Up for sale, a circa 1970 Gibson Super 400 CES in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Unique for its era, this Super 400 has a full traditional 1 11/16” nut width, loaded with the original pair of Patent Sticker T Top humbuckers.

The largest Gibson archtop ever produced with an impressive 18” lower bout width, this Super 400 CES features a hand-carved and graduated fine grained Sitka spruce top, maple back and rims, and a three-piece flame maple neck topped with an ebony fingerboard. Currently strung with flatwound 12s, this Gibson offers singing, articulate tones with a breadth and depth befitting the Super's dimensions and tonewood complement. There's enough top end zing and sparkling snap on the bridge pickup for spirited, up-tempo lead work, while the neck pickup is smooth glass, sweet enough to sit perfectly in a small combo while retaining the articulation necessary for dense chording. This Super 400 CES weighs 7lbs 14oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with low action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Flame maple (three-piece, walnut stringers)
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .815” 1st fret, .965” 9th fret
• Fretboard: Ebony, mother of pearl split-block inlay
• Frets: Medium jumbo, refret, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 3-11
• Scale Length: 25 1/2”
• Nut: 1 11/16”, bone (upgraded)
• Tuners: Kluson Sealfast
• Serialization: Six-digit stamp dates to 1970-72

Body Specs:

• Wood: Spruce (top, carved), maple
• Pickups: Patent Sticker T-Top humbucker x2, untouched solder on covers
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
• Harness: Modern CTS pots
• Hardware: Ebony compensated floating bridge, “Super 400”-engraved tailpiece
• Plastics: Bound tortoise pickguard (modern), witch hat knobs
• Label: “Union Made”

The gloss Cherry Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is bright and vibrant, framed by multi-ply binding throughout. Much of the plating on the pickup covers and forward edge of the tailpiece is worn through as a result of the off-gassing of the original pickguard, and new gold pickup covers can be fitted at the next owner’s discretion. Cosmetic wear is limited to faint buckle worming on the back central to the lower bout and some minor dings and finish scratches, largely clustered on top at the lower bout. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with a few shallow marks that are nigh imperceptible to the palm.

The original black tolex hardshell case with purple plush interior is included. The case features functional latches, the original handle and a clean Gibson silkscreen on the lid.