NMM 10876.  Guitar by Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, 1939. Jumbo "55" (J-55) (16″).  Factory Order Number EA-5651 / 613 E.  Brian Fischer Collection, 2005. The J-55 was introduced in 1939, adding a third grade of Jumbo dreadnaught to Gibson’s line at the time. Gibson’s Jumbo was very close in dimensions to Martin's D-28 model, although with slightly more rounded shoulders. The two designs competed head-to-head in the marketplace, but the J-55 sold for only $55 compared to $100 for the D-28 just before World War II. J-55s made before 1941 feature Gibson’s iconic "moustache" bridge and Zigzag Moderne stairstep peghead. Inscriptions:  Inlaid in abalone on headstock:  Gibson Branded on back of head (image at right):  EA-5651 Rubber-stamped in purple ink on neck block (image below):  613 E Front, Side, and Back Views Body:  Soundboard:  two-piece spruce: wide, irregular grain. Back:  two-piece mahogany; no back stripe; joint to treble side of center. Ribs:  two-piece mahogany; 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 philip’s head screws. Neck:  mahogany. Front and Back of Peghead Inlay:  Binding:  white celluloid. Rosette:  three-ply (white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips set in from inside edge. Back stripe:  none. End graft:  none. Fretboard, Soundhole, and Pickguard Trim:  Heel cap:  none. 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. 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. Pick guard:  imitation tortoise-shell celluloid; decoratively cut upper edge. Lacquer:  dark-brown sunburst. Neck Heel Bridge and Bottom Rib Interior:  Linings:  kerfed maple. Neck block:  mahogany; beveled corners. End block:  mahogany. Top bracing:  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:  four spruce back braces with tapered ends ends and chamfered edges, the two in the lower bouts wider. Back graft:  spruce. Measurements:  Total 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″) Return to Gibson Acoustic Guitar Checklist National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2005 Most recent update: October 23, 2007 You are the 3,115th visitor to this page since October 13, 2005 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page