1936 Gibson Advanced Jumbo Sunburst

FON: 912B. Desirable and collectable first year 1936 Gibson Advanced Jumbo. This rosewood slope shoulder dreadnought was designed as a direct response to Martin’s herringbone D-28 and made in small numbers between 1936-1940 (+/- 300 total). The specs are similar… but different. The Adi spruce top finished in a dark sunburst and firestripe guard with rosewood back and sides. Forward-X scalloped bracing with small maple bridge plate. Rectangular Rosewood bridge with bridge bolts and MOP dots. The body is bound in simple white with a w/b/w rosette. Mahogany neck and bound rosewood fingerboard with the double-arrowhead-diamond position markers and scale length of almost 25.5 inches. Inlaid “Gibson” on headstock with a continuation of the arrowhead-diamond theme. Tuners are Grover G-98. This example is quite straight and original with a couple of exceptions discussed below. The top is well behaved with no unauthorized bellying, distortion or dipping. The tone is predictably powerful, focused with chunky mids and a gutsy bottom.

The modifications: two well repaired pickup control nobs on the top and one jack hole on the rim of the lower bout. Repairs are excellent with well-matched wood and color correct light touchup. There is also a repaired, very tight inside pickguard crack and something in the upper bout looks like a check repaired before it went through the wood. No trace of it inside. The tip of the pickguard has been reglued. These repairs don’t impair the playability or tone but simply serve to keep the price in the realm of affordabilia.

When the guitar arrived, my luthier and I could tell it had great potential but the giant sound felt boxed up inside. I asked Mark Tossman to set it up to match my ‘38 and we’d go from there. Truss rod adjustment, fret dress, new saddle and reglue of a loose top brace. The bridge was too clunky and not slotted correctly. Mark slightly reshaped it in place to match the bridge of the ’38 (original) and installed a taller saddle. Bravo. It sounds spectacular with big piano-like drive and sustain, cut and overtones. It plays beautifully with its new setup.

As a first year of the model, there are some interesting differences from my ’38. The fretboard is raised off the body slightly. The logo is in a slightly lower position on the headstock (as if was missing the “The”) and the pickguard has a reverse fire stripe. Overall a great looking and playing example. The finish is still quite fresh although pocked a bit as if from tapping with a pick and moderate wear around the pickguard. The one-piece rosewood back is gorgeous. One ferrule was replaced. The new saddle is the correct material and thickness. The case is the original tweed with purple lining. All latches, hinges and handle are intact. One hinge re-riveted. Some moisture distress on the exterior of the case and loose felt inside. Overall a tremendous package. Wow.

Specs:

Top Wood: Adirondack Spruce
Back & Sides: East Indian Rosewood*
Bridge & Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Arrowheads & Diamond
Width (Lower bout): 16-3/16” (measured across the back)
Depth (at end pin): 4-13/16”
Scale length: 25.49”
Nut width: 1-11/16
String spacing: 2-1/8”