They ran out of names so they called it by its price tag. . .
1936 Gibson "Super 400"
© Frank Ford, 1999; Photos by FF

This is an interesting top-level jazz guitar. Introduced during the height of the Great Depression, it tipped the scales at $400.00 - a real piece of change in those days! It has a big body and a big voice, the biggest ever made by Gibson.

The Super 400 wasn't the first 18" wide Gibson guitar. The early style "O" was an oval hole 18-incher, but had been discontinued by about 1910. I'm betting that this one took a trip back to the Gibson factory for a "rehab" including a new top, sometime in the 1940s. Unlike others of its age, it has enlarged soundholes with multiple binding, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge instead of ebony. Clearly original Gibson work throughout.

As you look over the photos, you'll see that Gibson threw just about every deluxe feature in their arsenal at this guitar! It has multiple bindings everywhere, fancy curly maple back, sides and neck, Art Deco style inlay, gold plated and engraved metal parts, and even a special red "mother of toilet seat" fingerrest.

Please click the small image

	This big boy can cut right through the horn section of a big jazz band.

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