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1967 Gibson J-200N

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Serial #: 893312, orange oval label

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 9/16"

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; solid bookmatched figured maple back and sides; maple neck with marquetry centerstripe; 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 from this era, and this guitar is one of just 59 examples in natural finish from its model year, barely over a fifth of total production. Originally purchased from an Ontario music shop, the instrument has been maintained in wonderful condition, with all original hardware and a deeply ambered original nitro lacquer finish. The X-braced soundboard is quartersawn from exceptionally fine grained spruce, and the body and neck carved from solid figured maple, particularly vivid in the sides and neck. The acoustic voice has been enhanced with the addition of a solid compensated bone saddle, replacing the metal bridge adjustment mechanism, a tone-damping device Gibson eventually abandoned altogether.

The neck is carved with a sleek, elegant profile, ideal for the electric player unwilling to wrestle some of the chunkier necks of earlier years. The body shows no apparent cracks and some light normal checking, with only a few incidental lacquer nicks here and there. The original medium jumbo frets show little evidence of playwear, and the action is fast and low over a fresh high precision setup. The voice is warm and focussed as well; the perfect companion, as you ride your vocal range smoothly into the sunset.

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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