Gibson Custom Shop 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo with Hardcase

The Gibson Custom Shop 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo is a premium Historic Reissue that faithfully recreates one of Gibson's most highly-regarded acoustic guitars from the World War II "Banner" era. It's built with high-end, vintage-correct materials and techniques, and includes a Period-Correct Hardshell Case.

This model is known for offering a deeper, more harmonically rich tone compared to its J-45 cousin, primarily due to the choice of tonewoods.

Key Features and Specifications

Wartime-Era Construction

• Headstock: Features the iconic wartime-era "Only a Gibson is Good Enough" banner on the headstock.

• Top Wood: Thermally Aged Adirondack Red Spruce

  • The thermally aged process ("torrefied") accelerates the aging of the wood, aiming to replicate the open, resonant tone of a decades-old vintage spruce top.

• Back & Sides Wood: Solid Rosewood

  • This is the critical difference from the standard J-45 (which uses mahogany). Rosewood provides a complex sound with scooped mids, deep lows, and shimmering highs, offering more overtone richness.

• Bracing: Traditional Hand-Scalloped X-Bracing with Hide Glue construction for superior tonal transfer.

• Finish: Thin Finish Nitrocellulose Lacquer, typically with a VOS (Vintage Original Spec) treatment for a gently aged look.

Body & Neck

• Body Style: Round Shoulder Dreadnought (J-45 shape)

• Scale Length: 24.75" (Short Scale)

• Neck Material: Mahogany

• Neck Profile: '42 "C" Profile (a substantial, vintage-style neck shape)

• Nut Width: 1.77" (44.95mm) a wider spacing common in this era, which is comfortable for fingerstyle players.

• Fingerboard: Rosewood with Mother-of-Pearl Parallelogram inlays (the Southern Jumbo's signature visual appointment).

Hardware & Miscellaneous

• Bridge: Belly Down, Open Slot Rosewood bridge with a Bone saddle.

• Nut & Saddle Material: Bone

• Tuners: Open-Back with Cream Buttons

• Pickguard: Tear Drop shape.

• Electronics: Typically sold as a pure acoustic with no pickup installed, honoring the vintage design.

• Case: Includes a Period-Correct Hardshell Case and a Gibson Accessory Kit (often including a Certificate of Authenticity).