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Late 30's Gibson Black Special #4
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Body size at lower bout: 16", Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/1.00
Materials: Solid carved spruce top; solid maple back, sides and neck; solid ebony fingerboard with pearl dot fingerboard inlays; diagonal narrow script Gibson pearl peghead logo.
Hardware: Original hardware includes compensated adjustable Brazilian rosewood bridge, nickel trapeze tailpiece, adjustable truss rod. Vintage correct swirl tortoise pickguard, later Kluson Deluxe style tuners. K&K Twin Spot soundboard pickup, with 1/4" endpin jack.
Notes: Among the rarest and most tantalizing prewar archtops produced by Gibson, their 'Special' models stand in a class by themselves. Beginning with a small 'Black Special' as early as 1934, these guitars were supplied only to dealers and limited to stock on hand, first come first served, and never listed in Gibson's standard catalogs. By 1936, this Special #4 model was offered to dealers, and appeared sporadically until around 1940.
With its all carved 16" body, 1 3/4" dot inlay ebony fingerboard, and gleaming black finish, the Special #4 most closely resembles Gibson's venerable L-10 model of the early 30's, a handsome variant of the original Loar L-5.
Crafted with solid maple back, sides, and neck, the #4 boasts a solid carved spruce soundboard, parallel braced for maximum volume and projection. At barely 5lb 3oz, this striking instrument is nicely lightweight and well balanced, with a full, gently rounded traditional C profile neck. The 24 3/4" scale is typical of Gibson's prewar archtops, and offers the contemporary player easier stretch chords, and more fluent lead runs.
A veteran player, the guitar shows some typical scattered pickwear on the top, and a spot of thumbwear in the first position. A pair of grainline cracks near the tailpiece have been soundly resealed, along with one on either side of the neck heel. A fresh, highly polished set of pro fretwork is installed in the solid ebony fingerboard, which remains fitted flush to the soundboard.
The voice has the clear, open volume of an instrument well played-in over decades of vigorous strumming, with powerful projection and pronounced reverb in the upper register. Gig ready, the guitar has smooth, low action over a fresh high precision setup, and a K&K Twin Spot soundboard pickup attached under the soundboard, attached to a 1/4" endpin jack.
With boundless creativity, and peerless pragmatism, Gibson's artisans created this enigmatic instrument, surely of one of their rarest and most fascinating models ever. One only, call now.
Case: Older deluxe black Lifton plush lined hardshell case.
Setup: 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 conditioned; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge phosphor bronze strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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.
