There are few guitars as important to the history and development of Gibson as a major manufacturer of six-stringed instruments as the Super 400 and Super 400-CES. The model first appeared in 1934 as an archtop acoustic with no cutaway, simply named the Super 400. As it was then – and still remains today in the Super 400-CES – the Super 400 was the largest guitar the company had ever produced, with an impressive body width of 18 inches. But as Gibson has evolved over the years to adapt to the industry’s ever-changing advancements, so have its Super 400s. Although the Super 400s were discontinued during the mid-1940s because of the supply shortages of WWII, Gibson reintroduced the model in 1949. And as Gibson strived to gain an upper hand in the electric guitar market in the early 1950s, the model continued to progress with the eventual introduction of the first electric version. This had a slightly thicker top to reduce feedback, two P-90 pickups, and individual tone and volume controls, along with a three-way toggle switch. Later, the P-90 pickups were replaced with Alnico V pickups, then in 1957, humbucking pickups.
This 1977 model is all original and has a solid carved spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, 3-piece flamed maple-neck with medium profile, black headstock with MOP split-diamond inlay, Multi-bound 20 fret ebony fretboard with MOP split block-inlays, ebony compensated floating bridge, 6x original Kluson Sealfast tuners, 2 x pat number embossed humbuckers; 2 x Vol., 2 x Tone, 3-way toggle switch, pot codes for 1977 and comes complete with its original black Gibson hard case.
The scratch plate had off-gassed causing some minor corrosion to the pickup covers but luckily the guitar was not kept in a case to the damage with minimal. The original scratch plate fixings are included in the case. There is also a loss of the gold finish to the tail piece and to the buttons of the machine heads. The body, heal and headstock facia all have some lacquer checking and there are 3 small marks to the guitar top – all in all it is in really great condition for is 45+ years of age – and not just a looker as it still plays and sounds fantastic.
This guitar will be hand delivered within mainland UK for £75.00. Hand delivery will be on the first available Sunday or Monday following purchase.
Customers outside of UK should contact Vintage Rare & Retro Guitars for a shipping quotation. Free pick-up is always available at our Gullane shop.
