1936 Gibson Super 400
Orville Gibson invented the archtop guitar in the late 1890s and Gibson engineer Lloyd Loar improved the design in the 1920s by replacing the original oval soundhole with f-holes. Gibson owned the market for archtops until 1931, when Epiphone challenged Gibson with a full line of archtops under the Epiphone Masterbilt banner, several of which were 3/8" wider than Gibson's largest model, the L-5.Gibson responded with more 16" models, but after four years of head-to-head competition with Epi, Gibson decided to blow the competition out of the water with an all-out, "over-the-top" guitar with flashy slashed-block inlays,a mosaic-pattern pickguard, and a body that was not just one but two inches wider than the 16" L-5. With case, the price was $400 and Gibson named it, appropriately, the Super 400.
This beautiful Super 400 has a factory order number from 1935, the first year of the model, and serial number from 1936. It feautures a spectacular "blistered" maple back. In excellent condition with original leather-covered case it is offered at the reduced price of $15,000.
This instrument is SOLD
For further enjoyment:
Full front with case
Pickguard
Tailpiece
Headstock
Back view
Heel cap
Side view
