Gibson J-55 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1940), ser. #758F-14, original black - red line hard shell case.

Gibson J-55 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1940), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 758F-14, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black - red line hard shell case.

The J-55 is one of Gibson's most engaging classic flat-top creations, a striking deluxe Jumbo available for only a short time just before WWII. This 16" round-shoulder model replaced the more celebrated Advanced Jumbo in the company's line, originally selling at the somewhat more affordable price of $55.00 instead of $80.00. Gigson may have initially underpriced this model; by its final appearance on the 1942 price list the 1940 J-55's features marked a return to a more Gibson-standard layout and did not continue the "AJ's" Martin-influenced longer scale neck and rosewood body.

With a spruce top, mahogany back and sides and 24 3/4" scale, this "second generation" 1940 J-55 is essentially a fancier J-35 with more upscale cosmetics including the fairly rare "small script" pearl headstock logo above a diamond inlay and single-bound fingerboard. Distinctive appointments include a large carved two-tiered rosewood bridge and an unusual stepped-edge pickguard that covers the soundhole ring, something Gibson specifically did on their "Cowboy" guitars aimed at hard-strumming Western performers.

These unique features were shared with the equally rare 17" SJ-100, both models being intended the same Cowboy crooners. This 1940 J-55 is slightly streamlined from the initial 1939 version, with a straight-sided headstock in place of the odd "stepped" design initially used and a new smaller two-tiered carved bridge in plate of the open "moustache" style. The extended pickguard is made of the flashy Gibson "firestripe" celluloid seen only on pre-war instruments. This guitar plays perfectly and the sound is big, rich, and powerful, it rings out with plenty of punch and an epic sustain. With fewer than 400 of all variants built, the J-55 is an extremely rare guitar, and examples in anything like original condition are seldom encountered.

Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 16 1/16 in. (40.8 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 remains in excellent playing and largely original condition with typical light wear, the all-original finish mostly showing typical checking, dings and scrapes. There is less strum wear to the top finish than on many of these "Cowboy" style Gibsons, mostly confined to the soundhole rim and a few errant scratches above it. The back and sides have dings, dents and a number of shallow scratches but no heavy loss. The back of the neck is partially smoothly worn down to the wood with only small shallow dings and chips; it feels largely smooth without the heavier capo wear often encountered on older flat tops.

The only notable crack repair is to a tight grain split along the top edge of the pickguard, neatly sealed with a full-length cleat in stalled underneath. The top seam looks to have opened just slightly and been resealed with no finish added. Internally the bracing remains all original; The original maple bridge plate has an additional thin maple flange off the back edge; this piece of wood looks later than the main plate but the bridge bolts run through it. The bridge pins are all *right* at the back edge of the main plate; we have seen Gibsons with these 2-stage bridgeplates "error saving" before but in this case believe the rear piece is either an addition or a replacement.

The fittings remain original except the tuners, which are vintage but later Grover Sta-Tites from the 1950s. The neck may have been reset, but if so it was an incredibly clean job for a prewar Gibson. There has been a period correct style refret with the fingerboard trued and a replacement bone nut crafted. The original 2-stage carved rosewood bridge retains its full height and has been fitted with a new saddle; the rosewood shows some finger wear on the top surface. Amazingly the lovely aged plastic bridge pins and endpin remain original.

This J-55 sounds as good as it looks, with the warm but punchy characteristic Gibson Jumbo sound in spades. It includes the worn but fully functional original red-line HSC, with some heavier wear to the edges. Overall this is a fantastic piece of pre-war Gibson flat-top greatness, an a lovely guitar to play and hear and a great example of Gibson's "Western style" pre-war jumbos. Overall Excellent - Condition.