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1953 Gibson J-50

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FON#: Y6992-20

Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid quartersawn bookmatched spruce top; Honduras mahogany back, sides and neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge; mother of pearl dot fingerboard inlays; 3-ply top binding, swirl tortoise pickguard, nickel Kluson Deluxe three-on-a-plate tuners, bone saddle, adjustable truss rod.

Notes: The coveted blonde version of Gibson's most popular full sized flat top, the J-50 made its debut in 1942, and remains in the catalog to this day. Produced in fewer numbers than the sunburst J-45, the J-50 also sold at a premium price. The signature slope shouldered design and clear vibrant tone have made Gibson Jumbos a standby of Nashville players, and vintage examples have skyrocketed on the collector's market. And this time-capsule guitar has all the right stuff: the classic x-braced construction, tall skinny braces, round shoulders, reverse belly bridge, and the small swirl tortoise pickguard.

Maintained in stunning museum-quality condition, the guitar has 100% original finish, ambered to a gorgeous honey blonde, without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. At a featherweight 4 lb. 4 oz, the instrument is loud as a cannon, extremely comfortable to hold and play, and has a comfy, traditional full C neck profile, with fine original frets. The action is smooth and low with a fresh precision setup as well.

The voice of this guitar is simply cavernous: deep resonant bass, and highs shimmering with natural reverb: an exceptionally powerful guitar, and powerfully rewarding to play. Apart from an incidental nick or two, the guitar looks much as it did when it left Kalamazoo in the early days of the Eisenhower administration; even the normal finish checking one expects in a 60 year old guitar is absent save for a few small wisps. We've never seen one of these blonde beauties this pristine, and we're not expecting to anytime soon. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze 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.

Case: Deluxe molded black plush lined hardshell case.

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