Gibson Super 400 CESN 1962

The Gibson Super 400 was introduced in 1934 as the company’s flagship archtop, with the electric Super 400 CES following in 1951. With its enormous 18-inch body, carved spruce top, highly figured maple and elaborate appointments, it represented the very top of Gibson’s guitar range.

This 1962 Super 400 CESN is an exceptionally rare natural-finish example, with just 16 guitars shipped in this configuration that year. It also features the distinctive pointed Florentine cutaway introduced around 1960, replacing the earlier rounded Venetian design.

The guitar has a hand-carved spruce top, an arched figured maple back and maple sides, with an ebony fingerboard and large pearl split-block inlays. Other appointments include the original bound tortoiseshell pickguard, engraved Super 400 tailpiece and gold-plated hardware. It still has the original and correct two original PAF humbuckers, delivering the warm, clear and open sound for which these early Gibson pickups are particularly sought after.

The guitar is in very good condition for its age, with natural patina and standard playwear, primarily on the back. There are also some marks on the top around the pickguard, which we believe to have been caused by a cable left in the case. Frets are quite worn, but the guitar plays well across the neck. Original brown hardshell case with pink lining included, also in excellent condition.

An exceptionally rare example of Gibson’s flagship electric archtop from the early 1960s, combining original PAF pickups, a natural finish and the distinctive Florentine body design. Oh, and of course, simply just one of the coolest objects ever!!

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Gibson
Model: Super 400 CESN
Year: 1962
Country of manufacture: USA
Factory: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Production: 16 natural-finish Super 400 CES guitars shipped in 1962
Finish: Natural (Blonde)
Finish type: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Body type: Full-depth hollowbody archtop
Top: Solid hand-carved spruce
Back: Arched figured maple
Sides: Maple
Body width: 18″ (457mm)
Body length: 21.75″ (552mm)
Body depth: 3.375″ (86mm)
Cutaway: Pointed Florentine
Body binding: Multi-ply black and white
F-holes: Bound
Neck: Multi-piece figured maple
Neck joint: Set neck, joining body at 14th fret
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard inlays: Mother-of-pearl split blocks
Frets: 20
Scale length: 25.5″ (648mm)
Fingerboard binding: Multi-ply
Headstock: Bound Gibson headstock with pearl split-diamond inlay
Neck pickup: Original Gibson PAF humbucker, gold cover
Bridge pickup: Original Gibson PAF humbucker, gold cover
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone
Pickup selector: 3-way toggle switch
Control knobs: Gold reflector knobs
Bridge: Gold-plated ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic on adjustable floating wooden base
Tailpiece: Gold-plated engraved Gibson Super 400 trapeze tailpiece
Tuners: Gold-plated Kluson Sealfast
Pickguard: Original bound tortoiseshell celluloid
Hardware: Gold-plated
Condition: Very good, with natural patina and standard playwear, primarily on the back, plus marks around the pickguard
Case: Original brown hardshell case with pink lining, in excellent condition