1940 Gibson Recording King Ray Whitley Sunburst

Gibson Recording King 'Ray Whitley' Model 1028 1940 | $8775 | (v1717) Recording King 'Ray Whitley' super-jumbo acoustic guitar made for Mongonery Ward by Gibson in Kalamazoo, MI in 1940. Ray Whitley was a composer, cowboy recording artist and movie star tagged by Gibson in the late 30s to endorse a line of so-called 'budget' guitars, although made by the same skilled aritsans and quality materials as the 'Gibson' line of instruments. The Recording King was introduced in 1939 and was based on the Gibson Advanced Jumbo featuring a 'slope' dreadnaught shape and X-bracing. The Ray Whitley features a unique oversized pick guard, but lacks the standard Gibson truss rod. Two models were offered, the 1027 with rosewood back and sides and fancy finger board inlays, and the 1028 in mahogany with plain dot inlay. The Recording King guitars went in and out of production rather quickly, lasting about a year, with only 180 rosewood Model 1027 shipped, and 232 of the mahogany model 1028.

This Model 1028 features mahogany back and sides, spruce top with white celluloid top and back binding and the uniquely shaped faux-tortoise pick guard, rectangular rosewood bridge with two anchoring bolt holes covered in pearl dots, bound mahogany neck carved in a 'soft' 'V', typical of Gibsons in the late 30s, a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and Brazilian overlay on the head stock and Recording King and Ray Whitley stenciled in paint, topped with a crown stenciled on an inlaid piece of pearl. The original tuners are Kluson three-on-a-side strip tuners with bushings. The top is X-braced and features two tapered tone bars.

The body measures 15 7/8" across at the lower bout. Scale length is 25". The neck measures 1 3/4" across at the nut, and string spacing is 2 7/16" across at the saddle. Action set at 6 & 8/64".

Prior repairs when we received the guitar include: neck reset; back of neck refinished and possibly the back; strap button installed in heel. There is a treble side pickguard crack that had been glued and cleated. Back of the head stock is missing the original strap attachment, but the other piece remains at the end pin. One amber tuner button is replaced.

The guitar plays very well with good frets and smooth action. It produces the coveted Gibson boom, with bone-rattling bass and powerful mids and highs, great separation and sustain. Very powerful played with a flat pick, and warm and woody with great presence when fingerpicked.

Comes with a hard case.

Check the sound clip