During the Great Depression, most businesses struggled and introduced new models to meet whatever market became available. Gibson was no exception, and in 1936 introduced the J-35 as a low-cost model; in 1936 the retail price was $35, though this increased to just over $47 by 1941. In 1942, the J-35 was discontinued and replaced with the J-45.
The Gibson J-35 featured a spruce top with mahogany for the back, sides and neck, and rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. Originally, the available finish was sunburst, as this hides many visual flaws in otherwise good-sounding and usable wood, which in turn lowers costs and price.
This 1939 Gibson J-35 model is in good playing order and sounds great – it’s very full, brilliant, lively and responsive.
It has had various amounts of service over the years; a small hole in the top was repaired, at one point it was fitted with a trapeze tailpiece, and the top has been oversprayed. There is heavy natural lacquer checking under the overspray. The silkscreened logo on the peghead has been redone. The strip-mount Kluson tuners with celluloid buttons, firestripe pickguard, and bridge are original.
Serial Number: EG-4702, built during 1939 at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Pricing: $4,295.00 Canadian dollars or $3465.00 US dollars (at 1.24 exchange) with non-original hardshell case.
Status: SOLD
