*This is a used guitar in very good condition
*This is a consignment item
*Includes original/period correct hard shell case
*Observations: This lovely WWII era archtop hails from early 1944 and despite some bites and bruises, it is in very good condition overall for its age. The center of the top has sunken slightly as is common for archtops of this era, and someone has carved the bridge base to match its curvature, so the base is still sitting mostly flat against the top. The saddle is a non-original and compensated.
This guitar has been played quite a bit over its lifetime, so there are dings, scratches and gouges across all of its surfaces. The finish has clouded in spots and there are some small chips, finish smears, and splotchy areas, as well as extensive finish checking. There is a crack running from the upper F-hole to the back of the top and a shorter crack on the back but neither appears to be structurally serious. The binding is in mostly good shape but it is shrinking on the bottom edge of the back and it has pulled the back away slightly from the side, exposing a small gap.The finish is worn down significantly on the back of the neck but it feels smooth to the touch. The tailpiece is a replacement and a strap button has been installed on the neck heel. The tuners are original and are a little stiff but they are functional and the plastic buttons are intact. The fingerboard inlays have been either re-glued or replaced at some point, and the 1st and 3rd fret inlays are chipped and missing small pieces. None of them are loose. A refret was done at some point, and the frets are in very good condition, with almost no wear. Finally, the Lifton case is either original to the guitar or built during the same era and it is in very good shape for its age and fully functional.
Having said all that, how does it sound? This guitar is bright, bold, barky and incredibly loud. It was made in an era where these guitars were built for maximum acoustic volume so that your swinging Freddie Green-style rhythm chops could be heard all the way across the room over the horn section, and this without question one of the loudest Gibson archtops we've ever encountered. The setup is medium height and when played firmly and percussively, the tone is chunky and explosive.
Despite its cosmetic issues, this is a fantastic guitar that delivers incredible vintage archtop tone with the same power and style that it did when it came out of Kalamazoo during the Truman administration. If you play pre-50s style jazz or Western swing rhythm guitar, you will go crazy for this one.
$4999 plus $45 for shipping (consignment item)
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS AT (512) 243-6036 OR Sales@AustinGuitarHouse.com
