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1961 Gibson Super 400CES
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Serial #: A-35975
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched fine grained solid spruce top; figured arched maple back; solid flame maple neck; ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl block fingerboard and peghead inlay; 5-ply body, neck, head and pickguard binding, triple bound f-holes, polished bone nut.
Hardware: 100% original gold hardware includes twin Pat. Applied For humbucking pickups and electronics, engraved trapeze tailpiece, multi-bound marbled tortoise pickguard, gold reflector cap knobs and three way switch, gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, deco truss rod, ad us table Brazilian rosewood bridge with gold ABR-1 Tuneomatic bridge, 3 way pickup selector switch.
Notes: If any guitar can truly be said to be fit for a king (or The King, more specifically) then this is it. Built from mid-1960 through mid-1969, the Florentine cutaway Super 400CES was immortalized by guitar legends like Kenny Burrell, Larry Coryell and other star jazzers of the decade. With its extra deep cutaway, this version offered players unparalleled access to the entire range of the fingerboard. Now highly desired by collectors and players alike, the Florentine Super 400 was immortalized by no less a picker than Elvis Presley himself. Playing a sunburst example just like this one (borrowed from his longtime guitarist Scotty Moore) Elvis featured the model prominently on his now-legendary 1968 NBC Comeback Special, forever associating this guitar with the Man From Tupelo.
This guitar is one of a scant 30 examples made in its model year, and has been preserved in simply stunning condition, with all original finish, and no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Many are surprised to find that most Florentine Super 400s and L-5s were built with laminated backs and sides. Happily, this guitar is an exception: the back is carved from a handsome billet of solid figured quartersawn Bigleaf maple. The three tone sunburst lacquer is masterfully applied as well, with woodgrain still visible at the outermost rims.
Best of all, the guitar has the traditional full size 1 11/16" nut width, with ample room for complex fingering, in contrast to later 60's models with the ultra-narrow necks. With an elegant light D profile, the neck has a sleek effortless feel, gliding smoothly through the palm, with fast low action over fine original medium jumbo frets with a fresh high-precision setup. The original gold PAF pickups are unopened, and the electronics are still snug in their original shielding cans. Gold Kluson Sealfast tuners, the signature marbled tortoise pickguard, engraved tailpiece and twin strap pins complete the upscale outfitting of this flagship model.
Finally, the voice: full and buttery, with a warmth and depth only the super jumbo body can deliver. The absolute summit of the Gibson line, in true showroom condition. As The King would say, it's now or never: 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 brown Gibson Lifton hardshell case with pink plush lining.
