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1976 Gibson Super 400C

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Serial #: 00104178, Kalamazoo label

Body size at lower bout:18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Solid carved bookmatched spruce top; solid carved maple back, neck and sides; solid ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl block fingerboard and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, neck, head and pickguard binding, triple bound f-holes, solid bone nut.

Hardware: All original gold hardware includes engraved trapeze tailpiece, Kluson Sealfast tuners, compensated adjustable ebony bridge with pearl inlaid foot, truss rod cover with "Custom" imprint, adjustable truss rod. Original bound tortoise guard included in case with additional custom solid ebony pickguard with Kent Armstrong Handwound Floating PAF humbucking pickup, thumbwheel tone and volume controls, and 1/8" jack mounted under pickguard.

Notes: Built in Gibson's original Kalamazoo factory, this splendid guitar is a true acoustic Super 400 cutaway, an extremely rare example from an era when almost all Gibson super jumbos were routed for twin pickups, four knobs and a 3 way selector switch. One of just 15 examples in its model year, the guitar has been maintained in superb condition, with a rich prewar style dark Cremona sunburst finish.

The gold hardware is all original, with the addition of a solid ebony pickguard with Kent Armstrong Handwound Floating PAF humbucking pickup, thumbwheel tone and volume controls, and 1/8" jack mounted under the guard, along with the original bound tortoise pickguard included in the case. The solid ebony fingerboard has the full width 1 11/16" nut, with a fresh high-precision setup for smooth low action over fine original medium jumbo frets. The neck has the traditional 17 degree headstock angle, happily absent the volute "bump" of some examples of the era, and is carved with a gentle slim D profile, elegant and easy in the hand.

With an extravagantly figured tiger maple neck, the guitar has a soild carved quartersawn Sitka spruce soundboard, with a body of finely bookmatched rock maple. The instrument is fitted with the traditional inlaid ebony bridge foot, and is equipped with the coveted Kluson Sealfast tuners, now unavailable for decades. Free of cracks, thumb or fingerboard wear, this gleaming guitars shows little more than a few scattered lacquer nicks in the all-original true nitro finish.

The voice is warm and rich, with the mellow depth that only the super jumbo body can convey. A special plus is the ATA certified Calton fiberglass flight case, the most rugged fitted travel case made, and worth over $1000 alone. The pinnacle of the Gibson line, effortlessly playable, and one of the rarest offerings of its era. 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.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound 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 light relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original deluxe black arched Gibson logo plush lined hardshell case.

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