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1991 Gibson Custom Super 400CES
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Serial #: 90291901
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 9/16"
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched fine grained solid spruce top; figured mahogany back, sides and neck; rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl fingerboard and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, neck, head and pickguard binding, bound f-holes, polished bone nut.
Hardware: Original hardware includes twin gold humbucking pickups, gold bell knobs and three way switch, gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, 5-ply bound tortoise pickguard, truss rod cover with "Custom" imprint, gold Tunematic adustable rosewood bridge. Gibson gold adjustable finger tailpiece installed.
Notes: Introduced late in 1934, the Gibson Super 400 was the largest and most costly archtop guitar of the day, and has remained at the pinnacle of the Gibson catalog ever since. The cutaway version premiered in 1939, the CES electric model in 1951, and PAF humbuckers appeared in 1957. A favorite of luminaries from Les Paul to Kenny Burrell to The King himself, the Super 400CES has often been customized, with ornate versions produced for pickers as diverse as Alvino Rey and Hank Thompson.
This one-of-a-kind instrument was built on special order for Tom Petersson, a member of the legendary rock band Cheap Trick and a noted guitar collector. Under the direction of Jim Hutchins, who signed the Master Model label inside, the guitar was constructed of ribbon-figured mahogany in the back, sides and neck. The eighth-note peghead and bowtie fingerboard inlays were originally seen on the Barney Kessel Custom of the 60's. An adjustable finger tailpiece has been installed, the type found on a number of top-end Gibsons, including the Le Grande and Super V. Finally, the peghead is graced with a set of original gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, an ultra-premium machine long unavailable at any price. The sleek neck profile is similar to those fitted on Merle Travis' Super 400s: gliding smoothly across the palm with a with a slim effortless feel, it's ideal for the player coveting the rich tone of a classic jazz box, but unwilling to wrestle with a big clunky neck.
The instrument has been maintained in wonderful condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and showing only light normal checking in the all-original sunburst finish and a few superficial lacquer dings. Action is smooth and low over freshly dressed fretwork, and the voice is smooth and sumptuous. A Gibson Prototype stamp is impressed in the back of the peghead, attesting to the unique quality of this eyecatching creation. One only, for ever. Call now.
Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; 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 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: Original deluxe arched Gibson plush hardshell case.
