Gibson and Keb’ Mo’ release the 12-fret, “3.0” version of his signature J-45 acoustic

Five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ has joined forces with Gibson once again to create the third version of his signature J-45 acoustic – now with fewer frets, increased comfort and a fuller tone.

• READ MORE: One of Gibson’s first-ever electric basses, an ultra-rare 1954 EB-1, goes up for sale on Reverb

Billed as the “3.0” by Gibson, the new acoustic model is, for the most part, a well spec’d version of the original J-45, but with new enhancements personally chosen by the guitarist.

Now with a twelfth fret joint and a total of nineteen frets – as opposed to the previous twenty frets and fourteenth fret joint – these adjustments are tailored to make the playing experience more comfortable for users.

According to Gibson, this compromised design delivers “exceptional playing comfort”, a “rounder, more full-bodied tone” and is “ideal for a wide variety of musical compositions and playing styles”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gibson (@gibsonguitar)

Featuring mahogany back and sides and a thermally aged Sitka spruce top, the “3.0” edition comes in a vintage sunburst finish without a pickguard.

The mahogany neck is tailored to a custom Keb’ Mo’ profile and topped with a 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard. A bone nut and bone saddle are included too, as well as an adjustable truss rod, Grover open-back tuners and mother-of-pearl dot inlays.

A compound Dovetail neck-to-body joint adjoins the neck and body and, under the hood, traditional hand-scalloped Advanced X-Bracing is combined with an LR Baggs VTC preamp and under saddle pickup.

As for the guitarist behind the design, throughout his fifty-year-long career, Keb’ Mo’ has become famed as a solo artist and has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the guitar world. These include Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy and B.B King.

The third edition of the Keb’ Mo’ J-45 is available now for $4,299. Find out more at Gibson.