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1962 Gibson J-200N

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Serial #: 74417, stamped on endblock

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid bookmatched figured maple back and sides; 7 ply maple neck with walnut centerstripes; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard; mother of pearl fingerboard inlay, crown peghead inlay and pearl Gibson logo; 7-ply top binding, bound headstock, neck and back; original bone nut.

Hardware: Original hardware includes gold Pat. Pending Grover Rotomatic tuners, pearl-inlaid rosewood 'moustache' bridge, and floral engraved red tortoise pickguard.

Notes: Gibson's premier flat top guitar, the venerable J-200 had its origin with singing cowboy Ray Whitley, who received the first example late in 1937. A 12 fret rosewood guitar with an L-5 neck, inlays and pickguard, this prototype was designated as an 'L-5 Special'. By the following year a 14 fret model reached the market, and maple bodies made their debut in 1947. The first blonde examples appeared a year later, and by the early 50's the body depth had increased to a full 5" at the endpin. Notable J-200 players have included Gene Autry, Merle Travis, the Everly Brothers, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Bob Dylan, and Emmy Lou Harris, whose trademark super jumbo was a gift from Gram Parsons himself.

Blonde J-200s are rare, and this guitar is one of just 54 examples in natural finish from its model year. The back is heavily figured with bubble flame maple, the X-braced spruce top shows phenomenally tight grain, and the multi-ply neck shows particularly intense tiger flame throughout. The instrument is in great shape, with original moustache bridge, gold Grover Pat. pending Rotomatic tuners, and a deeply ambered original nitro lacquer finish. The acoustic voice has been enhanced with the addition of a solid compensated bone saddle, replacing the Tuneomatic bridge insert, a short-lived Gibson design that dampened tone considerably.

Gibson used a number of different neck designs in this era, including two and three piece versions, but this ornate 7 piece neck is the only one we have seen on this model. The comfy D profile neck has the full 1 11/16" nut width, with a handsome Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and the action is fast and low over a fresh high precision setup. The body shows some scattered normal checking, and the top is fitted with a newer dark tortoise pickguard in the original contour. A single short grainline crack has been soundly resealed at the waist near the bass side, and a small stress crack at the back of the peghead is tight and does not extend through the neck, which appears to have been lightly oversprayed with true vintage style nitro lacquer. The voice particularly fine: full, clear, and deeply resonant, with excellent definition, sustain and volume.

An outstanding example of Gibson's ultimate strummer, this gleaming guitar combines effortless playability with classic Western design. Call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as necessary; 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 bronze strings (.013-.057). 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 black Gibson hardshell case with gold plush lining.

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