1956 Gibson Southern Jumbo Slope Dreadnought Guitar

Overview: Talk about a lived-in stunner, huh? I love it when guitars walk-in off the street like this one did. No matter how many times people tell me that the market has dried-up a bit as far as interesting gear goes, an old workhorse like this guy walks-in and any fears are dispelled. The factory order number places this guy at 1956 and, while it has some replacement tackle, it's otherwise in really good shape and is a strong player with a big, woody, forward sound. Like a lot of Gibsons, it sounds excellent out front but a little thinner from the pilot's seat.

Interesting features: Aside from the obvious lovely playwear, it has an oversize pickguard that was probably added in the last 15 years. It's also got a set of older, '90s-era Gibson-style Kluson-alike tuners with the threaded ferrules that tighten the tuners to the headstock. Someone in recent memory refretted it, too, which means its neck feel is real nice -- it's hard to complain a bout modern frets if you know what the (skinny, tiny) original frets on these are like. The pickwear and general "used forever and put-away wet" vibe of the instrument is a delight, too.

Repairs included: Someone in its past must have taken care of many old repairs -- the neck looks like it got a reset in the past as the action was nice and with a decent saddle when it arrived. It's had a refret with modern-medium stock and it feels nice. We just needed to do a level/dress of the frets, fit a new compensated bone saddle, and set it up -- all of which Jose did -- and it's playing bang-on and is fit to serve.

• Weight: 4 lbs 11 oz
• Scale length: 24 5/8"
• Nut width: 1 11/16"
• Neck shape: medium C/very soft V
• Board radius: 12"
• Depth at first fret: 57/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 63/64"
• Body width: 16"
• Body depth: 4 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: modern medium

Condition notes: It's all-original save for the tuners, one of the bridge pins, the frets, the saddle, and the pickguard. The truss rod cover is a period Gibson one but not original to the guitar. The pickguard is oversize, presumably, to hide old wear and tear to the top, though it's of the right flavor. There's a ton of pickwear near the soundhole and the soundhole finish itself at the edges is nearly worn-off. It's been played! I haven't found any cracks and the bridge plate is legit. It has significant finish wear via weather-check, crackle, and general scuffs, scratches and dings -- but it's the original finish, there, so at least it's authentic.

It comes with: Its has a newer hard case with funky stickers (in a good way).

Consignor tag: MUNR