Since 1935, the Gibson Advanced Jumbo has combined graceful sloped shoulders with a longer 25.5" scale to deliver clarity, power, and balance in sound. Originally conceived as the top-of-the line flattop, the AJ is considered by many to be Gibson's best-sounding dreadnought guitar.
This 2016 Gibson Advanced Jumbo Deluxe Maple was built in Gibson's acoustic Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana. While most Advanced Jumbos sport rosewood back and sides, this AJ has gorgeous Flame Maple back and sides, which provide woody clarity, rich overtones, and mid-range presence. Over the years, Gibson has used Maple on dozens of models, and because of certain guitars (such as the J-200), Maple is critical to the "classic Gibson tone." But for whatever reason, Advanced Jumbos with Maple back and sides are rare, even though they produce a decidedly Gibson tone that combines the J-200 clarity and presence with slope-shoulder cut and richness.
The Custom Shop built this model as a special run, only available at a limited number of select dealers. It features a Sitka Spruce top that is supported by scalloped X-braces and two scalloped tone bars. This bracing configuration is a subtle nod to the best-sounding, deeply expressive prewar J-35s. The AJ Deluxe Maple also comes with factory-installed electronics. Under the hood, an LR Baggs Element VTC produces natural amplified sound when plugged in. Volume and Tone controls in the soundhole add on-board flexibility, too.
As for aeshthetics, the Advanced Jumbo Deluxe Maple is as dressed-up as you'd want from a Custom Shop guitar. Its natural blonde finish allows the grain and character of the Maple to shine, and abalone Diamond-and-Arrows inlays serve as an ornate, eye-catching roadmap on the Ebony fingerboard. The peghead has the prewar script Gibson logo in abalone, and it sports gold Schaller GrandTune tuning machines.
This 2016 Gibson Advanced Jumbo Deluxe Maple is in excellent condition all around, showing only minimal signs of playwear and use. When it came to us, its setup needed some love, but we fit a new proper bone saddle and now it plays like a dream. Original hardshell case included.