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1969 Gibson Super 400CES
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Serial #: 828034, 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 Varitone tailpiece, S-400 'Custom' truss rod cover. Gibson 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 exceptional 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.
Maintained in museum quality condition, the guitar is without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and shows handsome tiger flame figure in the solid carved maple back and neck. Apart from some incidental tarnish on the pickup covers, the instrument appears virtually unplayed. The solid ebony fingerboard retains its original medium jumbo frets, still with binding nibs intact. The neck has a gentle D profile, with a generous, full width 1 11/16" nut, and traditional no-volute 17 degree headstock angle.
All original gold hardware is in place, as well including twin Pat. Sticker pickups, Varitone tailpiece, and the massive Kluson Sealfast tuners, now long unavailable. An additional set of gold reflector cap knobs is installed, with the original black bonnet knobs included in the case. Action is smooth with a fresh high-precision setup over the solid ebony pearl inlaid fingerboard. A superb player in time-capsule condition, this guitar has the rich, full tone only the Big Body can produce.
A great performer, and the last of the classic 60's Gibson jazz boxes. They don't get any sweeter: 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 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.
Case: Original Gibson Faultless deluxe arched black plush lined hardshell case.
