1930s Carson J Robison Vintage Acoustic Guitar, Kalamazoo Pre-War Gibson-Made w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1930s Gibson-made Carson J Robison vintage acoustic guitar in exceptional condition. One of many brands to be crafted by Gibson at their Kalamazoo factory during the Great Depression, the Carson J Robison model is typically seen in conjunction with Recording King branding, tied to instruments exclusively sold through the Montgomery Wards catalog (this example retains its Wards foil label visible through the soundhole). The body measures 14 5/8" wide at the lower bout, and is 4 1/4" deep.A Pre-War Gibson instrument in every respect, the Carson J Robison model was named for the singing cowboy and radio entertainer. Not coincidentally, Robison was also a long time Gibson endorsee. This guitar has also received all the necessary maintenance due an acoustic guitar of this vintage, with a professional neck reset, level and crown of the stock fretwire, and a carved and compensated bone saddle.The Carson J Robison has a feel and tone consistent with Gibson's Pre-War output, boasting a mahogany neck with a prominent V profile carve, solid Adirondack spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and Brazilian rosewood fretboard. Ladder braced, the spruce and mahogany tonewood combination yields a sound which has a chiming, authoritative quality. The tone is big and cutting, equal parts snap and roar with an articulate note attack. The treble response is crisp and punchy, and the generous body depth of the Robison model (consistent with the Nick Lucas model, one of Gibson's other most popular endorsees of the era) gives the tone more body and oomph than the majority of Gibson's ladder braced guitars from this era. Strung with 12-53 strings and lightly braced, this Carson J Robison really sings and boasts easy-playing action all the way up the fretboard.The mahogany neck has a no-nonsense V-shaped profile with lots of chunk and fullness, measuring 1.010" deep at the 1st fret and 1.105" at the 9th. On the extremely dark, tight-grained Brazilian rosewood fretboard, the original slender frets have ostensibly been lightly dressed in the guitar’s lifetime, currently showing no wear. The guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4" scale, and the original bone nut measures a full 1 3/4" in width. The headstock retains its extremely clean "Carson J Robison" signature silkscreen. The original open-gear strip tuners have remarkably clean nickel plating and original white buttons, turning smoothly and holding pitch reliably.The body features top and soundhole binding, with a small tiger stripe tortoise pickguard and warm two-tone nitro lacquer Sunburst finish. The original Brazilian rosewood bridge sits flush with the top on all edges and has been reseated in the guitar's lifetime. The neck has been professionally reset and meets the body at an ideal angle, and the new carved and compensated bone saddle has ample height. Visible through the soundhole, the original gold foil Wards label is intact.Cosmetic wear on the two-tone nitro lacquer Sunburst finish includes strum wear across the soundhole, extending beyond the pickguard edge, light buckle wear on the back (predominantly on the upper bout), and some additional small scuffs and nicks on the back and mahogany rims consistent with very light, careful use. The finish on the neck profile is clean and smooth with light palm wear through the gloss on the profile edges behind frets 1-2.The original black chipboard case is included, retaining its stock latches and leather handle.