Southern Jumbo

[Jim Wilson]

So, help me out here. How exactly does a Southern Jumbo differ from a J45?

[Static]

So, help me out here. How exactly does a Southern Jumbo differ from a J45?

 

Split parelellagram inlays and more bindings. Originally the J-55. Remarketed as 'Southern Jumbo' to appeal more to the Southern States. Structurally almost identical to the J-45.

[jvi]

snazzier looking guitar with bling ! (and its Southern !)

[tpbiii]

The original name was the Southerner Jumbo -- when everyone started to call it the Southern Jumbo, Gibson gave up and did too.

When it was introduced c. 1942 at the same time as the J-45, it had RW B&Ss instead mahogany and more bling. Soon thereafter, the RW was replaced by mahogany, and it became basically a J-45 with bling.

Here are some early versions of each, c. 1942/3 -J-45, SJ, and SJ RW

They are all heavenly guitars some say.

 

Let's pick,

-Tom

 

 

 

 

 

[nid2007]

As others said, it’s a dressed up J-45.

Bargains are out there on used models. I picked this one up recently.

https://reverb.com/item/12242570-gibson-southern-jumbo-acoustic-vintage-reissue-1500-obo

Had no pickguard, but I had an extra firestripe batwing the folks at Bozeman gave me a few years back.

If anyone has one from the same run, pleas let me know. I’m curious what pickguard was originally used.

[SCTX_Hacker]

If you look at the bridge, the pins are located closer to the bridge causing a different angle with the strings. Some folks "say" that makes a sonic difference. I have an Southern Jumbo, and I do not really hear a difference. I do however think it looks better with the parallelograms and the binding on the neck.

[Bozz]

There are also variations of each that Gibson builds as limited runs. They may have non-standard tonewoods, bracing, hardware, electronics, etc.

[Dave F]

They make some nice signature SJ models.

The Dwight Yoakam has RW b&s and 19 frets. Too bad they didn't use the rectangular bridge but I think these are supposed to be styled like the 50's models.

http://www.gibson.co...e/Features.aspx

The Kristofferson model is supposed to be modeled after his personal guitar.

http://www.gibson.co...fferson-SJ.aspx

The Aaron Lewis model looks pretty nice too.

 

[62burst]

If you look at the bridge, the pins are located closer to the bridge causing a different angle with the strings. Some folks "say" that makes a sonic difference. I have an Southern Jumbo, and I do not really hear a difference. I do however think it looks better with the parallelograms and the binding on the neck.

 

Yes, it does seem to be a feature on contemporary Southern Jumbos:

 

 

[docr]

I have a 2016 J45 and a 2018 Southern Jumbo.

 

Differences:

 

- The Southern Jumbo costs 700 € more than the J45 when I bought it (Southern Jumbo = 2.600€ at the moment)

- As already described the bindings and "ornamentation"

- J45 has a Graph-tec nut, Southern Jumbo a tusq nut

- The Sitka top of my Southern Jumbo has a little wider grain

- Thinner lacquer on the top on the Southern Jumbo

- A much higher action on the Southern Jumbo, had to grind the Bridge a little - again, this seems to be the disersion of Gibson production

- My Southern Jumbo is lighter than the J45 (maybe due to statistical variance)

- The bass - especially the low E string - is more present on the Southern Jumbo

- A "Custom Shop" logo at the end of the neck, but no "Limited Edition" sticker inside

 

Both guitars have a VTC pickup System, both guitars look good, they sound different with the same Basis direction.