Gibson SJ Southern Jumbo Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst top, dark stained back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard., brown hard shell case.
A great-sounding all-original SJ from the dawn of the 1950's. The Southern Jumbo was conceived as an upscale J-45, with the same basic construction and materials but more elaborate ornamentation compared to the "plain workingman's" Gibson flat top. The guitar was introduced in small numbers during WWII but became a more popular instrument by the early 1950's.
The top is 7-ply and the back is 5-ply bound; the double soundhole rings have a total of 10 bands of B & W celluloid. The bound rosewood fingerboard has Gibson's classic "double parallelogram" inlay. The top has the traditional rich dark Gibson sunburst with a small tortoise celluloid pickguard and rosewood "reverse belly" bridge.
The neck is a very round and deep profile, not as chunky as the 1940's guitars, but more substantial than the typical 50's Gibson neck. Tuners are individual Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons, and the gold Gibson logo has the dot of the "I" joined to the "G" as typical of the earliest modern block script versions.
This guitar is virtually identical to the SJ often played by Hank Williams in the early 50's and is a great sounding and playing guitar with a crisper, more defined tone than many Gibson jumbos.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 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.).
This guitar has a number of well-repaired cracks (back and side, mostly), but no overspray or other obtrusive work. Some average finish wear around the soundhole, headstock edges and back of the neck; otherwise very attractive. Very Good + Condition.
