1937 Gibson Advanced Jumbo

$50,000.00

  • Year: 1937
  • Manufacturer: Gibson
  • Model: Advanced Jumbo
  • Case: Original Hard
  • Color: sunburst top, natural back and sides
  • Condition: Very Good
  • Description: Gibson Advanced Jumbo Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # (FON) 31 C 16, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case. The veritable holy grail of Gibson flattops, the slope-shoulder Advanced Jumbo is generally considered the finest guitar of its type in Gibson's entire history. This one dates to the beginning of 1937, and is thus fairly early example. Listing at $80.00, the "AJ" was a development of the 1934 Jumbo, with a rosewood body instead of mahogany and fancier cosmetics, specifically the unusual arrowhead inlay on the fingerboard and headstock. The 25 1/2" scale is 3/4" longer than other Gibson 16" Jumbo guitars; this coupled with the rosewood body produces an extremely powerful sound, unique among Gibsons. Designed to compete directly with Martin's Dreadnought D-28 for the radio Cowboy and "Hillbilly" players' attentions, the Advanced Jumbo's sound combines volume, projection and sweetness in an unparalleled package. This "AJ" is a pleasure to see, hear and play, and a guitar that absolutely lives up to its formidable reputation.Overall length is 41 1/4 in. (104.8 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 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 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). This guitar has been very well played, with a number of repairs over the years but substantially original, still a truly fine player's guitar. The bridge is an excellent well-worn reproduction in the original style-the bridgeplate appears original as is all the internal bracing. Back appears to been off and re-installed-the kerfing is all solid and uncut; the neck has been re-set, there is some slight compression to the upper edge of the soundhole by the fingerboard but everything is solid. There is a decent amount of touched up area around the bridge where the original lifted off long ago. There is a fairly small area with some heavy pickwear between the pickguard and bridge well into the wood. Tuners are the correct period open back Grovers; at one point strip tuners were fitted but there was no routing and the original tuners and bushings fit perfectly with little evidence of ever being off. Some wear to the back of the neck; fingerboard and frets are original with wear to frets and the board itself in the lower positions. There are a couple of small marks on the headstock that appear to be cigarette burns! The finish overall is checked and there are numerous small dings and chips but it is substantially original, except for the touch up around the bridge area. This guitar must have seen some very heavy use over the last 75 tears, and playing it today it's still easy to see why! Very Good + Condition.