Gibson Super 400
Encyclopedia
The Gibson Super 400 is an archtop guitar
, "the biggest, fanciest, and most expensive archtop ever built," and a highly influential model guitar which inspired many other guitar makers (including Elmber Stromberg
and John D'Angelico
). It was first sold in 1934 and named for its $400 price.
The Super 400 was the largest guitar
that the Gibson Guitar Corporation
had produced. Until 1939, it had a hand engraved tailpiece and a hand engraved finger rest support. During the very early production stock the truss rod cover had engraved "L5 Super"; on later guitars this was changed to "Super 400".
In 1939 the guitar was changed. The upper bout was enlarged, and the hand engraved tailpiece was replaced with the one fitted to the current Super 400s. The f-holes were enlarged, and a cutaway option was available. This was called the Super 400P (for Premiere), later changed to C for Cutaway.
During the 1950s, Gibson released the Super 400 CES. This had a slightly thicker top to reduce feedback, two P-90
pickups, and individual tone and volume controls, along with a three way toggle switch. Later the P-90 pickups were replaced with Alnico
V pickups, then in 1957, humbucking pickups.
There have been variations in the form of limited edition custom models. In 2000 Gibson offered the Super 400 with a Charlie Christian pickup
. The Super 400 is still available today, with two humbucker
pickups. The full acoustic version is not available.
The Gibson Super 400 CES played a important role in Elvis Presley's stage performance the 68 comeback special.
Archtop guitar
An archtop guitar is a steel-stringed acoustic or semi-acoustic guitar with a full body and a distinctive arched top, whose sound is particularly popular with blues and jazz players.Typically, an archtop guitar has:* 6 strings...
, "the biggest, fanciest, and most expensive archtop ever built," and a highly influential model guitar which inspired many other guitar makers (including Elmber Stromberg
Stromberg Guitars
Stromberg Guitars was an American company producing guitars, mainly for jazz musicians, between 1906 and 1955. They produced only around 640 guitars, and while their craftsmanship, though of high standards, is considered less than that of John D'Angelico, Stromberg's guitars are praised for their...
and John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico
John D'Angelico was a luthier from New York City, noted for his handmade archtop guitars and mandolins.In 1952, he hired Jimmy D'Aquisto as an apprentice, who would eventually buy the business from the D'Angelico family...
). It was first sold in 1934 and named for its $400 price.
The Super 400 was the largest guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
that the Gibson Guitar Corporation
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
had produced. Until 1939, it had a hand engraved tailpiece and a hand engraved finger rest support. During the very early production stock the truss rod cover had engraved "L5 Super"; on later guitars this was changed to "Super 400".
In 1939 the guitar was changed. The upper bout was enlarged, and the hand engraved tailpiece was replaced with the one fitted to the current Super 400s. The f-holes were enlarged, and a cutaway option was available. This was called the Super 400P (for Premiere), later changed to C for Cutaway.
During the 1950s, Gibson released the Super 400 CES. This had a slightly thicker top to reduce feedback, two P-90
P-90
The P-90 is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Having a more complex architecture and larger dimensions than Fender's single coils, it is occasionally mistaken for a humbucker.- History :...
pickups, and individual tone and volume controls, along with a three way toggle switch. Later the P-90 pickups were replaced with Alnico
Alnico
Alnico is an acronym referring to iron alloys which in addition to iron are composed primarily of aluminium , nickel and cobalt , hence al-ni-co, with the addition of copper, and sometimes titanium. Alnico alloys are ferromagnetic, with a high coercivity and are used to make permanent magnets...
V pickups, then in 1957, humbucking pickups.
There have been variations in the form of limited edition custom models. In 2000 Gibson offered the Super 400 with a Charlie Christian pickup
Charlie Christian pickup
The "Charlie Christian" pickup was an early electric guitar pickup. It was first used on the Gibson ES-150, which entered the market in 1936. The ES-150 was the first electric "Spanish-style" guitar; previous electric guitars had been designed to be played lap, or "Hawaiian" style...
. The Super 400 is still available today, with two humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
pickups. The full acoustic version is not available.
The Gibson Super 400 CES played a important role in Elvis Presley's stage performance the 68 comeback special.