Gibson Jumbo Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1934), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
One of the rarest-and coolest-of all Gibson acoustic guitars, the "Jumbo" was Gibson's first 16", round-shoulder Dreadnought-sized flat-top Spanish guitar. This powerful-sounding big-bodied instrument was the progenitor of generations of all the round shouldered "J" models that have since become some of the world's favorite guitars. Introduced in 1934 at a price of $60.00, the Jumbo was very short lived-within a little over 2 years the design had been split into two different guitars-the cheaper, bare-bones J-35 and the fancy rosewood Advanced Jumbo.
This original 1934 Jumbo is typical of the earliest models with an unbound fingerboard, dark top with a small sunburst area and riveted-gear Grover tuners. Other specific Jumbo features are the pearl Gibson headstock logo and sunburst finished areas on the back, sides and even the neck. Simply one of the greatest experiences of flat-top playing and collecting, and a truly wonderful sounding guitar!
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 9/16 in. (11.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.). Overall a very fine example of this extremely rare guitar. There has been some neck heel area repair -a sealed cracks on the rib either side of the heel but nothing in the long French heel itself, just some finish loss on the tip of the heel. Overall the finish on this guitar is quite good, with some general wear overall and one large "case ding' spot in the top upper corner, but less pickwear to the top than most - just some chew to the soundhole edge. Bridge looks original, if cut down slightly-this may be an exceptionally fine repro but it looks great to us. The small maple bridgeplate is intact and unaltered -even the bridge pins and endpin are still original. This ia a truly spectacular sounding guitar, a special experience for the Gibson flat-top enthusiast. Overall Very Good + Condition.
