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Gibson 1955 Super 300

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Serial #: A-20452, white oval label FON#: X9004-15

Body size at lower bout: 18". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .090/1.00

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid bookmatched bubble maple back with tiger maple sides; solid maple neck with walnut centerstripe; solid rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl block double parallelogram fingerboard inlay, crown peghead inlay and pearl Gibson logo; three-ply top and soundhole binding, bound headstock, neck and back; original bone nut.

Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes S-400 style trapeze tailpiece; Kluson Deluxe tuners with single-ring tulip keys, compensated adjustable rosewood bridge. Vintage Gibson style bound tortoise pickguard, Archtop Acoustic undersaddle pickup with No-Drill Vintage Jack 1/8" endpin jack installed.

Notes: One of the rarest models in the Gibson catalog, the Super 300 was introduced in 1948 and discontinued just seven years later in 1955. During its short career, only a little over 200 Super 300's were produced in total. Structurally identical to the ornate Super 400, the Super 3 offered top-of-the line super jumbo performance with more understated trim. This example is one of only 11 shipped in its model year, and would have been one of the very last non-cutaway examples of the model ever produced.

With a soundboard carved of finely bookmatched quartersawn spruce, this gleaming guitar has the wide open resonance of fine tonewood, aged for almost seven decades. The instrument is crafted with a solid maple back, interlaced with handsome bubble figure, with sides and neck of vivid tiger flame. Unusually for this model, the soundholes are triple bound in Super 400 style, and the sunburst pattern on the back is particularly wide, highlighting the deeply figured maple to great advantage.

The guitar has been maintained in wonderful condition, and the original tobacco sunburst finish is nptably free of pick, buckle or thumbwear. The nickel hardware is all original as well, with all original binding tight to the body, and an elegant pearl dot inlaid where a jack was once installed in the usual location.

The classic C neck profile is solid but not clubby or veed, and the action is smooth and low. The instrument has a fresh high precision setup over fine newer fretwork, and excellent bridge height with a recent pro neck set. The voice is simply magnificent: deep, rich, clear and profoundly resonant, with exceptional projection and headroom to burn. A final plus, the guitar is equipped with an Archtop Acoustic undersaddle pickup, with non-invasive No-Drill Vintage Jack 1/8" endpin jack and cable. All ensconced in its original brown plush lined Lifton arched hardshell case.

An outstanding example of one of Gibson's rarest birds, this working player's Super 4 combines extraordinary tone, gleaming condition, and elegant playability. One only: call now.

Setup: 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, electronics tested. This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013) and will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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.

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