Gibson SJ Southern Jumbo Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1948), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 1989-29 (FON), sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a fine sounding Southern Jumbo from the just-post-WW II period, showing some signs of use but better preserved than many. These early SJ's are fairly rare guitars, and we're always pleased to have another one in stock. Features specific to this year-1948- include the earliest gold block script Gibson logo with the dot joined to the G, the newer bound fingerboard with pearloid double parallelogram inlay and the last of the WWII era thin-gear Kluson individual tuners. The sunburst top with a small tortoise celluloid pickguard has a lovely dark look; the top edge is seven-ply bound while the back is five-ply. This guitar has a neck profile quite a bit slimmer than the wartime "Louisville sluggers"-Gibson had figured out by 1948 that with the truss rod back as a standard feature, they could go back to the 1940-era slimmer necks. This is a very powerful sounding and comfortable playing guitar, at home with both vintage and modern musical stylings.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/4 in. (41.3 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 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). This guitar remains very original and in fine playing condition overall, with some general wear but no major repairs or alterations. There is pickwear to the top mostly around the lower edge of the soundhole rim, with a few errant pick scrapes above it. There is one repaired side crack at the treble waist, solid but a not particularly neatly done with some evident touch up. The back of the neck has quite a bit of finish wear, but is worn down smooth and is very comfortable. The guitar retains its original Wartime Kluson tuners, top-belly bridge, bone nut and frets which have been crowned down a bit but still play well. Sounds great with the typical throaty midrange and sweet chunky sound these are well known for-a lovely example of one of our favorite Gibson Jumbos, the just-postwar SJ. Excellent - Condition.
