mm
- Neck width at last fret: 5.70 cm / 2.245"
- Indian rosewood bridge
- Baggs HiFi DNA preamp (volume and tone controls in the soundhole)
- Bone nut and saddle
- Gotoh Keystone tuning machines
- Nitrocellulose finish
- Sold with a Gibson hardshell case
- Ref. Euroguitar : 123652








