2023 Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo – £2999

NEW ARRIVAL  In the mid ’30s, Gibson luthiers decided to build the best-sounding, most powerful flat-top acoustic ever. The result was the Advanced Jumbo. What Gibson’s luthiers discovered was a resonance-enhancing, advanced X-bracing pattern that had not been used before. The results were a deeper bass and increased projection. During the three years the AJ was in its first production run, Gibson made about 300 of them. It wasn’t until 1990 that Gibson reintroduced the AJ, and their value as a vintage-tone time capsule was recognised. In 2023 Gibson Custom Shop decided to produce a period correct 1936 Advanced Jumbo, using a thermally aged Red Spruce top and hide glue construction and a thin nitro finish. The Spruce top and Rosewood back & sides are finished with a simple, single-ply binding. A traditional sound hole rosette, mother-of-pearl diamond and arrow inlays are inlayed in the Rosewood fingerboard and the classic MOP script logo with MOP vertical diamond and arrow inlay make this instantly recognisable as a classic. The AJ offers rich harmonics with excellent punch and presence. It’s different to other Gibson dreadnoughts, very dynamic, with lots of bass but not the boom, and extremely versatile. This example is in excellent condition, with a full feeling neck and good playability. It comes in it’s original Custom period correct hard case.