Up for sale, a 1959 Gibson Country Western in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A guitar originally released concurrently with the J-45 in 1942 as the Southern Jumbo (and subsequently the Southern Jumbo Natural, or SJN, when a Natural-finished top became an available option), by 1955 the guitar was rechristened the "Country Western." A golden age example with a quintessential 1959 C-shaped neck carve and slope shoulder dreadnought body, this is an exceptional Gibson in every respect.

Tonewoods include an X-braced spruce soundboard, Honduran mahogany back/sides, a Honduran mahogany neck, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge. An extremely rewarding strummer with tons of projection and power on tap, the plain strings are punchy and sweet, with plenty of high treble sparkle, while the wound strings are round and full-sounding. This Country Western offers excellent string-to-string balance and note detail, with a textured midrange quality and a balanced sound when traveling up the neck. This Country Western weighs 4lbs 4oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Shape: Chunky '59 C shape, measuring .895” 1st fret, .980” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, split parallelogram inlay, light finger wear behind frets 1-3
-Frets: Medium jumbo, hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-4
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, nylon
-Tuners: Kluson Deluxe single-line
-Serialization: S-prefix Factory Order Number on heel block (translates to 1959 build date)

Body Specs:

-Wood: Spruce, Honduran mahogany
-Bracing: X
-Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, Micarta saddle
-Marquetry: Multi-ply binding and rosette

Remarkably crack-free, this Gibson's top has minimal deflection at the treble side of the soundhole, and the Brazilian rosewood bridge sits flush with the spruce on all edges. The saddle has only modest height, and the action is well within spec in every register, 7/64" on the bass side and 5/64" on the treble side, measured at the 12th fret.

The gloss Natural nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, exhibiting broad checking and a few small dings on top. There is light scuffing central to the waist on the back and a few additional minor scuffs and marks on the body as a whole. The gloss finish on the neck profile is nigh-flawless and free of palm wear, and a strap button has also been added to the neck heel.

A vintage Gibson faux alligator chipboard case is included, equally as clean as the guitar with well-kept leather trim on the lid, the original molded handle, and functional latches.