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2001 Gibson Super 400CES Custom
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Serial #: 22991010
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched fine grained solid Sitka spruce top; solid carved flame maple back, sides and neck; solid ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl block fingerboard and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, neck, head and pickguard binding, triple bound f-holes, polished bone nut.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes Kluson Sealfast tuners, hand engraved trapeze tailpiece, adjustable Tune-o-matic bridge with rosewood base; multi-bound marbled tortoise pickguard, black reflector cap knobs and three way switch, engraved truss rod cover with "Custom" imprint. Additional set of Armstrong Handwound Single coil pickups installed, original gold '57 Classic humbucking pickups included in case.
Notes: If any guitar can truly be said to be fit for The King, then this is it. Built from mid-1960 through mid-1969, the Florentine cutaway Super 400CES was immortalized by guitar legends like Kenny Burrell, Larry Coryell and other star jazzers of the decade. With its extra deep cutaway, this version offered players unparalleled access to the entire range of the fingerboard. Now highly desired by collectors and players alike, the Florentine Super 400 was immortalized by no less a picker than Elvis Presley himself. Borrowing one from his longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, Elvis featured the model prominently on his now-legendary 1968 NBC Comeback Special, forever associating this guitar with the Man From Tupelo.
Out of regular production for some years now, the Super 400 is available on custom order only. This stunning Custom Shop guitar was built to the specs of the classic 60's design, but with a few improvements. The back is carved of solid tiger flame maple, unlike the laminate backs of the originals. And while many 60's guitars were built with ultra-skinny 1 9/16" width necks, this guitar has the more player-friendly 1 11/16" nut.
With its blonde top and walnut body, the guitar is finished in one of Gibson's rarest color combinations, shown only on a few examples from the late 60's. From somewhere in the company's secret vaults come the original gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, long unavailable on the general market, and pickguard of marbleized tortoise, a material only Gibson seems to have a stash of. Finally, the guitar is supplied with two sets of pickups: the Armstrong Handwound Single coils (installed) are a faithful P-90 style design, with all the clarity and detail of the 50's originals. And the original '57 Classic PAFs are included as well, for that warm, rich humbucker tone.
The back shows handsome deep flame figure, skillfully bookmatched, and the solid spruce soundboard is carved of exceptionally fine grained Sitka spruce. With a comfy light D profile, the neck has an effortless feel, gliding smoothly through the palm, with smooth low action over immaculate medium jumbo frets. The voice is full and buttery, with a warmth and depth only the super jumbo body can deliver. And apart from a few wisps of checking and an incidental nick or two, the guitar appears virtually unplayed, and is supplied with all original papers and Certificate of Authenticity.
The absolute pinnacle of the Gibson line, as sharp as ever. One only: call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original deluxe black Gibson hardshell case with plush lining .
