Gibson J-35 Model Acoustic Guitar (1941), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 4659G-2 (FON), natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.

While perhaps not the cleanest looking J-35 we have had, this is one powerful sounding prewar Gibson Jumbo! This mid-1941 guitar is a fairly typical example of the natural option first cataloged for the J-35 1n 1939, which largely replaced Gibson's traditional sunburst for a couple of years. The neck is a substantial but very comfortable C profile, which by this point replaced the 1930's heavy V shape some players find awkward. Other original features include the branded openback Kluson strip tuners, thin "French" heel, "firestripe" tortoise celluloid pickguard and silkscreen white script Gibson logo. The two-tone-bar bracing is quite light making for a very responsive guitar.

The J-35 was Gibson's "working man's" Jumbo flattop in the late 1930's and early '40's. Selling on introduction for under forty dollars it was a direct competitor to Martin's D-18, and has since been similarly recognized as one of the all time classic flat-top designs. This guitar has a sound to be reckoned with, big and powerful but still very responsive-a good flatpicker and a very nice fingerpicking guitar as well. This is one of the best sounding prewar Gibsons we've had recently-an old road warrior with a lot of kick left!
 
Overall length is 40 11/16 in. (103.3 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is in excellent playing condition but has seen some serious play and shows general wear overall, with a number of old repairs. There are well-sealed cracks to the top in several areas; one just on the treble side of the fingerboard to the soundhole, one in the typical spot on the top edge of the pickguard and two long cracks with very old splices just behind the bridge. There are two cracks to the mahogany back, just below the heel area. All are solidly repaired with some light topical touch-up and overspray but the bulk of the guitar's finish remains original with a nice, lightly checked patina. The bridge and bridgeplate are original-the bridge has some small chips had an added coat of lacquer and the saddle is new, but the original bolts are still intact and even the celluloid pins appear original. Most of the pickwear to the top is in the soundhole region with some areas down to bare wood on the edge and just below the pickguard. The ebony nut is original, the Kluson tuner plates have some corrosion and the original buttons have shrunken up but are still fully functional. The original frets have some wear in the lower regions and there is one small filled fingerboard divot but playability remains excellent. The tone is big and incisive, this is a great sounding and very useable example of a pre-war Gibson Jumbo. Very Good + Condition.

Item # 6785