1938 Gibson Super 400 Sunburst

1938 Gibson Super 400 archtop guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 9xxx0; Body: sunburst finished highly figured maple back and sides and spruce top, back with unusual rosewood diamond inlay to centre (possibly an old small repair), minor finish loss to extreme edges, checking and other light marks as to be expected but generally very good for age; Neck: good, light wear to sides of fretboard around the first position, vacant hole to the bass hand side of heel just below the fretboard; Fretboard: ebony; Frets: good, appears re-fretted, minor tarnishing to treble edge of upper frets; Hardware: good; Case: later fitted hard case; Weight: 3.30kg; Overall condition: good for age

*The Tony Arnold Collection

** The Super 400 was designed in late 1934 to be the centrepiece of the company's strategy to dominate the archtop guitar market and was the biggest, most ornate and expensive guitar available during tough economic times. The Super 400 was a first of its kind having an 18" lower bout whilst also setting a new standard of excellence in guitar making through fine craftsmanship and no expense spared with construction materials

A total of four hundred and one Super 400s were made between 1935 and 1941 with this being one of seventy-eight made in 1938