❌SOLD❌ Gibson Southern Jumbo Vintage Sunburst, 2007

The Gibson Southern Jumbo or SJ is closely related to the classic J-45, and at times the differences have been mostly market driven and cosmetic. Apparently named to appeal to Gibson dealers in the American South – referring to the Mason-Dixon line, the Southern Jumbo or SJ uses slope-shoulder, spruce and mahogany body construction. The key differences are additional binding on the fingerboard, split-parallelogram position markers, and from 1955, Mother of Pearl for the Gibson and crown headstock inlays. For modern production including this guitar , Mother of Pearl replaced the historic acrylic for the position markers.

Appearing in 1942 with the J-45, the Gibson Southern Jumbo was produced until 1970. In 1956, a natural-top version was introduced and named the Country-Western. The Southern Jumbo reappeared between 1991 and 1996, and is a current model since at least 2004 in a number of variants, one being the current Southern Jumbo Original as seen at this link.

This Gibson Southern Jumbo dates to April 12, 2007 and was built at the Gibson Acoustic plant in scenic Bozeman, Montana. At the time, the shop was run by Ren Ferguson. It uses Sitka Spruce for the top, Mahogany for the back, sides and neck, and Indian Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge. The top’s X-bracing is forward shifted, meaning the center of the X is closer to the soundhole. As a modern take on the Southern Jumbo, the tuners are nickel plated Grover Roto-Matics, and an active L R Baggs pickup and preamp set is factory stock, with controls tucked under the bass edge of the sound hole and output via an end-pin jack. The battery is on the neck block.

This Gibson Southern Jumbo is in overall good shape, with some light wear and a finish mar on the back, a bit smaller than a ten-cent coin. Fret wear is light, and mostly confined to the low positions. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is generally clean despite the unfortunate finish damage to the back.

It sounds great – it’s warm, full and rich, and is a wonderful complement to a voice.

The original hard shell case is included.