Gibson Southern Jumbo
$2,261.99
Experience the powerful sound of the Gibson Southern Jumbo, a classic acoustic guitar with a timeless design and rich tone.
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Description
The Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic guitar is a popular choice among musicians for its rich, deep tones and versatile playability. Originally introduced in 1942, the Southern Jumbo has remained a top pick for players across genres.
Crafted from premium tonewoods, the Southern Jumbo features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard for a warm, articulate sound. The guitar’s large body size and distinctive contoured top also contribute to its unique tone and resonance.
One of the standout features of the Southern Jumbo is its ability to project with ease, making it a great instrument for live performance. The guitar’s traditional scalloped X-bracing and hand-fitted dovetail neck joint also contribute to its durability and overall sound quality.
Additionally, the Southern Jumbo’s playability is enhanced by its comfortable neck profile and classic Gibson headstock. The guitar is also available with an optional L.R. Baggs VTC pickup for amplified performances.
In terms of aesthetics, the Southern Jumbo is a striking instrument with its vintage sunburst finish, mother-of-pearl inlays, and bound fingerboard and headstock. The guitar’s timeless design has made it a sought-after collector’s item as well.
Overall, the Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic guitar is a classic instrument with a rich history and exceptional sound quality. Its versatility and durability make it a top pick for musicians of all levels and genres.
Gibson Southern Jumbo properties
Product name |
Southern Jumbo |
Brand |
Gibson |
Type |
String Instruments |
String Instruments |
Acoustic Guitar |
Number of Strings |
6 pcs |
String Type |
Steel |
Handedness |
Right-handed |
Number of Frets |
20 |
Cutaway |
No Cutaway |
Size |
Jumbo |
Pickguard |
Yes |
Wood Type (front) |
Spruce |
Wood Type (back) |
Mahogany |
Wood Type (body sides) |
Mahogany |
Wood Type (neck) |
Mahogany |
Wood Type (fretboard) |
Rosewood |
Colour |
Fireburst/Colourburst |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the unique scalloped bracing design on the top board of a Gibson Southern Jumbo impact its tonal characteristics?
The unique scalloped bracing design on the top board of a Gibson Southern Jumbo contributes to its distinct tonal characteristics by allowing for greater vibration and resonance of the strings. The scallops, which are cut into the bracing material, create a more efficient transfer of sound from the strings to the body, resulting in a fuller and richer tone with enhanced volume and sustain. This design also helps to minimize the amount of bridge pulling that can occur on larger body guitars, further enhancing the overall playing experience.
How does the unique bracing pattern on the Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic guitar contribute to its rich, powerful tone and exceptional projection?
The unique bracing pattern on the Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic guitar plays a significant role in producing its rich, powerful tone and exceptional projection. This bracing pattern, known as X-braced scalloped bracing, consists of a crisscross design that provides additional structural stability to the soundboard while still allowing it to vibrate freely for enhanced resonance. The scalloping, or gentle curve, on the edges of the braces further reduces weight and stiffness, resulting in a more responsive and dynamic tonal response. Overall, this bracing pattern helps to produce a full-bodied, balanced sound that is both powerful and articulate, making the Gibson Southern Jumbo an ideal choice for acoustic guitar players seeking exceptional tone and projection.
How does the Gibson Southern Jumbo's bracing pattern contribute to its unique tonal characteristics compared to other jumbo-bodied acoustic guitars?
The Gibson Southern Jumbo's unique tonal characteristics are a result of its advanced X-braced top design. Unlike traditional scalloped bracing found in many jumbo-bodied acoustics, the Southern Jumbo's X-brace pattern provides exceptional projection and volume while preserving clarity and sensitivity. This results in a balanced and powerful sound that is both warm and articulate. The X-braced top also adds to the guitar's overall structural integrity, making it more durable and resonant over time. Overall, the Southern Jumbo's advanced bracing pattern contributes significantly to its distinctive tonal qualities and sets it apart from other jumbo-bodied guitars on the market.
How does the unique bracing pattern on the Gibson Southern Jumbo contribute to its exceptional projection and tonal balance?
The unique bracing pattern on the Gibson Southern Jumbo is specifically designed to enhance its exceptional projection and tonal balance. The scalloped X-braces, which are thinner and more flexible than traditional braces, allow for greater vibration and resonance, resulting in a fuller, more complex tone with greater volume. Additionally, the bracing pattern is optimized for the larger body of the jumbo guitar, further contributing to its exceptional projection and tonal balance. Overall, this innovative bracing design sets the Gibson Southern Jumbo apart from other acoustic guitars in terms of sound quality and performance.
What specific modifications did Gibson make to the original design of the Southern Jumbo acoustic guitar, and how do these changes affect its sound production and playability?
A great question for all you guitar enthusiasts out there. When Les Paul designed the Gibson J-45 in the early 1940s, he aimed to create an acoustic guitar that was louder and more projecting than the Southern Jumbo. However, when Gibson revived the Southern Jumbo in the 1990s as a limited edition model, they made some significant modifications to the original design. One of the key changes Gibson made was to the body shape and size. The Southern Jumbo is slightly larger than the original, with a longer scale length and wider waist. This change allows for a more projecting sound but may make it less suitable for smaller players due to its increased size and weight. Another modification Gibson made was to the bracing inside the guitar's soundboard. They used a combination of traditional X-bracing and modern internal bracing, which helps to increase the guitar's volume and sustain while maintaining its clarity and balance. Gibson also replaced the original Southern Jumbo's rosewood fretboard with a more sustainable ebony fretboard. This change has no significant impact on the sound but does make the guitar feel slightly smoother and easier to play. Finally, Gibson used a combination of spruce and mahogany for the guitar's top and back plates. While this is not unique to the Southern Jumbo, it is an interesting choice given that most modern acoustic guitars feature all-spruce or all-mahogany tops and backs. In terms of sound production, these modifications allow the Southern Jumbo to produce a more projecting and balanced sound with good sustain. The slightly larger body size and improved bracing help to increase the guitar's volume and clarity while maintaining its balance and articulation. As for playability, the Southern Jumbo is generally considered to be a comfortable instrument to play due to its wide neck and smooth ebony fretboard. However, due to its increased size and weight, it may not be as suitable for smaller players or those with less hand strength. Overall, Gibson's modifications to the original design of the Southern Jumbo have resulted in an acoustic guitar that is louder, more projecting, and easier to play than the original. While these changes do affect the guitar's sound production and playability, they also make it a great choice for musicians who want a high-quality instrument with a unique voice.
Before you buy Gibson Southern Jumbo
Say say A –
The guitar has a beautiful resonant sound, quality of workmanship and a beautiful black color. I recommend it to beginner guitarists due to the narrow neck. Greetings to the team from the All4 Music Store. The product is decent and well-made. The Gibson concern actually works for the brand. Sounds fantastic