Gibson Advanced Jumbo Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937)
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Item # 11636
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Gibson Advanced Jumbo Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 1224C (FON), sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewod fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is an unusual example of a veritable holy grail flat-top, Gibson's pre-war Advanced Jumbo. It is fairly early dating to mid-1937 but one glance will tell it has seen some changes over it's 85-year plus life, most notably a 1950s fingerboard and headstock veneer added at the Gibson factory. The most recent owner purchased it in the early 1980s from the widow of the original owner, who remembered her husband "sent it to Gibson" for work sometime in the 1950s.
This rosewood bodied, slope-shoulder model is often considered the finest flat top guitar in Gibson's history. The "AJ" has long been a most sought-after vintage guitar, rarely coming up for sale. Listing in 1937 at $80.00, it was a deluxe development of the initial 1934 Jumbo. It featured a rosewood body instead of mahogany and fancier cosmetics, originally "arrowhead" inlay on the fingerboard and headstock. A major structural difference from other Gibson flat tops is a 25 1/2" scale, 3/4" longer than the Kalamazoo standard. Coupled with the rosewood body this produces an extremely powerful sound unique among Gibson flat-tops. The neck is very slim, speedier and more modern-feeling than most 1930s Gibsons.
This "AJ" is now a unique combination of elements and eras. We don't know why the guitar went to Gibson for service, but at that time it received a new fingerboard and headstock veneer. The mahogany neck remains original; it appears perhaps the truss rod was replaced which would explain the work. Gibson was not in the restoration business; they used available parts to complete repairs! The fingerboard blank installed was for a J-200, the only long scale flat top then in production. The headstock veneer is the style used on the J-185. The original pre-war Grover tuners were retained; later replaced with larger machines but now neatly re-installed.
The finish on the guitar appears original except on the face of the headstock, with what looks like a period clear factory overspray over the rest of the instrument. There is some shading added around the heel; this is under the finish. None of the lacquer is overly thick. At some point someone scalloped the rear legs of the main X brace; this was not factory work but has not affected the top in a negative way, there is no bulging or distortion. The bridge was reglued and cut down fairly heavily, and the retaining bolts removed. The bridgeplate is original with a tiny patch on the back edge.
Designed to compete directly with Martin's Dreadnought D-28 for the radio Cowboy and "Hillbilly" players' attention, the Advanced Jumbo combines volume, projection, and responsiveness in an unparalleled package. It doesn't exactly sound like a '37 D-28, or any other Gibson but once played tends to linger in the memory. This one is not wholly original, but still a wonderful playing and spectacular sounding guitar. It can be enjoyed as it is, or restored to its original appearance if desired.
Overall length is 41 3/8 in. (105.1 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Considering the work done over the last 85 years this AJ does not appear to have been played all that much. The finish has typical checking with small dings, dents and chips but no substantial wear except some rubbing away to the wood along the sides of the neck. The bass side has a spot of what looks like moisture wear at the turn of the upper bout. There is very little pickwear except one tiny spot off the pack edge of the guard. Small touched up areas around the bridge show it was reglued long ago.
A small spruce grain split has been repaired running from the upper back edge of the pickguard to the bridge. The only other crack repairs are small grain splits off either side of the fingerboard into the soundhole rim, with small cleats underneath. There is a check line along the back center seam below the heel; it is visible but has not opened up. There are no other cracks. The tuners are the correct period open back Grovers; at one point Schaller tuners were fitted, but the original are neatly restored with only some light pressure rings on the headstock face as evidence. The bridge pins appear original or at least period; the endpin is the hollow metal piece sold with old DeArmond pickups.
This guitar plays fine as is with a low comfortable action and sounds great. It could be restored to its original appearance with a replica fingerboard, headstock veneer and full-height bridge, which would also suggest a neck re-set. We kind of prefer it as is, a cool piece of Gibson history in several ways. As it stands this is an easy playing, great sounding instrument with its own story, still in the original 1930s HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is an unusual example of a veritable holy grail flat-top, Gibson's pre-war Advanced Jumbo. It is fairly early dating to mid-1937 but one glance will tell it has seen some changes over it's 85-year plus life, most notably a 1950s fingerboard and headstock veneer added at the Gibson factory. The most recent owner purchased it in the early 1980s from the widow of the original owner, who remembered her husband "sent it to Gibson" for work sometime in the 1950s.
This rosewood bodied, slope-shoulder model is often considered the finest flat top guitar in Gibson's history. The "AJ" has long been a most sought-after vintage guitar, rarely coming up for sale. Listing in 1937 at $80.00, it was a deluxe development of the initial 1934 Jumbo. It featured a rosewood body instead of mahogany and fancier cosmetics, originally "arrowhead" inlay on the fingerboard and headstock. A major structural difference from other Gibson flat tops is a 25 1/2" scale, 3/4" longer than the Kalamazoo standard. Coupled with the rosewood body this produces an extremely powerful sound unique among Gibson flat-tops. The neck is very slim, speedier and more modern-feeling than most 1930s Gibsons.
This "AJ" is now a unique combination of elements and eras. We don't know why the guitar went to Gibson for service, but at that time it received a new fingerboard and headstock veneer. The mahogany neck remains original; it appears perhaps the truss rod was replaced which would explain the work. Gibson was not in the restoration business; they used available parts to complete repairs! The fingerboard blank installed was for a J-200, the only long scale flat top then in production. The headstock veneer is the style used on the J-185. The original pre-war Grover tuners were retained; later replaced with larger machines but now neatly re-installed.
The finish on the guitar appears original except on the face of the headstock, with what looks like a period clear factory overspray over the rest of the instrument. There is some shading added around the heel; this is under the finish. None of the lacquer is overly thick. At some point someone scalloped the rear legs of the main X brace; this was not factory work but has not affected the top in a negative way, there is no bulging or distortion. The bridge was reglued and cut down fairly heavily, and the retaining bolts removed. The bridgeplate is original with a tiny patch on the back edge.
Designed to compete directly with Martin's Dreadnought D-28 for the radio Cowboy and "Hillbilly" players' attention, the Advanced Jumbo combines volume, projection, and responsiveness in an unparalleled package. It doesn't exactly sound like a '37 D-28, or any other Gibson but once played tends to linger in the memory. This one is not wholly original, but still a wonderful playing and spectacular sounding guitar. It can be enjoyed as it is, or restored to its original appearance if desired.
Overall length is 41 3/8 in. (105.1 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Considering the work done over the last 85 years this AJ does not appear to have been played all that much. The finish has typical checking with small dings, dents and chips but no substantial wear except some rubbing away to the wood along the sides of the neck. The bass side has a spot of what looks like moisture wear at the turn of the upper bout. There is very little pickwear except one tiny spot off the pack edge of the guard. Small touched up areas around the bridge show it was reglued long ago.
A small spruce grain split has been repaired running from the upper back edge of the pickguard to the bridge. The only other crack repairs are small grain splits off either side of the fingerboard into the soundhole rim, with small cleats underneath. There is a check line along the back center seam below the heel; it is visible but has not opened up. There are no other cracks. The tuners are the correct period open back Grovers; at one point Schaller tuners were fitted, but the original are neatly restored with only some light pressure rings on the headstock face as evidence. The bridge pins appear original or at least period; the endpin is the hollow metal piece sold with old DeArmond pickups.
This guitar plays fine as is with a low comfortable action and sounds great. It could be restored to its original appearance with a replica fingerboard, headstock veneer and full-height bridge, which would also suggest a neck re-set. We kind of prefer it as is, a cool piece of Gibson history in several ways. As it stands this is an easy playing, great sounding instrument with its own story, still in the original 1930s HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.