DESCRIPTION:
This Gibson SJ (Southern Jumbo) steel-string acoustic guitar was built during 1964 at the Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Except for replacement Grover Roto-Matic tuners, this guitar is in original condition with wear consistent with the guitar being used as intended.
Construction and Condition
The top and bracing are Sitka Spruce, while the bridge plate is a hardwood laminate (as stock and in very good condition). The sides, back, body blocks, and neck are Honduran Mahogany while the fingerboard, bridge and adjustable saddle (made standard in 1961) are Indian Rosewood. At this point, Gibson was shifting from Brazilian Rosewood. The split-parallelogram position markers are acrylic, and the headstock Gibson logo and crown are Mother of Pearl. The pickguard is the original thin faux-tortoise with three points. Very typical of the 1960's, the neck is fairly narrow especially compared to modern reissues.
The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is in reasonable condition for its age with plenty of natural checking and moderate dents and scratches from use. The frets are original with light to moderate wear and corresponding fingerboard wear. Most of the visible wear is around the soundhole, particularly on the treble side. Just past the high E string a small section of wood is missing inside the rosette ring, and past that the finish is worn through into the top wood. There is a small amount of lift at the bass end of the bridge, however as the two Mother of Pearl dots on the bridge cover locating bolts, this is of little concern.
The action is good with plenty of adjustment available. It's a comfortable guitar to play with a full well-balanced tone, with plenty of high end sparkle and projection. It's clear that the previous owners liked to play this guitar!
A modern TKL flat-top dreadnought sized hard shell case is included.
Gibson SJ Model History
The Gibson SJ appeared in 1942 as a slope or round-shouldered dreadnought guitar with the same dimensions and construction as the J-45, but with fancier appointments, particularly a bound fingerboard with split-parallelogram position markers and multilayer binding for the top.
The 'Southern Jumbo' name was created to appeal to guitar dealers and guitarists in the Southern USA. The upmarket appointments were necessary to differentiate it from the J-45.
Like the J-45, it always had a sunburst finish top until 1954 when the natural-top SJN (Southern Jumbo Natural) was offered; the SJN model became the Country Western in 1956. In late 1963 Gibson adopted the square-shouldered shape commonly used by other prominent builders, as with Martin's D series. Both the SJ and Country Western models were discontinued in 1977. SJ reissues started appearing in 1991 and use the original, vintage round shoulder body style.
It's important to note that Gibson has used the term 'SJ' for two distinct meanings and body styles: Southern Jumbo and Super Jumbo. The Southern Jumbo has a 16 inch lower bout, 11.5 inch upper bout, flat top, round or square shouldered body, while the very different Super Jumbo has a 17 inch wide lower bout, 12.5 inch wide upper bout body. Currently, Gibson only uses the SJ designation for Super Jumbo models.
|
There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: SJ or Southern Jumbo
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
- Instrument Year: 1964
- Instrument Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Sunburst
- Instrument Class: Steel String Acoustic Guitar
- Instrument Serial Number: 190715, built during 1964 at Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Playing Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4.365 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.98 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 24.64 in
- Scale Length Metric: 626 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.567 in
- Nut Width Metric: 40.05 mm
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Case Type: Hard shell TKL
- Items in Case: N/A
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190537
|
|
There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |