The J-160E was introduced in 1954. It was basically an all-laminated
version of the J-45 (a slope shouldered, mahogany dreadnaught) with a ladder-braced
laminated spruce top fitted with a P-90 pickup
at the end of the fingerboard. It was unusual in that it had 15 frets
clear of the body instead of the usual 14 fret placement. The J-160E
was discontinued 1979 and re-introduced and re-designed (solid X-braced
spruce top) in 1991. In 2000, Gibson unveiled a J-160E with original
specifications: the John Lennon Limited Edition model. At the Summer
NAMM show in July 2002, Gibson introduced the John Lennon J-160E Peace model
(only 750 made) which simulates the third incarnation of John’s guitar, i.e.
– stripped of finish. In 1968, John's J-160E was stripped of its psychedelic
paint job and it was left natural. The un-finished guitar was first
seen during the Beatles recording sessions for The Beatles “White Album,”
but it was most famous for its use at John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Bed In”
peace demonstrations in Amsterdam and Montreal. During the Montreal
gig, he etched two sets of caricatures of Yoko and himself on the front
of the guitar. This final version of John's Gibson J-160E is the basis
for the new Peace Model , though it is neither an exact reissue nor replica.
Gibson says it "resembles" Lennon's guitar. Okay, whatever.
GIBSON JOHN LENNON J-160E PEACE MODEL (2002)
Body: Hollow; laminated spruce top, solid 2-piece mahogany
back, and solid mahogany sides; 4-ply bound top, single bound back
Finish: Natural, nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck: 1-piece mahogany, set-in; holly headstock overlay with pearloidl logo
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood, pearloid trapezoid markers
Number of Frets: 20
Pickguard: Tortoise, plastic
Bridge: Rosewood with ceramic saddle
Nut: Plastic
Tuners: Gibson Kluson-style, enclosed, nickel
Pickups: One P-90 single coil with adjustable pole pieces
Controls: Volume, tone
Scale Length: 24 3/4 inches
Neck Width at Nut: 1 11/16 inches
Body Width at Lower Bout: 15 15/16 inches
Body Depth: 4 3/4 inches
Weight: n/a