Guitar
Maker
Gibson, Inc.
Maker
Gibson
Date1939
Place MadeKalamazoo, Michigan, United States, North America
ModelJumbo 55 (J-55)
Serial No.EA-5651 and 613 E
SignedInlaid in mother-of-pearl on headstock: GibsonMarkingsBranded on back of head: EA-5651
Rubber-stamped in purple ink on neck block: 613 E
DescriptionStringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece spruce: wide, irregular grain
Back: two-piece mahogany; no back stripe; joint to treble side of center
Ribs: two-piece mahogany; no end graft; reinforced on interior with series of spruce grafts
Head: mahogany veneered with dark tropical hardwood; “Gibson” mother-of-pearl inlay; black celluloid bell-shaped truss rod cover secured with nickel-plated steel philips head screws
Neck: mahogany
Heel cap: none; neck heel flush with back
Binding: white celluloid; no additional trim
Fingerboard: ebony bound in white celluloid; 20 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; possibly later
Bridge: ebony with decoratively curled ends and cutouts, known as “moustache”; two mother-of-pearl dots, once each inlaid on sides of bridge pins; angled bone saddle; white celluloid bridge pins with abalone eyes
Tuners: six chrome-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners with decoratively cut plate outlines; clear plastic heads
Endpin: white celluloid
Rosette: three ply (white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips set in from inside edge
Pick guard: imitation tortoise-shell celluloid; decoratively cut upper edge
Lacquer: dark brown sunburst on top; possibly later
Linings: kerfed mahogany
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 and chamfered edges, the two in the lower bouts wider
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1037 mm (40-1/2″)
Back length: 516 mm (20-1/4″)
Upper bout width: 291 mm (11-17/32″)
Waist width: 268 mm (10-11/16″)
Lower bout width: 406 mm (16-1/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 96 mm (4-29/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 107 mm (4-1/4″)
Rib height, at end block: 122 mm (4-27/32″)
Head length: 167 mm (6-17/32″)
Head width, top: 73 mm (2-13/16″)
Head width, bottom: 85 mm (2-5/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 355 mm (13-7/8″)
Neck width, nut: 42 mm (1-23/32″)
Neck width, heel: 54 mm (2-5/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 101 mm (3-31/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 644 mm (24-7/8″); low E: 646 mm (25″)
Credit LineBrian Fischer Collection, 2005
Object number10876
On View
Not on view
