Excellent condition featuring square shouldered dreadnought body, solid Sitka spruce top with sunburst finish, solid mahogany back and sides, multiple top and back bindings, large pointed black pickguard, decorative soundhole rosette, rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays starting at the first fret, bone nut, Gibson open book peghead, black peghead face with pearl Gibson logo and pearl crown inlays, single ply black plastic bell shaped truss rod cover, three per side Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines with small oval white plastic buttons, serial number impressed into the back of the peghead, white plastic strap button on neck heel and original hard shell case with black Tolex covering and orange plush lining.
This early 1965 Gibson Southern jumbo acoustic guitar is in overall excellent vintage cosmetic condition showing only slight signs of play wear throughout (see photos). There is some finish checking throughout the body but it is very mild compared to other examples that I've seen. The sunburst top finish is extremely vibrant and looks fantastic. The adjustable bridge has been removed and a non-adjustable bridge with a bone saddle has been expertly installed. This bridge is the same size as the old one, fits perfectly and looks great. This guitar was also professionally refretted within the past couple of years. The new frets show hardly any signs of use and have a lifetime of playing left in them. This guitar has been professionally set up and plays outstanding with low action up and down the fingerboard. The neck angle is optimal and the top is relatively flat. This guitar had a pickup installed at one time but it has been removed and the end pin input jack still remains.
This is one of the best playing examples of a mid 60s Southern Jumbo that I have come across in years. This example is from early 1965 and features the wider 1 11/16 inch nut width which is much more desirable and player friendly than the 1 9/16 inch nut width that came later in the year. This guitar has a fantastic dry, thumpy and articulate tone with plenty of volume and mid range - a truly perfect guitar for studio use and enough vibe to be a wonderful songwriting companion. This SJ is housed in its original black hard shell case. If you're after an amazing, crack free, vintage Gibson flat top that needs absolutely nothing and is ready for another lifetime of songs, this one is a winner. A gem of a guitar shipped out safely and promptly from our little shop here in Clarksville, Tennessee, to your front door.
