Gibson Super 400 - Sunken Top?

[PenderJazz]

Hi everyone!

I pulled the trigger on a Super 400 and it arrived a couple days ago. I’ve never seen one up close and personal, so I’m not familiar with the shape of the carve.

I just thought I’d see if anyone sees any indication of the top sinking?

Thank you for your thoughts

Kevin

[sgosnell]

Looks fine to me. I'm no expert, but the f hole edges line up fine, from what I can tell.

[PenderJazz]

Thank you sgosnell. What do you mean by the f hole edges lining up exactly?

[wintermoon]

If it had top sink the inner edges of the holes would likely be on a lower plane than the outer.

[Greentone]

I agree with wintermoon and sgosnell. The top looks fine.

[telephone]

Looks good from here, as others have said. How about a full frontal and backal?

[ThatRhythmMan]

Looks perfectly normal.

[Stringswinger]

Looks just like mine. Congrats on the Super 400!

[skykomishone]

Looks great.

[PenderJazz]

1139370[/URL]]Looks good from here, as others have said. How about a full frontal and backal?

Backal - that cracked me up.

Here are a few - I love the flame on the back that goes from tiger stripes to blistered quilt type figure. I also appreciate that the finish on the outer edges is translucent so you can see all the awesome figuring, as well as the grain of the spruce on the top.

It’s a 1986 model and it had a gassy pickguard, the result of which can be seen on the pickup covers. I haven’t experienced the full potential of its sound, as it currently has some tiny gauge round wounds on it, and I think a fretjob is in order. With that and some fat flat wounds, I think this will be a beauty to it play and hear.

Sorry about the rotated images - I’m on my phone and this interface isn’t too friendly.

Thanks everyone for the responses!

[PenderJazz]

1139374[/URL]]Looks just like mine. Congrats on the Super 400!

Let’s see some pics of yours!

[Jabberwocky]

Beautiful. A highly engraved tailpiece, too. You don't see those any longer. I like those 80s vintage tobacco bursts very much.

[Stringswinger]

Let’s see some pics of yours!

[PenderJazz]

1139422[/URL]]

Gorgeous! What year is yours from?

[Jimmy blue note]

That's a healthy looking top. Looks good all around. Have a long and musical life together!

[citizenk74]

That is a drop-dead gorgeous guitar! Congratulations, and play it in good health!

[deacon Mark]

Here is my 2005. I carved a new ebony saddle for the bridge it sounds a bit better that the tunomatic. Intonates exactly the same basically. Just love this guitar. Normally I am a pure acoustic archtop person, but this plugged in has THE SOUND. Yours looks wonderful too and yes new pickguard and if it needs frets, however they might just do fine with a good dressing. Pics of the tops of them and we can give you an opinion.

[Stringswinger]

Gorgeous! What year is yours from?

Mine is a 1997. Here is another pic:

[PenderJazz]

That 97 is sweet. The late 90s really seem like a sweet spot for guitars coming out of the custom shop.

[PenderJazz]

Another knock out there, deacon Mark.

I don’t know if these pictures are adequate to get a good gauge of the frets, but look how flat those suckers are. Looks to me like there’s hardly anything left to work with.

I still don’t know why all the photos get flipped around - sorry.

[deacon Mark]

Well hard to tell but they don’t look notched. As long as you have enough fret height it the key.

Does the guitar play well now snd no fret buzzing? How is the neck relief and action? They are original frets still have nubs. You only replace frets if you can’t dress any more or really pitted from playing and such.

Gibson used mainly bigger fret wire I like it. Put a set of strings you use in it and see. Where are you located have good luthier check it out?

[PenderJazz]

There is some buzz. The neck and action are fine for the strings it has now.

I’m in Charlotte, NC and there’s an excellent luthier here who has done 2 re-frets for me on another Gibsons and they’re phenomenal. He’s so backed up right now that he’s not taking in any new business, so they ol’ Super is gonna have to wait to get set up.

[Jimmy blue note]

There is some buzz. .

That's par for the course with seasonal changes especially in a new guitar that's come from somewhere else. That's why the bridge has height adjusters that are easy to access. Give them a twist a little at a time until it plays clean. Put them a little higher until you find the balance of height and clarity that suits you. Experiment. That's part of the experience of owning a solid wood archtop, and it's good to get to know your instrument and what it can do. By the looks of it, you've got plenty of thread to play with, and many sellers prefer to set the action low (read: too low) because it makes the guitar easier to play but more prone to buzzing if you pick hard enough.
Take it up and explore how it brings out the clarity of the notes. You'll know when it's too high, then back it down a bit. Make sure you tune after each adjustment. Totally reversible. No risk. Good luck!

[PenderJazz]

You’re right - the action is too low. Great suggestions you have there - I’m looking forward to see what I get out of it!

[Gitpicker]

Congratulations on the Super 400! Here's mine, a 2009 I actually prefer the color of yours, less yellow. My photos keep rotating too I have no idea why.