This superb playing Gibson Super 400C was just at Joe Glaser's shop where it received some minor repairs, and the full PLEK treatment and bridge fitting. With the expert work done at Glaser Instruments, you will not find a better playing archtop.
The acoustic tone of this guitar is excellent. It is currently strung with flatwound strings for primarily electric play through the added genuine Gibson Johnny Smith pickup which is wired through volume and tone controls mounted in the pickguard to an endpin jack. Even with the flatwounds, the guitar has excellent acoustic volume and projection which would only be enhanced with roundwound acoustic strings. The tone has the Gibson sweetness and roundness one always hopes for in Gibson acoustic archtops. This tone is right up there with the nicest 1950s Super 400s I have tried. Plugged in, the Johnny Smith pickup delivers the great tone those pickups are known for.
Dating this guitar is somewhat difficult, but I believe that it was most likely built in 1968. That is early for the label inside of the bass side f-hole. That label is most associated with the Norlin era. The Venetian cutaway doesn't give any indication, as this guitar is an acoustic archtop and those continued to receive Venetian cutaways while the 1960s electric versions were the ones with Florentine cutaways. The serial number could fall in 1968 or 1974-1975. Arguing against the 1970s are three things in my experience. The woods used on this guitar are far nicer (both the top and the back) than is typically seen by the mid 1970s. Also, "MADE IN USA" is NOT pressed into the back of the headstock. If this guitar were from 1974 or 1975 that stamp would be almost certainly present. Lastly, the finish looks more typical of 1968 than the mid '70s. The spray of the sunburst with such a gorgeous fade, as well as the color used do not fit with what is seen in examples from '74-'75. Although, this additional factor is one that isn't as hard of a specific, the case is supposed to be original and would also be far more consistent with 1968, as it has a gold/orange liner, rather than the purple/magenta that would be typical of the mid-1970s.
The guitar is in excellent condition with very little wear to the gold plating on the tailpiece. The finish is in absolutely beautiful condition for a guitar thats over 50 years old with only light surface scratches and a few very small dings. The original Kluson Sealfast tuners have been replaced with Grover Imperials.
Weight - 7.1 pounds
Nut width - 1.56 inches
1st fret depth - 0.85 inches
9th fret depth - 0.95 inches
Scale length - 25.5 inches
Comes with hardshell case that appears original and dates to the late 1960s. Paperwork showing work done by Glaser Instruments is also included.
Ships free in the United States and for reasonable rates worldwide.