1955 Gibson Country & Western SJN J-50 Natural, Excellent, Hard, $4,500.00

Serial number: W4017-23. Here is a great sounding, playing, and looking Country Western from 1955. The Country & Western is a slope shouldered, deep bodied Jumbo and is the happy union of the Southern Jumbo and the J-50 – an SJ with a natural top. The internal structure is near identical to a wartime J-45; knife blade back braces, small maple bridge plate, and two scalloped tone bars. This one has always been a regular player and shows light wear and nicks but no signs of neglect and abuse. The Sitka top is very bright and fresh looking and responsive. The mahogany back and sides have some moderate dings and button wear but no cracks. The neck is a very comfortable D-shape with a 1 11/16” nut -- no capo marks, dings, or worn finish. The pickguard is of the lighter material, not the tone-killing stuff used in the later years. There is evidence of a one-time strap button and I will install a vintage-style button that matches the bridge pins before I ship. Tuners appear to be the original closed back Klusons with tulip buttons added. The frets and relatively new and recently leveled and crowned. The action is medium and it plays with clarity up the neck without buzzing. And speaking of playing, this one is addictive and fun. It has the crunchy Gibson sound with a nice bark when played aggressively and good bite and volume when flat picked. Comes with a somewhat worn but cool, older, and functional non-original case.