Here’s a rare find, as such Gibson SJ-200s from the 1940s are unusual and rare birds. So when on top of that the instrument is perfectly playable and sounds great, it’s even rarer. Say you wanna purchase an SJ-200 and brainstorm between spending 8990.-chf for a recent Gibson SJ200 Murphy Lab and a little bit more for the real thing, frankly, you have to really shop around and find such vintage guitars as these kill the new productions. This SJ-200 was manufactured in 1948 and is an exceptional player, perfect to play, sounding beautifully, particularly compared to current SJ-200s, but will not cost an arm and a leg as some repairs and modifications were made during its long life.

Called “King of the Flat Tops”, Gibson’s SJ-200 made its first appearance in 1937, under the name Super Jumbo, then quite quickly called Super Jumbo 200 (since its retail price was $200). Only very few examples were shipped, records show that only 25 pieces left the factory in 1938. The first prewar examples in good original condition cost between 100K$ and 200K$ and you have to find them… Production of the Super Jumbo 200 ceased during WWII, and when it was re-released in 1947, the specifications for the back and sides had changed from rosewood to figured maple. It is such a guitar that we offer for sale. And back in 1948, only 146 pieces left the Gibson factory…

This superb original SJ-200 from 1948 had in its time a pickup system, or at least a jack on the side. The hole is filled in and the work can be seen a little on the lower side. The back and sides have been repainted and re-varnished, superbly done, with a perfect sunburst and matching color, taking on the original sunburst and finish of the top. It’s really well executed and it was done a long time ago, even a very long time ago, as the patina, the playwear and the weather check are perfect and quite similar to the finish of the top, which, again, is original. The neck angle is good, the bridge has not been worked on, the bridge nut is low enough and the action is low, super comfortable, a real joy to play. A fret job was done and this SJ-200 is so pleasant and easy to play with these new frets and nut. And you don’t necessarily need a high action to get the best of the tone of that baby. Oh, and we must also note the incredibly light weight of this instrument, we have a Jumbo in our hands, of course, but it weighs like a Parlor, incredibly light, only 2.1kilos…

No cracks, breaks or splits, only a minor repair on the edge to plug the hole of an old jack, a refret and a refinish on the back and sides. This instrument has its original bridge, original pickguard, original tuners and comes in a recent Gibson hardcase. We also include a handwritten letter of a previous owner.