1948 Gibson SJ-200 - Cremona Brown Sunburst
Model Overview
The "King of the Flat Tops" made its first appearance in 1937 initially called the Super Jumbo, changing early to the Super Jumbo 200. The retail price was $200 with very few examples shipped, the ledgers show that only 25 left the factory in 1938. Early pre-war examples in good, original condition will fetch the $100,000 mark. Production of the Super Jumbo 200 ceased during the Second World War as Gibson scaled down manufacture and upon its re-release in 1947 the specification had changed mainly to the back and sides changing from Indian Rosewood to figured Maple.
The 1948 SJ-200 is 17" wide with highly figured maple back & sides, a double-braced red spruce top finished in a stunning Cremona Brown Sunburst. Deluxe appointments include multiple binding throughout, a celluloid pickguard with engraved flower motif, pearl cloud inlays and a rosewood fingerboard & "moustache" bridge. The tone from this 1948 example is exceptional and has to be heard to be appreciated: big and full but with incredible detail. The SJ-200 is in fantastic condition and comes with its original Geib-made Gibson hard case.