Gibson had actually tried a flat-top under its “Army-Navy” label at the end of World War I, but the L-1 of 1926 was the first regular-production model under the Gibson brand. The body shape was easily recognizable because, like all Gibson guitar models going back to Orville Gibson’s original creations, it had a circular lower-bout outline that did not flatten around the endpin. It was a small-bodied guitar, only 131/2″ wide. Gibson had taken the easiest path to becoming a flat-top guitarmaker by simply putting a flat top on the body outline of the L-1, their lowest archtop model. When it reappeared after the war, it was essentially the J-200 we know today, but it was fundamentally different from the pre-war version – with maple back and sides replacing the original rosewood, making the pre-war version one of the rarest and most highly sought of all Gibson acoustic guitars.ĭespite Gibson’s late start, the company’s flat-top designs came a long way in a relatively short time.
The Super Jumbo, as the model was originally called, barely got off the ground before World War II reduced Gibson’s guitar production to a trickle of inexpensive models.
It currently retails for $899 and comes in two colors - Aged Vintage Sunburst and Aged Natural Antique.The Gibson company was founded on the belief that carved-top guitars were superior to flat-top designs, and consequently, Gibson was a reluctant entrant in the rising flat-top market of the 1920s.Īdd the fact Gibson, more than any other company, was still determined to make the world’s best mandolins, banjos, and archtop guitars, and it’s not surprising that the ’30s had almost passed before Gibson turned its full attention to flat-tops and designed a model that would rank with such legendary Gibsons as the Super 400 archtop, the F-5 mandolin and the Mastertone banjos. As of 2020, Epiphone released a new "Inspired by Gibson" model of the J-200, which brings the character and specifications of the Gibson model to a wider market. Gibson's brand, Epiphone, produces a more affordable version of the J-200. Gibson also does limited run models, such as the J-200 Koa, the J-200 Trophy, and Montana Gold. The SJ-200 Custom is a high-end model, featuring rosewood back and sides (like the original SJ-200s from the 1930s), a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, gold hardware, Grover Imperial tuners, LR Baggs electronics, an upgraded case, the same three-piece neck as the Standard and Studio, abalone inlays, an engraved pickguard, an older, script-style Gibson logo, and a 'four ribbon bridge' instead of the Standard's 'two ribbon' bridge.Īlong with these three are two reissues, the True Vintage (based on the 1950s construction) and the Western Classic Prewar 200, which is similar in specifications to the original early models (rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard, block inlays). It also has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, an engraved pickguard, and mother-of-pearl crown inlays. The SJ-200 Standard is available in sunburst and natural, featuring LR Baggs electronics, gold hardware, Grover tuners, figured maple back and sides and a three-piece laminate neck (maple/rosewood/maple). The SJ-200 Studio is the lowest model in the line, featuring walnut rather than maple back and sides, chrome hardware, a plain pickguard, natural finish and no fingerboard binding, but it retains the inlays and electronics of the SJ-200 Standard. Gibson currently makes many variations of the J-200. Early models made from rosewood are highly prized by collectors. Due to the weak post-depression economy and wartime austerity, demand for this high-end guitar was very limited and production quantities were small. Gibson changed the name to the J-200 in 1955. In 1947 the materials used for the guitar changed to maple back and sides. The SJ-200 was named for its super-large 16 7/8" flat top body, with a double-braced red spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and sunburst finish. It was made at the Gibson Factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gibson entered into production of this model in 1937 as its top-of-the-line flat top guitar, initially called the Super Jumbo, changing the name in 1939 to the Super Jumbo 200.