SJ-200 Koa Acoustic-Electric Guitar

From its inaugural appearance in 1937, Gibson's J-200 acoustic-electric guitar set a standard others have been trying to match ever since. Today the legacy of Gibson's "King of the Flat-tops" lives on in the SJ-200 Koa acoustic-electric guitar. Upon its introduction in the late 1930s, the J-200 immediately filled a need for a deeper, more balanced, and powerful sound. It gave purveyors of the new American music scene of the 1930s a reliable, well-built guitar, capable of projecting the sound of the guitar well beyond that of any other acoustic on the market”a fact that still holds true today.

Gold Grover Rotomatic Tuners
Grover's original Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with style and performance exactly suited for the Gibson SJ-200 guitar. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gearbox provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.

Crown Peghead Logo
Gibson put the first crown peg head logo on an ES-300 back in 1940, and it has graced the headstocks of many legendary Gibson guitars ever since, including today's Gibson SJ-200 acoustic-electric guitar. Over the years, it has also been called a "thistle" because of the group of flowering plants with the sharp prickles, though Gibson has preferred to call it a "crown."

Pickguard
The tortoise pickguard for the SJ-200 acoustic-electric guitar is Gibson's standard Super Jumbo shape, hand-engraved with the SJ-200's traditional floral and vine design, surrounded by a cream-colored border with yellow and orange dots.

Rosette
A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the soundhole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the Gibson SJ-200 acoustic guitar is a double-ring rosette, with the main ring consisting of seven-ply binding, and the second ring three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the instrument.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Graduated Crown Inlays
The fingerboard of the Gibson SJ-200 guitar is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The SJ-200's graduated crown inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge”instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck, Gibson Acoustic's rolled edge is slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of this acoustic-electric guitar.

Body Tonewoods (back, sides and top)
The top of the Gibson SJ-200 guitar is made from solid Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from highly figured koa, giving this guitar a balanced tonal palette with clear, bright highs and warm upper midrange response. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson's guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every acoustic guitar would be built using woods with "the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities," and today's guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

Bracing
Every acoustic guitar made by Gibson features hand-scalloped, radiused top bracing inside the body. By scalloping each brace by hand, the natural sound of the acoustic is focused more toward the center of the body, enhancing the instrument's sound projection. The lightweight bracing pattern inside the SJ-200 acoustic electric model”the same pattern used in Gibson's first Super Jumbo in 1937”is constructed to support and strengthen a very large surface, thus allowing the top more freedom of movement to vibrate and project sound. The placement of the braces inside the Gibson SJ-200 acoustic-electric guitar also creates powerful, deep lows with full frequency range, producing the incredibly balanced, huge sound Gibson's Super Jumbos are so noted for.