Description
Exceptional condition • All Original
Maple • Sunburst • Original Case
1-11/16″ Width at Nut • 25-1/2″ Scale
SN: A-14087
These early Gibson SJ-200’s are getting more scarce as time goes by. This 1953 Gibson SJ-200 is a fine example of a real good one. It represents the last year of the “Super Jumbo” 200’s. These “Super Jumbo” 200’s have some differences to the J-200’s that followed it. The older SJ-200’s have more complex open moustache bridge with four blocks of pearl inlay, instead of two; 7-ply top edge binding and 5-ply back binding; bound peghead; multiple bound heelcap; pickguard with cut border, hand inlaid dots and paint.
Not only is this guitar set-up well and all necessary maintenance done professionally. It plays real well, sounds great and has a huge presence.
Highly figured Maple back, sides and neck, with high-grade Spruce top. The back of body shows off some great figure in the Maple, with lots of chatoyance.
The neck is two-piece Maple with Rosewood stringer in center. The peghead veneer has Gibson logo pearl inlay at top, pearl crown inlay in center and rare original white-bordered truss rod cover above the nut. The nut appears to be the original nut that has been professionally shimmed. The fingerboard is Brazilian Rosewood with solid M.O.P. crown inlays. The frets show no wear and fingerboard is nice and smooth. Peghead and neck are bound with antique’d white bindings. Tuners appear to be original gold Kluson DeLuxe closed backs, with yellowed tulip buttons.
The Spruce Top is in beautiful shape, with all the original parts in place, original lacquer with no overspray and almost no signs of playing wear. It is bound with 7-ply antique’d white/black bindings around the top edge. The top does have a few nicks and scratches here and there, but nothing serious. One minor crack at pickguard repaired. The original pickguard is in great shape, with no deterioration of the tortoise celluloid material or the artwork. Original tobacco sunburst is robust, with no flaking and no problem lacquer checks. The soundhole rosette is 7-ply white/black inner ring, with outer 3-ply band.
The Brazilian Rosewood bridge is in wonderful condition and shows off the 4 blocks of pearl and the open moustache design. *No lacquer disturbed anywhere around the bridge.
The Maple sides are gorgeous, with no lacquer checking, no repairs, no touch-up. The Maple back is exceptionally nice – again, no player wear, no finish checking. *There is one repaired crack near binding at widest part of lower bout, on the bass side. This repair is excellent and is not glaringly obvious. The back binding is antique’d 5-ply white/black. Wooden marquetry strip inset into center line of back.
This may be a one-owner guitar. The previous owner had it for almost 70 years. It is obvious that he cared for it, as it was played enough to need fretwork and normal maintenance to nut and saddle over the years… But neither the guitar or the original case exhibits any rough or careless treatment. This guitar was treated like a family member its whole life.
Comes with lots of mojo, good set-up, good tone with a big voice, and a great condition original hard case.
If you’ve ever hankered for a great J-200, this is certainly a viable one for your consideration.
Call us for answers to questions you may have.
