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1968 Gibson Super 400CES
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Serial #: 524151
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 9/16"
Materials: Solid carved bookmatched fine grained Sitka spruce top; solid carved figured maple back; solid flame maple neck; 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 hardware includes twin gold Pat. sticker humbucking pickups, three way switch, engraved gold-plated tailpiece, gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, truss rod cover with "Custom" imprint, gold compensated adjustable Tuneomatic bridge, original black bonnet knobs in case, extra set of hand antiqued gold reflector cap knobs installed. Older replacement Gibson bound tortoise pickguard.
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. Playing a Florentine Super 4 borrowed from his longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, Elvis featured the guitar prominently on his now-legendary 1968 NBC Comeback Special, forever associating this guitar with the Man From Tupelo.
This gleaming example is one of only 52 made its model year, and has been preserved in stunning condition, with all original finish, and no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from some plating wear and a few incidental finish nicks, she's substantially as she left the Kalamazoo plant over four decades ago, right down to her original black Gibson hardshell case with the yellow plush lining.
Action is smooth and low over freshly dressed fretwork, and the voice is full and lush, as befits an instrument of her imperial pedigree. The neck has a sleek effortless feel, with a fingerboard that glides smoothly through the palm. If you've been coveting the rich tone of a classic jazz box, but never wanted to wrestle with the big clunky neck, this one's for you. She practically plays herself.
And best of all, she's a genuine 60's Florentine Gibson, that won't cost you a King's ransom. Call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished as required; 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 wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished; electronics balanced and tested.
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 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with low relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original Gibson black deluxe arched gold plush lined hardshell case.
