ON HOLD pending possible trade - Gibson Advanced Jumbo Historic 2005 Sunburst — Bozeman, MT

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

I personally owned this guitar for about 8 years before I sold it to a local customer a few years ago.  I'm happy to see it back in the shop!  I'd keep it, but the vintage J-50 that I restored with the money from selling this guitar the first time filled the void.

The Gibson Advanced Jumbo has a short and storied history. Introduced in 1936 during the Depression as part of Gibson's push into large-body flat-tops, it was built for only three years before being discontinued in 1939 — short enough that original examples are genuinely scarce, which is exactly why players and collectors describe them in superlatives. The combination of a 25.5" long scale, forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing, rosewood back and sides, and a 16" wide round-shoulder body produces a guitar that is louder, more articulate, and more dynamically responsive than most of what Gibson was building at the time. It is widely considered one of the finest flat-tops Gibson ever made, and production numbers so low that it largely flew under the radar for decades.

The Historic Collection reissues built in Bozeman, Montana under the leadership of Ren Ferguson represent some of the most faithful and best-executed Gibson acoustic reissues of the modern era. This 2005 example is built to those standards: solid Sitka spruce top over solid Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck with a comfortable medium C profile at .82" at the first fret and .92" at the eighth, rosewood fingerboard with the correct Diamond and Arrow mother of pearl inlays, the Roy Smeck-style firestripe pickguard, and original open-gear tuners. The 1.75" nut width gives it a noticeably wider, more comfortable feel than standard Gibson acoustics — closer to what the original 1930s instruments actually measured, and excellent for fingerpicking or any playing style that benefits from string spacing. At 4 lbs 9 oz this is a remarkably light guitar for its body size, and that lightness translates directly into resonance and response.

Action is set at 3/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret, playing cleanly and in tune up the neck. The frets are in excellent shape.  There is a small line - a finish check - on the back near the neck heel.  It is not a crack, just a superficial finish blemish.  The firestripe pickguard and sunburst finish are original and intact. The original hardshell case is included.

If you play bluegrass, old-time, blues, or any acoustic style that rewards a guitar with genuine projection and dynamic range, the Advanced Jumbo is worth understanding. This Historic Collection example is one of the better ways to understand it without spending vintage money.

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Vintage & Used Martin Acoustic Guitars
Guild Vintage & Used Acoustic Guitars
Folk instruments - vintage & used

SPECS:

• Color: Sunburst
• Weight: 4lbs 9oz
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Body: Indian Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
  
• Profile: Medium C
• Fretboard: Rosewood 
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Diamond and Arrow
• Frets: Original
• Fret Count: 20
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1.75"
• Radius: 12"
• Scale: 25.5"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .82"
• Neck thickness at 8th Fret: .92"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Overall length: 40-9/16"
• Body length: 20-1/8"
• Lower bout: 16"
• Waist: 10-1/2"
• Upper bout: 11-3/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 4-7/8"
• String gauge: 12-53
• Pickguard: Original Firestripe
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Original Open Gear
• Case: OHSC
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.