1971 Gibson Southern Jumbo Deluxe Southern Jumbo Deluxe Natural
The Gibson Southern Jumbo/SJ/Country Western model guitars were originally created in 1942 during WW II, according to some as a perk specifically for the Gibson distributors below the Mason-Dixon Line. As with many of Gibson’s models—especially during the early war years--there are many variations in the specs over the original 36 years of production, but the bottom line remained the same: it was and is a big guitar designed to hold its own and more against the banjo and fiddle players of the world—and to look really good doing it.
George Gruhn’s Guide to American Guitars (p. 283) starts with the square-shouldered dreadnought shape and the 16” lower bout to identify a post-1963 Southern Jumbo Deluxe like this one. The Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard are part of the original “deluxe” package, but the belly below bridge dates it as after 1969; the non-adjustable saddle and the “Made in U.S.A.” on the back of the headstock make it 1970 or after. The “deluxe” pearl small block fingerboard inlay, the pearl crown peghead inlay, the style of the Gibson logo, the 4-ply body binding with the black outer layer, the black back stripe, and the multi-stripe rosette usually indicate 1974-1975, but the large 3-point pickguard supposedly became black in 1972 and this one is obviously tortoise. I’m assuming that these differences and the natural finish are distinctions of the “Deluxe” model designation.
The serial number itself (624498, I think—the impression on the back of the headstock is rather faint) is in the 1970 to 1972 ballpark, but given the unreliability of Gibson’s serial numbers as dating indicators, the 1971 date I’ve assigned to this great guitar is based as much on guesswork regarding the changing specs as on the serial number. This is my best shot, but I would welcome expert input and will happily add it to the listing.
This is probably Too Much Information anyway, and doesn’t really tell you what you need to know about this particular Southern Jumbo. Generally, the guitar is in very good vintage shape: the neck has been re-set, there is a glued and cleated top seam from the end binding to the fretboard, and two other small cracks in the top and a long hairline crack in the back have all been professionally glued and cleated where necessary. It is, of course, possible that in 50 years someone may have done other work, but I’m not aware of anything else.
Cosmetically, the finish is excellent other than some slight finish crazing (“to let the sound out,” as my old luthier says), and the mahogany back, sides, and neck are in very good condition for a vintage Gibson. The very good news is that it is one great-playing vintage Gibson with the action set up at a hair over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. The frets are in very good shape, the headstock and other inlay is still excellent, the bridge is solid, and of course the sound is terrific! This is a great-sounding Gibson Southern Jumbo guitar with tons of character and jam cred. It’s prettied up a bit with the abalone and such, but it really embodies everything that the name Gibson has stood for over the last century or so.
The vintage case may not be original to this guitar, but it is an excellent hard shell case from the 1970s in very good structural shape. The hardware works well, the royal blue plush interior is soft and fuzzy; even the pocket is intact. The guitar fits perfectly, and the case offers this classic instrument excellent protection.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before buying.
Thank you for your interest in this great guitar.
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.