Guitar
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1941
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelJumbo 55 (J-55)
Serial No.5285G 14
SignedInlaid in mother-of-pearl on headstock: GibsonMarkingsRubber-stamped in purple ink on neck block, the number “14” written in red pencil: 5285G 14
DescriptionStringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece spruce: very wide, irregular grain narrowing toward the flanks
Back: two-piece mahogany; no back stripe
Ribs: two-piece mahogany; no end graft
Head: mahogany veneered with black lacquered maple; “Gibson” mother-of-pearl inlay; black celluloid bell-shaped truss rod cover secured with nickel-plated steel slot-head screws
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none; neck heel flush with back
Binding: white celluloid; no additional trim
Fingerboard: rosewood bound in white celluloid; 19 nickel-silver frets; single mother-of-pearl dots inlaid behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 15th frets; double mother-of-pearl dots inlaid behind 12th fret; single imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 15th frets; double imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 12th fret
Nut: bone
Bridge: rosewood with festooned lower edge, known as “batwing”; three mother-of-pearl dots inlaid below bridge pins; angled bone saddle; white plastic bridge pins
Tuners: six chrome-plated steel Grover worm-gear machine tuners with decoratively cut plate outlines; white celluloid heads
Endpin: white celluloid
Rosette: three ply (white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips set in from inside edge
Pick guard: imitation tortoise-shell celluloid
Lacquer: dark brown sunburst with fine craquelure
Linings: kerfed maple
Neck block: mahogany; beveled edges
End block: mahogany
Top braces: spruce X-brace, the joint of main cross brace reinforced with white cloth; transverse and finger braces with tapered ends; maple bridge plate
Back braces: spruce back graft; four spruce back braces with tapered ends
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1028 mm (40-1/2″)
Back length: 514 mm (20-1/4″)
Upper bout width: 293 mm (11-17/32″)
Waist width: 272 mm (10-11/16″)
Lower bout width: 408 mm (16-1/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 99 mm (3-29/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 108 mm (4-1/4″)
Rib height, at end block: 124 mm (4-27/32″)
Head length: 166 mm (6-17/32″)
Head width, top: 72 mm (2-13/16″)
Head width, bottom: 59 mm (2-5/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 353 mm (13-7/8″)
Neck width, nut: 42 mm (1-23/32″)
Neck width, heel: 55 mm (2-5/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 101 mm (3-31/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 632 mm (24-7/8″); low E: 635 mm (25″)
Published ReferencesGevik, Bryan (2021, May 10) Martin D-28 vs Gibson J-55 - Old Guitars and the Local Musicians Who Love Them [Radio broadcast]. SDPB. https://www.sdpb.org/blogs/images-of-the-past/old-guitars-and-the-local-musicians-who-love-them-martin-d28-vs-gibson-j55/
Gevik, Brian, "Images of the Past: Old Guitars and the Local Musicians Who Love Them," SDPB Magazine (June 2021), cover, pp. 4-5
Credit LineJohn R. Barmeyer Collection, 2005
Object number10866
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