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Gibson Super 400C Style 1939 |
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The Rejuvenating Cure
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Click on images
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Notes: Norlin's formal takeover of Gibson from CMI
took place in 1974. In January 1986 Norlin sold the Gibson Company
to a trio of Gibson enthusiasts: H. Juszkiewicz, D. Berryman and G. Zebrowski.
Soon after the purchase a dramatic reorganisation followed which was overdue.
Within a short time the quality of the Gibson guitars gradually improved
comparable to a level of Kalamazoo's best which even the most optimistic
“Gibsonites“ thought would be impossible to regain. Thanks to notable luthiers
like James Hutchins, Terry Ryan and Jim Triggs from the Gibson Custom Shop
just to name a few. Gibson makes fabulous archtops since then.
Materials: 18“ wide body with handcarved bookmatched fine grained solid spruce top,
highly figured solid five-piece tiger flamed maple neck with ebony center stripe, highly
flamed solid maple back and sides, pointed-end ebony fretboard, nut width 1 11/16“,
20 original frets, pearl single and double split-block position markers, split diamond
peghead inlay, 7-ply body binding, 5-ply neck, head and pickguard binding, triple
bound f-holes, polished bone nut, solid rosewood bridge.
Hardware: Tailpiece with Y-shaped center section and model name engraved on cross-piece,
compensated Rosewood bridge, Rosewood base with pearl triangular inlays, original Super 400
“Custom“ engraved truss rod cover, quintuple-bound pickguard, Kluson sealfast tuners.
A pickguard with mounted Kent Armstrong pickup will be supplied.
Facts: Built in 1994 in Nashville in the style of 1939, it has the Master Model label signed
by Terry Ryan, parallel bracing, finish is tobacco two-tone sunburst.
Condition: The guitar is in great shape overall with only a few marks here and there.
No breaks. The frets are original with no play wear. Absolute collector's condition. The finish
and hardware is original. The tuners work smooth and perfectly, no bent shafts, original buttons.
The entire binding is original and tight to the body.
Playability: Action is low without buzz throughout and the neck profile is the comfty rounded C.
The neck is straight and plays without any effort. It is like you don't hold and play this instrument,
you embrace it.
Tone: The voice is open and yet clear, with cutting treble,
silky mids and big bass with great projection and there isn't an acoustic
realm that this instrument could not handle well.
Case: Original hardshell case with pink plush interior in very good
condition. All latches, hinges and handle work fine.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.054).
The guitar will accommodate lighter gauge strings, according to your preference.
The entire guitar is inspected, fingerboard and bridge oiled, body and neck cleaned
and hand polished.
To Summarize: Bad times are over...the rejuvenation cure has been very
successfull and the Gibson Company has come back to their senses. No doubt about it,
this Super 400C proves it. It easily surpasses any Norlin-era Super 400. The first instruments
of this regained quality appeared in the summer of 1991 and if you look at the pictures
you will agree that its look is second to none. Until today, the non-electric Super 400C
is still marketed as the top-of-the-line model and very few are produced in relation
to the Super 400 CES. The limited availability of suitable spruce tops and curly maple
that are large and beautiful enough make them so sought after and the resulting tone
so precious. Catch it while you can...
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