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1969 Gibson Super 400CES
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Serial #: 800643, orange oval label
Body size at lower bout:18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16'
Materials: Solid carved bookmatched Sitka spruce top; solid carved figured 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, bound f-holes, solid bone nut.
Hardware: Original gold hardware includes twin Patent sticker humbucking pickups, Kluson Sealfast tuners, 3 position pickup selector switch, gold Gibson reflector cap knobs. Gibson ABR-1 Tuneomatic bridge, engraved gold Gibson Super 400 tailpiece, S-400 'Custom' truss rod cover. Vintage correct bound 5 ply tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Introduced in 1934, the Super 400 was the pinnacle of the Gibson line, the largest and most expensive production guitar of its era. The electric CES version made its debut in 1951, and is currently available on custom order only.
This fine orange label guitar is one of the last pre-Norlin Super 400s, and one of the first built after Gibson revived the traditional rounded 'Venetian' cutaway, and the solid carved maple back. This striking instrument is one of just 120 examples produced in its model year, with a soundboard carved of solid quartersawn bookmatched Sitka spruce, and traditional parallel bracing.
Well maintained, the guitar is without pick, buckle, or thumbwear, and shows handsome tiger flame figure in the solid maple back and neck. The solid ebony fingerboard retains its original medium jumbo frets, in excellent condition. The neck is a marvel of comfort as well, with a generous, full width 1 11/16" nut, an easy, gentle D profile, and traditional 17 degree headstock angle. A vintage Super 400 tailpiece has been installed, replacing an older Bigsby whose screw holes are no longer visible. A vintage-correct 5 ply tortoise pickguard is in place, along with a Gibson ABR-1 Tuneomatic bridge.
An older grainline crack above the bass soundhole has been soundly cleated and touched up long ago, and the peghead is fitted with the original ultra-premium Kluson Sealfast tuners, unavailable for many years. A superb player with the deep, rich tone only the Big Body can produce, this great performer is an outstanding value in a true classic 60's Gibson jazz box: the very top of the line. One only, call now.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut 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 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 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: Deluxe tweed arched plush lined hardshell case.
