1941 GIBSON SUPER 400
COMPLETELY ORIGINAL 1941 GIBSON SUPER 400 ARCHTOP GUITAR.
SERIAL # 97668; ORDER # 3705 G.
BEAUTIFUL FLAMED MAPLE BACK AND SIDES, HANDCARVED PREMIUM
SPRUCE TOP. ORIGINAL BLACK LEATHER CASE AND CANVAS COVER. THIS
GUITAR WAS PURCHASED FROM FAMED COLLECTOR, HANK RISAN, MORE
THAN 25 YEARS AGO. HE DESCRIBED IT AS, "ONE OF THE FINEST SUPER
400s I HAVE EVER SEEN." IT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT HAS RARE ENGRAVED
GOLD GROVER G-111 "CATEYE" TUNERS. NO CRACKS OR SCRATCHES,
ONLY SLIGHT WEATHER CHECKING. I WILL INCLUDE THE HARDBACK
BOOK, "THE GIBSON SUPER 400" AS WELL AS LETTERS, DOCUMENTATION,
ETC.
Dear Steve,
I wonder if you could send me a sound sample (preferably jazz chord melody).
Kind regards,
Rudolf Rijgersberg
[email protected]
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 20, 2018 12:44 PM
Rudolf,
I have recordings of the Super 400 in several studios in Nashville. One that I can send
would be straight rhythm where it had two close mics. The other would be solo
chords and licks were it is mic'd and blended with an old D'Armond "monkey on a
stick" pickup. I can email these to you if you give me an address. Otherwise I would
have to book a studio to get a proper sound. This would be no problem in N'ville
where I lived and worked for 40 years but I recently retired to Virginia Beach.
By the way, not that it matters, but how did you know my first name?
Steve Buckingham
o Gear Garage
o Sep 20, 2018 09:22 PM
Steve,
Thanks for your reply. I've included my email address in the previous mail, but here it
is: [email protected] . It would be great if you could send me the samples.
By the way, usually an iPhone recording does just find to get a feel for the sound of a
guitar.
FYI: your first name is listed as addressee when mailing the seller at reverb.
Rgs,
Rudolf
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 20, 2018 10:40 PM
[email protected] (no hyphen)
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 20, 2018 10:41 PM
Rudolf,
I am going to try and have some transfers from CDs made tomorrow (Fri) that have
examples of the Super 400 to email. It has only been used in recording studios since I
bought it 25 years ago.
o Gear Garage
o Sep 20, 2018 11:39 PM
Thanks Steve, this would be great.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 21, 2018 12:04 AM
Rudolf,
I was able to book a studio for 10 AM Monday to transfer the songs on CD's to
mp3's in order to mail them to you. I apologize for making you wait until Mon. but I
am a bit of a stickler for sound.
Steve Buckingham
o Gear Garage
o Sep 21, 2018 06:13 PM
Steve, I hope this is not too much trouble. If you happen to know of any songs the
instrument appear on TIDAL, I could hear them instantly, and again, I have heard
many iPhone recordings that gave a good impression. Rgs. Rudolf
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 21, 2018 06:39 PM
Rudolf,
This is not a problem for me. I will check TIDAL as I am not familiar with it.
Steve
o Gear Garage
o Sep 21, 2018 06:47 PM
Rudolf,
I have tried 4 times to send you sound samples of the 1941 Super 400. I have your
address as [email protected]. Is this correct?
Steve Buckingham
o Gear Garage
o Sep 24, 2018 09:39 PM
Dear Steve, Thanks, you need an 'j' after the 'Ri' . The correct address
is : [email protected].
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 24, 2018 09:41 PM
(without the . at the end)
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 24, 2018 09:41 PM
Sorry. Coming your way shortly!
o Gear Garage
o Sep 24, 2018 09:42 PM
Thanks Steve. Congratulations to you to. I'll transfer the money this weekend. Rgs.
Rudolf
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 28, 2018 05:35 PM
Steve,
Thanks again,, also for including the golden D'Armond 'monkey on a stick'.
A question that I forgot to ask earlier on is how to interpret the serial numbers. G
stands for 1941, but the Van Hoose book also states that the number 97668 would
be a 1942. My guess would be that it was shipped in 1942, but there aren't any
Gibson's registered as being shipped in 1942. Do you know the details about this?
The other question concerns the recordings If you have the time would you be so
kind as to send me a list of songs in which the guitar features? It's an important part
of the guitar's history and I'm rather curious.
Very excited about the guitar.
Rgs. Rudolf
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 28, 2018 07:37 PM
Rudolf,
Hank Risan and George Gruhn both told me that the guitar is from 1941. Since it has
engraved tuners from 1938-39 they said that, in that era, Gibson sometimes used
tuners, tailpieces, etc., that were "handy," especially just before WW2. These tuners
are one of the things that make it a rare one. George said that the maple and spruce
were probably carved in the late '30s. I have a 1942 Gibson J-45 that I bought from
George. It has a 3 piece top because Gibson was using everything that was left over
before they started production for the war. Despite this, my J-45 is one of the best
any of us have ever heard. As you have probably read, nobody making guitars in
those days ever dreamed that people would be researching them 80-90 years later
so deciphering serial numbers and old log books is like translating the Dead Sea
Scrolls.
I had already intended to send you a list of some of the prominent artists and
recordings it was used on. I have to go back through my books which are in storage,
along with the pickup. It will be a partial list since I have produced 350-400 albums
and played on hundreds of recordings as a studio musician.
Reverb.com said they will email me when the payment clears but I have already
started packing the guitar, letter and book.
Always feel free to ask me any questions.
Steve
o Gear Garage
o Sep 28, 2018 11:14 PM
Hi Steve,
Sorry to reply this late, I just woke up and I was too tired to reply yesterday evening
(it's been a rather exciting day buying the guitar...).
I can see your point about the tuners and the war effort. The tuners are a beautiful
piece of art , more beautiful than the Klusons or the Grover Imperials.
I realise that the numbering issue is at times vague (I contacted Van Hoose about this
regarding another guitar) )and it seems that sometimes a number depicts the date
they were refinished or repaired at the Gibson factory. Did Risan and Gruhn have
anything else to say about the guitar?
Thanks for your intention to send over a partial playlist. It's part of the history of the
guitar and it's a comforting thought that you've 'immortalised' the guitar by
recording it.
I'll transfer the money asap. I realised only yesterday when I got Reverb's payment
request, that a money transfer, from my savings account to my PayPal related
account, will take two working days. Since Dutch banks don't transfer money during
the weekend, it's hard to meet Reverb's 72 hours requirement for completing
payment. I hope this is not a problem for you. It is coming your way very soon.
Regards, Rudolf
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 29, 2018 09:00 AM
Hank Risan and George Gruhn are two of the most knowledgeable people I know
when it comes to vintage instruments. They both agreed that this was one of the
best Super 400 guitars they had seen...especially the sound. The guitar was never
refinished or repaired. The guitar was constructed and shipped in the later part of
1941 but before December 7. When the war started Gibson basically used up parts
and wood that they had, as in my 1942 J-45. When they converted to war production
one of the things they made were wooden runners for gliders since they had
machinery for shaping and bending wood.
o Gear Garage
o Sep 29, 2018 03:55 PM
Also there is no problem waiting for the bank transfer. If there is a problem with
reverb.com please let me know.
o Gear Garage
o Sep 29, 2018 04:06 PM
Much appreciated Steve. I'll keep you updated.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 29, 2018 09:26 PM
And thank you for your comment on Gruhn and Risan, I know they are experts in the
field.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 29, 2018 09:29 PM
Well Steve, I guess the bank estimated the money transfer time on the safe side. I
just transferred the money successfully through Reverb and Paypal! It would be great
if you could send the guitar and the pick up all in one go. Do take your time
packing.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 30, 2018 05:29 PM
Rudolf,
I am going to storage today to look for the pickup. Regardless I will have the guitar
shipped tomorrow (Mon.) and email a partial list of records it was on. I will email the
shipping info as soon as I have it.
o Gear Garage
o Sep 30, 2018 06:04 PM
Steve, that's great, thanks.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Sep 30, 2018 09:55 PM
Rudolf,
I can't believe I found my gold DeArmond pickup! It has tone and volume controls
plus the type of cord that fits it. It is much better than a chrome one with only a
volume control I found on reverb.com listed for $395. You are getting a deal!!
o Gear Garage
o Oct 01, 2018 12:09 AM
Steve,
Wonderful, it's really the Icing on the cake!
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Oct 01, 2018 06:59 AM
Rudolf,
I sent you an email last night with the shipping info on the Super 400.
o Gear Garage
o Oct 02, 2018 01:52 PM
Steve,
Thanks for the shipping info which I received in good order.
o Rudolf's Gear Depot
o Oct 02, 2018 02:05 PM
