Gibson Vintage 1955 Country Western, Natural With OHSC – Used
This 1955 Gibson is a first-year example of a Country Western or Southern Jumbo Natural (SJN) which was made between 1955 – 1961. This Country Western has a 20-fret neck like the sunburst Southern Jumbo model of the same era, but still features the fixed saddle bridge and round shoulder body shape as opposed to the less-desirable adjustable bridge and square shoulder that showed up on the SJN in 1962. Like the Southern Jumbo, it featured a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood bridge and fingerboard, with Gibson’s “deluxe” split parallelogram pearl inlays.
This 1955 Country Western is in Good/Very Good Condition. This guitar arrived with a lifted bridge and an open crack in the lower bass side bout area. The bridge was reglued, the crack was aligned/glued/stabilized, all with period correct techniques including hot hide glue. There is light to moderate checking throughout the body and neck. There are a few mild dings and dents throughout showing this guitar has been played. By the 1st fret there is a slight crack in the finish on the bass side. There is “arm wear” on the top of the guitar where your forearm rests which shows lightly through to the wood.
It has a comfortable round neck profile, measuring .890” deep at the first fret with a 1 11/16” nut width. The profile thickens to 1.210” deep at the 12th fret. 12th fret action measures 3/32” to 5/64” from E to e.
The guitar still has the original celluloid tortoiseshell long pickguard and Country Western Model “Lasso” sticker on the inside. The top has seven-ply black and white binding, the back has five-ply white and black binding, and the sound hole rosette is in two groups of seven white and black and three white and black. The black headstock overlay is inlaid with a pearl “Gibson” logo and a pearl double crown.
This ’55 Country Western has all of the tonal characteristics one would associate with a 66-year-old spruce and mahogany Gibson flattop. It’s warm, balanced from e to e, and loud. Includes original brown Lifton case with brown interior.
