The Gibson SJ-200 was first introduced in 1937 and quickly earned the moniker "the King of the Flat-Tops" due to its size, high-quality sound, exceptional projection, and commanding stage presence. Up until 1947, when the wood used for the sides and back changed to maple, it was constructed using rosewood for the back and sides. Because of the weak post-Depression economy, demand for the top-of-the-line SJ-200 was limited, and production numbers were relatively low. Today, those rare rosewood-bodied pre-war SJ-200 models are in high demand among collectors and command a premium on the vintage guitar marketplace.
Now, Gibson Custom is proud to introduce the Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Light Aged, a faithful recreation of those exalted pre-war vintage Super Jumbo models. It features a rosewood back with a three-rope marquetry strip, rosewood sides, and a thermally aged red spruce top reinforced with traditional scalloped X-bracing made from red spruce and assembled with hot hide glue.
Highly ornate like the originals, it includes multi-ply top, back, and headstock binding, and single-ply fretboard binding. The 25.5" scale length two-piece AAA maple neck has a walnut stringer, a D-shaped profile, and a stinger on the back of the peghead. The headstock features a mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and Crown inlay, with gold Grover Imperial tuners.
The bound ebony fretboard includes mother-of-pearl graduated Crown inlays and 20 frets. Nut, saddle, and bridge pins are made of bone. The ebony SJ-200 Four Bar Moustache bridge has mother-of-pearl inlays, and the tortoise SJ-200 pickguard features multi-colored dots with a double border.
The Murphy Lab Light Aged finish and aged hardware simulate decades of light play wear, giving the instrument the character and feel of a vintage Gibson from the Golden Era. It comes in a period-correct pre-war-style Red Line hardshell case.