For your consideration..

From Les Paul’s personal collection... and Warwick Rose’s. RIP. I’m helping his sons sell for market value, the last part of his extensive collection two dealer sharks didn‘t get their teeth into.

Here is an excellent condition 1954 Gibson Southerner Jumbo acoustic guitar! Many people over the years have nicknamed them simply the Southern Jumbo and SJ model.

Les Paul had this true beauty Gibson stashed for many years in his bedroom in Mahwah, New Jersey. It finally made the light of day after his passing when it came on the auction block at Julian’s in Beverly Hills. My buddy Warwick was a fan of great Gibsons and especially fancied the sunburst SJ deluxe acoustic… and outbid the crowd for this gem!

The guitar is in magnificent overall condition and was rarely played before Les received it. When I lived in Mahwah in 1975 with Les, his son Bobby and bassist Wally, he let me play this guitar when I saw the cool brown case. In his basement were lots of neat guitars too!

This SJ was in the same fine condition and sounded wonderful when I played it again at the auction. It has some typical east coast weather checking in spots.

Julian’s page info: “Serial number X84725 - 1954 Southern Jumbo, sunburst with two inches of binding missing on treble side of the fingerboard, from the 1st to the 2nd fret‘.” A small portion of binding from the nut just past the first fret has to be replaced on the side. I’ll get a closeup soon.

It has a little typical edge wear on the headstock‘s back top crown. The tuner buttons are becoming somewhat fragile. I would add new buttons and keep the machine heads. Original bridge has been reglued back down. There is a slight finish fissure a few inches along the bottom of the center seam. It does not appear to be open, but shows the typical hygroscopic wood fluctuation. It comes with a very nice 50’s period case and all the Julian’s auction documentation.

It is available for local pickup in Santa Monica California. Josh and I can meet with the buyer with a few days notice. Or the instrument can be professionally boxed by me for shipping within the Continental US. Extra Insurance costs to be paid by buyer. Message any questions etc and we’ll be glad to answer and snap more photos. Josh just sent over the last few snapshots of the back of the instrument to compliment my previous iPhone pics. The Julian auction photos are shown too.
My Les Paul Legacy books are not included in this auction but are available used and NOS online.

As Les always signed and said… Keep Pickin’!
Thanks for looking!