Gibson SJ-200 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1951)
LOADING IMAGES
Gibson SJ-200 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-9066, sunburst lacquer finish, maple body and neck, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is beautifully weathered and worn in SJ-200 is a super vibey showpiece and simply a great sounding and playing guitar. In the 1940s and '50s this model was Gibson's "King of the Flat Tops"; if you were any sort of singing cowboy or cowgirl you had one of these or a Martin Dreadnought if you wanted to be worth your boots and saddle! The model was launched in the later 1930s but really came into its own after WWII, still a Gibson showpiece in the 21st century.
This SJ-200 originally shipped out of Kalamazoo in November 1951, one of 131 sunburst SJ-200s sent into the world that year. The SJ-200 was already the choice of many country stars (notable Eddie Arnold) and went on to become a favorite of many early rockers as well. Elvis Presley famously had a natural J-200; The Everly Brothers adopted twin sunburst models for their duets, and the J-200 became enshrined as the #1 Rock & Roll rhythm guitar. It also remained a top C&W singer's choice, the best six-string companion to a Nudie suit.
This one has typical features for the early 1950's, retaining more of a 1940s look with a noticeably darker sunburst lacquer finish over the beautiful burl maple back and sides and even grained spruce top. The top is multi-bound and decorated with the unique floral-engraved tortoise celluloid pickguard; this is the earlier fancier version with an extra line around the perimeter made of somewhat darker celluloid. The top also features the redoubtable "moustache" bridge with multiple pearl inlays, another hallmark of the model. This 1951 example retains the earlier lighter top bracing pattern with a single "X" under the bridge. In 1952 this was beefed up with a second smaller "X" added under the fingerboard and generally heavier construction.
The 25 1/2" scale laminated maple neck has a bound rosewood fingerboard with "crown" inlay and a pointed end. This one has a slightly chunkier round-backed feel than some later J-200 necks we have felt, a very solid and comfortable handful. The single-bound headstock has a pearl Gibson logo and "crown" inlay over the deluxe L-5 style wide-bordered truss rod cover. The gold-plated tuners with keystone button are the earliest version of the familiar enclosed Kluson Deluxe machine with no shaft hole on the inner side of the cover. There is a great original banner shaped store sticker on the back of the headstock reading "PLACE MUSIC COMPANY-Place the place, it's place's place".
This "King of the Flattops" was Gibson's priciest non-carved acoustic guitar listed at a whopping $315 in 1951, plus $55 for the deluxe #600 "Faultless" plush-lined case. It was designed to power an entire band and look great doing it, the ultimate front person's guitar. The SJ-200 is still unsurpassed in that role and a fantastic live or recording guitar when a powerful rhythm sound is the job to be done. Someone got a lot of use out of this one but also took good care of it; it is a splendid survivor and a fabulous instrument by any standard. It sounds both incisive and rich, with punch and depth in equal measure, easily one of the best sounding SJ-200s we have had.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 5/16 in. (643 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 75 year old "real relic" veteran SJ-200 has some noticeable wear, most heavily to the top and some typical minor repair but remains otherwise original and unaltered. The original lacquer finish shows dings, scrapes and dents overall, by far the heaviest of which are to the top. There is considerable evidence of heavy strumming "back in the day" with pickwear well into the wood above and below the fingerboard as well as all around the pickguard and soundhole rim. These areas appear to have been discreetly tinted to appear less conspicuous but not overfinished. The sides and back are comparatively clean (there is not typical cowboy belt buckle wear) with surface scuffing and scratching but no deep wear areas.
The back of the neck has small dings and dents over its length and the finish worn down to the wood from play mostly in the first position, where the original owner seems to have spent most of their play time. The beautiful engraved pickguard has some pick scuffing on the forward upper areas and two very small spots of celluloid deterioration, one at the upper back corner and the other at the lower center point. These have been stabilized with a tinted epoxy to help stave off further distress.
There are some relatively minor repairs, but no structural issues. The top has a long sealed grain split all along the upper edge of pickguard which has been fully closed and delicately cleated, this is only visible externally between the pickguard and bridge. There is a small grain split to the back off the bass side of the neck block, and a longer crack in the treble side waist; these are sealed with no cleats and some light topical touch up on the side only. There is a plugged jack hole on the lower rim in the typical spot, sealed but visible and two plugged strap button holes on the heel which are very neatly touched up. No other cracks are apparent on the instrument.
The guitar has never had the neck reset, the angle is good and the bridge appears solid and never reglued. Internally the fairly small maple bridge plate remains intact as are the bridge securing bolts. A number of braces have been neatly reglued on the back and sides.
You can't fake the vibe of this SJ-200; it has simply has the sound and character played into it. It is a great example of the cowpoke's companion with a huge ringing but still deep sound, possibly the best sounding post-WWII SJ-200 we have had although not the cleanest looking. A strummer's delight, a TRUE country/western guitar and majestically vibey even without a Nudie suit! It comes in the original pink lined brown Lifton hardshell case, which is in one piece but heavily battered with some of the lower edges literally worn away. A sturdy modern case is included as well. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is beautifully weathered and worn in SJ-200 is a super vibey showpiece and simply a great sounding and playing guitar. In the 1940s and '50s this model was Gibson's "King of the Flat Tops"; if you were any sort of singing cowboy or cowgirl you had one of these or a Martin Dreadnought if you wanted to be worth your boots and saddle! The model was launched in the later 1930s but really came into its own after WWII, still a Gibson showpiece in the 21st century.
This SJ-200 originally shipped out of Kalamazoo in November 1951, one of 131 sunburst SJ-200s sent into the world that year. The SJ-200 was already the choice of many country stars (notable Eddie Arnold) and went on to become a favorite of many early rockers as well. Elvis Presley famously had a natural J-200; The Everly Brothers adopted twin sunburst models for their duets, and the J-200 became enshrined as the #1 Rock & Roll rhythm guitar. It also remained a top C&W singer's choice, the best six-string companion to a Nudie suit.
This one has typical features for the early 1950's, retaining more of a 1940s look with a noticeably darker sunburst lacquer finish over the beautiful burl maple back and sides and even grained spruce top. The top is multi-bound and decorated with the unique floral-engraved tortoise celluloid pickguard; this is the earlier fancier version with an extra line around the perimeter made of somewhat darker celluloid. The top also features the redoubtable "moustache" bridge with multiple pearl inlays, another hallmark of the model. This 1951 example retains the earlier lighter top bracing pattern with a single "X" under the bridge. In 1952 this was beefed up with a second smaller "X" added under the fingerboard and generally heavier construction.
The 25 1/2" scale laminated maple neck has a bound rosewood fingerboard with "crown" inlay and a pointed end. This one has a slightly chunkier round-backed feel than some later J-200 necks we have felt, a very solid and comfortable handful. The single-bound headstock has a pearl Gibson logo and "crown" inlay over the deluxe L-5 style wide-bordered truss rod cover. The gold-plated tuners with keystone button are the earliest version of the familiar enclosed Kluson Deluxe machine with no shaft hole on the inner side of the cover. There is a great original banner shaped store sticker on the back of the headstock reading "PLACE MUSIC COMPANY-Place the place, it's place's place".
This "King of the Flattops" was Gibson's priciest non-carved acoustic guitar listed at a whopping $315 in 1951, plus $55 for the deluxe #600 "Faultless" plush-lined case. It was designed to power an entire band and look great doing it, the ultimate front person's guitar. The SJ-200 is still unsurpassed in that role and a fantastic live or recording guitar when a powerful rhythm sound is the job to be done. Someone got a lot of use out of this one but also took good care of it; it is a splendid survivor and a fabulous instrument by any standard. It sounds both incisive and rich, with punch and depth in equal measure, easily one of the best sounding SJ-200s we have had.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 5/16 in. (643 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 75 year old "real relic" veteran SJ-200 has some noticeable wear, most heavily to the top and some typical minor repair but remains otherwise original and unaltered. The original lacquer finish shows dings, scrapes and dents overall, by far the heaviest of which are to the top. There is considerable evidence of heavy strumming "back in the day" with pickwear well into the wood above and below the fingerboard as well as all around the pickguard and soundhole rim. These areas appear to have been discreetly tinted to appear less conspicuous but not overfinished. The sides and back are comparatively clean (there is not typical cowboy belt buckle wear) with surface scuffing and scratching but no deep wear areas.
The back of the neck has small dings and dents over its length and the finish worn down to the wood from play mostly in the first position, where the original owner seems to have spent most of their play time. The beautiful engraved pickguard has some pick scuffing on the forward upper areas and two very small spots of celluloid deterioration, one at the upper back corner and the other at the lower center point. These have been stabilized with a tinted epoxy to help stave off further distress.
There are some relatively minor repairs, but no structural issues. The top has a long sealed grain split all along the upper edge of pickguard which has been fully closed and delicately cleated, this is only visible externally between the pickguard and bridge. There is a small grain split to the back off the bass side of the neck block, and a longer crack in the treble side waist; these are sealed with no cleats and some light topical touch up on the side only. There is a plugged jack hole on the lower rim in the typical spot, sealed but visible and two plugged strap button holes on the heel which are very neatly touched up. No other cracks are apparent on the instrument.
The guitar has never had the neck reset, the angle is good and the bridge appears solid and never reglued. Internally the fairly small maple bridge plate remains intact as are the bridge securing bolts. A number of braces have been neatly reglued on the back and sides.
You can't fake the vibe of this SJ-200; it has simply has the sound and character played into it. It is a great example of the cowpoke's companion with a huge ringing but still deep sound, possibly the best sounding post-WWII SJ-200 we have had although not the cleanest looking. A strummer's delight, a TRUE country/western guitar and majestically vibey even without a Nudie suit! It comes in the original pink lined brown Lifton hardshell case, which is in one piece but heavily battered with some of the lower edges literally worn away. A sturdy modern case is included as well. Overall Very Good + Condition.