Description
Exc Condition / SN: 897055
1-11/16″ Nut / 2″ string spacing
One Repaired Top Crack
One Owner
This 1968 Gibson J-200 is one of the most significant guitar models Gibson has ever made. Considered by many to be the “Flagship model” for Gibson, these “true Jumbo” guitars were first seen in the Gibson catalog in 1937. This example from 1968 shows the typical highly figured Maple back, sides and neck with Spruce top and beautiful colorful sunburst over the whole guitar.
The Neck:
Three-piece highly figured Maple Neck with thin Rosewood stringers between each piece. Back of peghead is blackened, resolving into a long “bee stinger” along the back of the neck.
This is a fully bound guitar, with cream bindings around peghead and along the fingerboard. Gibson pearl logo inlaid at top of peghead veneer, with the J-200 “crown” inlay in the center and stylized “Custom” black/white truss-rod cover just above the nut.
The nut has been shimmed and is possibly the original nut. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with large solid pearl crown inlays and dark position markers along the bass side binding of fingerboard. Multiple cream/black/cream heel cap. Both sides of the back of neck show hand wear through the finish. There is one minor lacquer pothole area that is well out of the way, so your thumb doesn’t feel it.
The tuners are the original Gold tuners with closed housing and metal tulip buttons.
The Body:
Again, the attention is on the lovely sienna color sunburst that shows off the Spruce top and the Maple back and sides in a lovely manner. Original elaborate Chrysanthemum pickguard. The soundhole rosette has inner 7-ply circle with outer 3-ply concentric circle. The one-of-a-kind original Bridge is solid Gabon Ebony with 4 large pearl shapes inlaid, where earlier J-200 did not. Ebony adjustable Saddle.
The body is bound with outer cream bindings, with the top having 6-ply multiple purflings and the back having 3-ply purflings alongside the outer binding.
There is an early Barcus Berry acoustic piezo p/u mounted under the bridge on 2 screws that can be seen from the top of the bridge. The output jack is mounted on the side of the guitar away from the original aluminum endpin/strap button.
One old repaired top crack alongside the fingerboard extension. This Gibson J-200 has the ox-yoke stabilizing wood under the top. This is a board that arches under the top directly below the bridge. This piece is totally un-necessary but was installed by Gibson at the time of construction, just in case the top sunk a little. If your top sank, you could turn the screw to contact the underside of the top and press the top upward… Another wonderful(?) innovation from Gibson. Most people just ignore these devices and leave them installed while others take them out.
Comes w/ very cool Original Hard Case
