Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends

archtop.com

1936 Gibson Super 400

Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may be found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.

Serial #: 93966 white oval label, hand calligraphed

Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid bookmatched tiger flame maple back and sides; flame maple neck with walnut centerstripe; solid ebony fingerboard; mother of pearl block fingerboard split-block peghead inlay; pearl script Gibson logo; seven-ply bound top, five-ply bound headstock and neck, triple bound f-holes and back.

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes ornate hand-engraved trapeze tailpiece with Super 400 script logo, original series Grover Imperial tuners, art-deco truss rod cover. Vintage correct marbleized multi-bound pickguard and adjustable compensated rosewood bridge with pearl wedge inlays.

Notes: "Live and direct from KPHO-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, it's Paul Herndon and his Super 400 guitar!" So might announcer Sheldon Gibbs have kicked off the very first country music television show in the Grand Canyon State. According to his son, Herndon acquired this storied guitar in 1944, reportedly from a Gibson employee who received it as a retirement gift. Paul Herndon passed away in 1949, but not before fronting a house band on KPHO radio and TV that backed stars and locals alike, including an up-and-coming young singer named Marty Robbins.

The family returned this guitar to Gibson in 2010 for a factory restoration that included new Cremona sunburst finish to the back and neck, and vintage correct multi-bound pickguard and pearl inlaid rosewood bridge. Interestingly though, this wasn't this big guitar's first trip back to its maker. A closer inspection reveals that the instrument has the long 25 1/2" scale, parallel braced soundboard and pearl Gibson logo of the postwar Super 400 models, which would indicate the instrument was originally factory refurbished sometime after 1951 as well.

The top finish is well aged, with the typical fine lacquer checking of finish at least a half-century old, and the instrument has been scrupulously maintained, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The action is smooth and low over the solid ebony fingerboard with fresh medium jumbo fretwork, and an inviting gentle C profile tiger maple neck. Responding to big band player's demands for more powerful guitars, Gibson introduced the longer scale in the late 30's along with a return to the classic parallel bracing of the 20's. These features combine with the excellent neck angle and fine tall bridge height of this guitar to produce an instrument whose volume and projection are remarkable indeed: the voice is vibrantly resonant, with cavernous bass, brilliant highs, and sparkling natural reverb. And loud. Real, real loud.

The entire package is nestled in it's original deluxe brown leather pink plush lined hardshell case, complete with KPHO radio sticker on the side: '1230 On Your Dial.' A winning combination of prewar styling and modern performance, this unique guitar offers the serious player exceptional tone, superb playability and unbeatable value. Call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as necessary; 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 bronze strings (.013-.057). 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 Gibson G&S Masterkraft brown leather deluxe plush hardshell case.

Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends