Lefty Frizzell’s Bigsby/Gibson SJ-200

The Gibson SJ-200 is called “King of the Flattop Guitars ” and since its inception in the late 1930’s has been the guitar of choice for many prominent artists including Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, Gene Autry, The Everly Brothers, Pete Townsend, Roy Rodgers, Eddy Arnold, Tex Ritter, Rev. Gary Davis, and countless others. No other flat top guitar makes a visual statement like an SJ (“Super Jumbo”) 200, and not surprisingly the guitar was originally designed for the Hollywood Cowboys of the 1930’s. The SJ-200 has always been a showy expensive instrument and playing one onstage in the 1950’s told the world you were a serious professional.

In early spring 1951 as the royalties for his recent hit recordings began pouring in Lefty Frizzell bought the guitar that would provide his signature accompaniment throughout his career. It started out as a regular model SJ-200 with a sunburst finish built by the Gibson Company of Kalamazoo Michigan in late 1949. Lefty was already was already fond of the flashy custom stage outfits created by Los Angeles “Rodeo Tailor” Nudie and soon had had his impressive new guitar personalized into an unmistakable showpiece by Nudie’s friend Paul (“P.A.”) Bigsby of Downey, California. As a newly-minted headlining country superstar Lefty wanted the flashiest guitar out there and ordered a custom neck with Bigsby’s trademark futuristic headstock design and extra large pickguard for the top inlaid with “Lefty Frizzell”.

It was a design that was visible from the back of the audience and Lefty used this guitar constantly for live shows, television appearances and recordings during the busiest part of his career. Frizzell was nearly always photographed in this period with his custom Bigsby/SJ-200 and it can be seen on album covers, publicity photos, and in surviving television footage. This guitar was his signature instrument, as unique as his singing.

While a number of period country music greats had guitars built or modified by Paul A. Bigsby each instrument is different, and authentic Bigsbys rarely come up for sale. Even amongst these rarities the Lefty Frizzell SJ-200 has some unique features. The Bigsby-made neck is crafted from laminated maple and carries the original Gibson rosewood fingerboard with pearl crown pattern inlay, with a Gibson truss rod underneath. The distinctive single-sided headstock is inlaid with the Gibson pearl logo on a black wood background (probably removed from the Gibson headstock) beneath the typical plastic script BIGSBY inlay….it is most unusual to see the two names together. The Gibson rosewood “moustache” bridge is fitted with an aluminum Bigsby saddle. The maple back and sides retain the original sunburst finish, but the spruce top was refinished to natural by Bigsby when the upper pickguard was installed. The strap attachments are curved aluminum brackets, a Bigsby trademark.

The Lefty Frizzell SJ-200 is worn from extensive use but is still a fine playing and sounding instrument; considering the guitar’s history it is surprisingly well preserved. There is pick wear to the top, a repaired crack to the back and a crack next to the fingerboard on the treble side. The action has been adjusted several times and is currently quite comfortable. The guitar has not been altered since Lefty’s death except for a change of strings, and in several places still carries the remains of the chewing gum he would stick to the instrument while singing. This guitar is as perfect an example of Honky-Tonk Americana as is possible to imagine.