Gibson J-55 1939 Re-issue Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2023), ser. #21833049, original black hard shell case.

Gibson J-55 1939 Re-issue Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2023), made in Bozeman, Montana, serial # 21833049, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This guitar is the Gibson Montana shop's excellent recent reissue of the original pre-war Gibson J-55, one of the company's most engaging flat-top creations. This striking deluxe Jumbo flat-top was originally available for only a short time just before WWII before disappearing for the rest of the century. This upscale 16" round-shoulder model had a spruce top over mahogany back and sides, with a mahogany neck. It was essentially a fancier version of the working man's J-35, with more upscale cosmetics aimed at the "singing cowboy" market including a pearl headstock logo and single-bound fingerboard. More distinctive appointments included a large carved bridge and an unusual stepped-edge pickguard that covered the sound hole ring. With fewer than 400 of all variants built, the original J-55 is an extremely rare guitar, and examples are seldom encountered.

This new Custom Shop 1939 J-55 features an exacting re-creation of the original round-shouldered mahogany body with some upgrades to the original design including a thermally aged Adirondack red spruce top, premium ebony on the fingerboard and bridge and a long 25 1/4" scale neck with a wide 1 3/4" nut. The original look is maintained with the deep sunburst top finish, "cowboy style" terraced fire stripe pickguard, "moustache" bridge and large pearl Gibson headstock logo. The top features hand-scalloped red spruce X-bracing fitted with traditional hide glue while the lacquer is "VOS Thin Finish" Nitrocellulose. This guitar is a worthy re-creation of the original, a big-sounding instrument complete with the Gibson COA and inspection tag dated 7-25-23.

Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/4 in. (641 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).

This guitar appears more or less new, showing only some very light handling wear. It plays very well with a rich and powerful sound that will only improve with more serious some play time. It rests in the original; deluxe HSC with the COA and collection of Gibson materials it originally came with. Excellent + Condition.