Sound Pure's Take
Weight: 8.7 lbs.
Condition: Used, Good - Ample finish checking on top, playwear and scratching overall. The top was refinished at some point.
Pure tonal indulgence that's captivated the world since its original release early on in Gibson's history. No surprise there! There's nothing like playing one of these--imagine making a hairpin turn in a semi! Improbable power and presence paired with improbable playability and responsiveness, through and through.
From Gibson Guitars
"A crowning achievement! Developed through years of research, the luxurious Super 400-CES has been acclaimed by outstanding musicians everywhere as the finest electric Spanish guitar. Superior materials and superb Gibson craftsmanship produce its clear, clean-cut powerful tone and dependable performance." — Gibson catalog, circa 1959
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 astounding 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. The earliest Super 400 models were quite similar to Gibson’s other archtop acoustic, the L-5, and featured a hand-engraved tailpiece and hand-engraved finger rest support, along with an “L-5 Super” truss rod cover. In 1939, the guitar underwent several changes that still remain with it today, including an enlarged upper bout, a new tailpiece similar to the one on the L-5, enlarged f-holes and a Venetian cutaway option that is now a standard feature. 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.
2002
- Serial Number
- 22952005
- Dimensions
- 18 (W) X 21¾ (L) X 3⅜ (D)
- Scale Length
- 25 1/2"
- Top
- High-grade Sitka Spruce w/ Multi-ply Black & White Binding, Single-ply White Binding Around F-holes
- Back & Sides
- High-grade Maple w/ Multi-ply Black & White Binding
Gold Hardware
ABR-1 Bridge w/ Ebony Base & Period-correct L-5 Tailpiece
5-Piece High-grade Maple Neck w/ Two High-grade Walnut Streamers
20-Fret Ebony Fingerboard w/ Pearl Block Inlays and Multi-ply Black and White Binding
Traditional Gibson ES-Rounded Neck Profile
Two Gibson ’57 Classic Pickups
Traditional Gibson Five-piece Split Diamond Headstock Motif Inlay
Schaller M6 tuners
Sunburst Finish
Original Hardshell Case
Certificate of Authenticity
Warranty
This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Returns
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Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC
Come hear it in our control rooms.
Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.