❌SOLD❌ Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo Vintage Sunburst, 2013

This is a treat – from the 2013 Historic Collection, what is now described as the Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo in Vintage Sunburst!  This model saw a very limited production run of perhaps 50 guitars during 2013.

Initially introduced in 1936 and built until 1940, the Gibson Advanced Jumbo is a round or ‘slope’ shouldered dreadnought guitar with Red Spruce – also known as Adirondack Spruce – and Rosewood for the sides and back. While it bears a superficial resemblance to the J-45 that appeared in 1942, the Advanced Jumbo has a full 25.5 inch (647.7mm) scale length – the J-45 is 24.75 inches (628.6mm) and its X brace is forward shifted or ‘Advanced’.

This Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo was built in Bozeman, Montana under the supervision of master luthier Ren Ferguson, as part of the Historic Collection. While it is built to 1936 specifications, it seems be distinct from the current 1936 Advanced Jumbo in two ways. First, the label says ‘Advanced Jumbo’ rather than ‘1936 Advanced Jumbo’. The second is the Adirondack or Red Spruce top. In 2013, thermally treated or ‘Torrefied’ Spruce was not as available as it is now and so this top is possibly not Torrefied. Both production runs are part of the Historic Series.

Sitka Spruce was never used on the original 1936 – 1940 run. At the time, Adirondack Red Spruce was the most common wood for guitar tops, but once WW2 began, most of that material went to war production, particularly in aircraft components. This heavily depleted stands of Adirondack Spruce, so other species such as Sitka and Engelmann took its place. Over 50 years later, Adirondack stocks have recovered enough for use as guitar tops. These species are all very similar, but Adirondack tends to stand up to very hard playing better than the others.

This example is in great shape with very light wear.  It plays well, and has the full, rich Gibson slope-shoulder dreadnought tone with plenty of power and projection.    It’s a great guitar to play.    This run was fully acoustic, there is no pickup installed.

The original Gibson hard shell case by TKL is included.

Here’s part of the description of the 2013 Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo:

“In the mid ’30s, Gibson luthiers set about to build the best-sounding, most powerful flat-top acoustic ever. The result was the Advanced Jumbo. Widely known today as one of Gibson’s most powerful acoustics, early catalogs proclaimed, “You have never heard a guitar like this …a bass so deep and full that it can be felt as well as heard.” The catalog didn’t exaggerate. What Gibson’s luthiers discovered was a resonance-enhancing, advanced X-bracing pattern that had not been used before. The results were a deeper bass and increased projection.

During the three years the AJ was in its first production run, Gibson made about 300 of them. It wasn’t until 1990 that Gibson reintroduced the AJ and their value as a vintage-tone time capsule was recognized. The AJ offers rich harmonics with excellent punch and presence. A Historic Collection headstock decal pays tribute to what many consider the ultimate flat-top.

The spruce top and rosewood back & sides are finished with a simple, singly-ply binding. A traditional sound hole rosette, mother-of-pearl diamond and arrow inlays are handset in the rosewood fingerboard and the classic MOP script logo with MOP vertical diamond and arrow inlay make this limited edition instantly recognizable as a classic.”