This 1963 Gibson J-200N is in very good vintage condition. This instrument shows signs of age and play wear throughout including some finish checking, some pick scratches and dings on the body, tarnishing of the gold metal hardware, and finish wear on the back of the neck and forearm area. There are two repaired cracks (about 3 to 4 inches long) - one on the top that is hard to see and one of the back bottom of the instrument (see photos). Both are very old repairs and are very solid. The tuners have been replaced with an old set of Kluson single ring waffle backs with green keystone buttons like you’d find on an early mid 50s Les Paul Custom but no modifications were made to the peghead to accommodate these tuners. These guitars came from the factory with waffle back tuners that had metal tulip tuner buttons with the same footprint. The high E tuner is slightly bent, but works perfectly. There are little diamond shaped footprints on the peghead face from an old decal that has been removed. There are some places around the neck and body where the binding has been reglued and there is a small filled hole/mark from the removal of a strap button on the neck heel. The third fret inlay was replaced during a refret and though this inlay doesn’t look great, it doesn’t affect the playability. A passive K&K pickup has been installed. I have inspected this instrument under a black light and the finish is original and shows no signs of shenanigans. The sides of the body are flamed maple and the back is birds eye maple. This J-200 has been well played and well loved, but is all together solid as a rock and ready for stage or studio! 

This old Gibson flat top has an absolutely killer feeling thin maple neck with a 1 11/16” nut width. This neck is not blade thin like you’d find in 1960 or ‘61 but it also isn’t chunky. The fret wire on this guitar is in great shape - it is tall and only shows light play wear. This guitar was refretted before it arrived at our shop. The fret work was done very well and the guitar plays like a dream up and down the rosewood fingerboard with low action and excellent intonation. This guitar doesn’t fret out or buzz anywhere and it’s super easy to play from the first fret to the 12th with a set of .12-.53 gauge strings. The top of this instrument has some slight sinking at the soundhole area which is super common, but the neck angle is excellent and the truss rod and original ABR-1 bridge are fully functional.  

This is a dynamite playing 63 year old Gibson J-200! Tonally this J-200 is superb. It delivers that quintessential dry yet articulate “thump” that these instruments are famous for with plenty of volume, a big hollow and round low end and very nice chimey mid range - very balanced and even. This guitar just sounds like a record! This a super inspiring guitar with tons of personality and grit and this thing just begs to played! Gibson records report that 101 Gibson J-200s were shipped in 1963 (64 in sunburst and 37 in natural). This J-200 is housed in a late 1950s Geib hardshell case that fits like a glove and will ship out promptly and securely from our little shop here in Tennessee to your front door!