Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Archtop, Electric, Guitars, SOLD
Here is a lovely sunburst Gibson Super 400 CES Archtop Electric, Union Made during 1973 at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Super 400 initially appeared in 1934 as an 18 inch wide acoustic, non-cutaway archtop guitar aimed at professional guitarists playing in big bands. For illustration of the early Super 400 models, We’ve recently posted a 1935 Super 400, with a later add-on McCarty finger-rest pickup.
Super 400’s are built with a carved Spruce top, carved Maple back, Maple for the sides and neck, and Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge base. The inlays are Mother of Pearl, and a specific ‘CUSTOM’ truss rod cover is used on this model.
In 1951, in response to ever-increasing venue sizes and stage volumes, the Gibson Super 400 CES – Cutaway Electric Spanish – appeared. Visually, this looked just like a cutaway Super 400 with pickups and controls, but the differences go deeper. Because it’s intended for use in amplified situations, the carved Spruce top and Maple back are thicker to reduce feedback.
This 1973 Gibson Super 400 CES is in overall very good condition with light play wear, and light to moderate fret wear. The pickguard is a replacement. The gold plating is in good shape with light wear, except on the Kluson Sealfast tuner buttons which get handled the most. It plays well – I wish I could play well enough to do it justice – and sounds full and rich, with the typical archtop rounded tone.
Dating Gibson instruments of this period can be a little challenging as serial numbers were sometimes recycled and can only provide a general range. Hardware differences, in particular the specific no-hole tailpiece used here, lead to a more accurate determination.
The original black hard shell case is included, and it contains a Gibson strap and an alternate wooden saddle with posts.
- Model: Super 400 CES
- Year: 1973
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 205810, built during 1973 at Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 23/06/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 8.316lbs 3.78kg
- Scale Length: 25.35in 644mm
- Nut Width: 1.713in 43.51mm
