{"product_id":"gibson-black-special-4-arch-top-acoustic-guitar-1937-7841","title":"Gibson Black Special #4 Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1937)","description":"Gibson Black Special #4 Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), Kalamazoo, Michigan. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGibson issued a number of fretted oddities in the 1930s, but the \"Black Special\" arch-top guitars like this one are still largely unexplained. There are a number of shipment records for guitars designated as such, but no catalog information appears to have been published and the whys and wherefores are lost. This guitar is basically a 16\" L-50 devoid of its sunburst finish and trim, finished in gleaming black overall with white single binding and a silkscreened logo. The top is carved, the back flatm and the guitar is all solid wood; the hardware is the same as the full-line Gibsons. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neck is the \"V\" profile typical of 1930s Gibson lower-end guitars. The opaque finish likely allowed Gibson to use up whatever cosmetically flawed wood they had and then sell these \"Specials\" to dealers at a very low cost, still a major advantage in the late Depression period. Whatever its origins, this is a fine-playing and sounding guitar, better than many other period instruments and a very good quality pre-war carved top despite its \"black sheep\" trim.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 40 1\/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5\/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3\/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3\/4 in. (44 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a very nice original guitar, with some light wear but no serious finish loss, damage, or repair. It also plays and sounds very well; a fine example of what Gibson could offer in the pre-WWII era in a budget carved-top guitar. Includes a slightly later period (1940s) HSC with some hinge and latch issues. Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853334335628,"sku":"7841","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_5b1983bd-87a1-44c3-8e62-a51fd0ff04e4.jpg?v=1774334854","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-black-special-4-arch-top-acoustic-guitar-1937-7841","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}