No. 2009-16
No. 16 is a copy of the Gibson Advanced Jumbo. Gibson produced about
300 of these from 1938 to 1940, so the originals are rare and highly
prized by collectors. They are also highly valued by players for their
power. Aside from unique style details (note the dart and diamond
pattern of the fret board inlays), the most unusual characteristic of the
Advanced Jumbo is its 25.4" scale length. All other Gibson jumbo models
have the shorter 24.75" scale. Otherwise, the dimensions of the AJ are
the same as the J-45.
My replica emulates the natural finish version of the Advanced Jumbo.
Most were finished with a typical Gibson 1930s sunburst. The top is
"leopard claw" Lutz spruce (Picea lutzii), which grows along the Skeena
River in British Columbia. The sides, back, bridge, and fretboard are
East Indian rosewood (originals probably were Brazilian rosewood).
No. 16 belongs to Mark Sutton of Nashville, Tennessee, who performs
with his brother Jason as Brother Trouble now on the Blaster record label.
More photos of No. 16
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No. 2009-18
No 18 is a copy of the original Gibson jumbo of 1934. The OJ is
the most unusual of Gibson's J series of guitars for several
reasons. FIrst, it has a very deep upper bout. The body tapers
from 4 7/8" at the tail to 4 5/8" at the neck. Second, it has three
tone bars under the lower bout instead of the two in (as far as I
know) all others of the J series.
My friend Doug Kauffman left his 1934 OJ with me for a few
months in 2007, and I measured it and photographed its interior
construction to help me re-create that remarkable guitar as
closely as I could.
No. 18 belongs to Chris Newman of Petaluma, California. It is the
first of 5 of this model I have completed (January 1, 2009).
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No. 2009-24 and 25
The 5th and 6th jumbos were constructed side by side. Like No. 18, they
share details of the original Gibson jumbo from 1934, including: deep
upper bout; 3.75" sound hole; three tone bars (instead of the normal two
tone bars) in the lower bout; top and bracing of Adirondack red spruce;
back, sides, and neck of Honduran mahogany; bridge, fret board, and
peg head veneer of rosewood (the OJ had a black painted peg head).
Both were constructed using hot hide glue for all joints but the back to
side joint. Both are finished with the small sunburst used on the earliest
jumbos, and both have the burst on sides, back and neck like the
originals. No. 24 has the original 24.75" scale length. No. 25 has a 25.4"
scale length like the later Gibson Advanced Jumbo.
No. 24 belongs to Danny Click, an outstanding professional musician with
roots in Indiana, a past in Austin, who now lives in San Rafael, California.
No. 25 belongs to Tom Porter, CEO of B'laster Chemical and especially
of B'laster Music of Cleveland, Ohio. The B'laster logo is inlaid in pearl
on the fretboard.
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No. 2010-30
No. 30 is the 7th jumbo. It is a hybrid of the Advanced Jumbo and
original jumbo designs, with the deep body and small sound hole
of the OJ, but with only two lower face braces and a long scale
(25.3") like the AJ.
The top is bear claw Sitka spruce from Alaskan Specialty Woods,
and the back is Santos rosewood (not a true rosewood, and
closely related to Pau ferro)
No. 30 belongs to Andrew Packard, an environmental lawyer and
fine guitar picker in Petaluma, California.
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No. 2010-31
No. 31 is the 8th jumbo. It is modeled on the modern J-45, with the
exception of the peghead shape, which is modeled on the 1930s
Gibson peghead.
The top is Adirondack red spruce from Maine braced with Alaskan
sitka spruce, and the neck, back and sides are Honduran
mahogany
No. 31 belongs to Don Rich, a musician in Petaluma, California.
Don is also devoted to Traditional Small Craft, and works at the
San Francisco Maritime National Park.
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