TYPE
Acoustic Hollow Body Archtop guitar
FEATURES
Spruce top, maple back and sides, mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard
INFORMATION
At a time when the US economy was just recovering from the Great Depression, Gibson introduced the most luxurious, richly decorated and most expensive model to date: the Super 400. It was the largest guitar Gibson had ever produced and had a body measures almost 46cm/18 inches, while most archtops, including the L-5 and Epiphone’s wider new models, measure no more than 40cm/16 inches.
The 1934 Super 400 was flashy yet retained its dignity: it was constructed of high-quality wood, the inlays were striking yet elegant, and the tailpiece was engraved by hand. By 1939, the upper belly of the body had grown, the bracing construction changed, and the f-holes enlarged.
Today, the original model and early versions of the Super 400 are rare and expensive.
