Gibson Advanced Jumbo Historic Collection Vintage Burst, 2005

Here’s a lovely and unusual piece – a Gibson Advanced Jumbo Historic Collection model, patterned after the original 1936 round shouldered, Rosewood dreadnought. While this looks rather like other Gibson round shoulder models – particularly the venerable J-45 – the Advanced Jumbo has a longer scale length, the X brace is moved closer to the soundhole, and the sides and back are Rosewood instead of Mahogany.

Gibson launched the Advanced Jumbo in 1936 but discontinued it in 1939. The original models used a mix of Brazilian and Indian Rosewood – both are documented. It has been reissued a number of times in various forms. Here, the Gibson Advanced Jumbo Historic Collection models were built in Bozeman, Montana under the leadership of Ren Ferguson. They feature a Sitka Spruce top paired with Indian Rosewood for the back, sides, rectangular bridge and bound fingerboard. The body blocks and neck are Mahogany, and the Mother of Pearl inlay set is Diamonds and Arrows, with a ‘Script’ Gibson logo. The pickguard is a 1930’s style ‘Firestripe’, and the finish is a thin nitrocellulose lacquer Vintage Sunburst. Goto open gear tuners with metal ‘butterbean’ buttons are installed at the head. This particular guitar has also had a Fishman soundhole pickup installed to an endpin jack.

This Gibson Advanced Jumbo Historic Collection model plays well, and has the characteristically warm sound of a Gibson slope shoulder. It’s not as boomy as a square shoulder might be, which can make it a better choice for recording.

The original hard shell case is included, and contains the Gibson QA checkoff card.