Gibson Advanced Jumbo

Gibson Advanced Jumbo (1936-1940) 

In 1936 through 1939-40 Gibson introduced the Advanced Jumbo Guitar, if you get your hands on one of these guitars, don't let it go, these guitar models are highly collectible and sought after by high end buyers. 

They are hard to find and considered one of Gibsons' best dreadnought shape acoustic guitars because of it's crisp, clear tonality and of course rich history. Advanced Jumbo guitars were made with Brazilian wood (back and sides), 16" wide bodies and sunburst finishes. 

Their Advanced Jumbo models were very similar to their Gibson J-35 models but were more shallow in body, more round shouldered and were more expensive at the time. The guitar was listed at $80 (a competitor to the martin D-28) while the J-35 was priced at $35. 

Gibson Advanced Jumbo Reissue (1990-1999) 

In 1990 the Gibson Advanced Jumbo was born again with a reissue and were discontinued in 199, they came in sunburst colors, some with Indian rosewood, some with Brazilian and some with flamed maple, limited editions were also available. Various other quality reissue models were sold after 1999. Reintroduced in 2002 to 2018.

More Advanced Jumbo models started to resurface on the market after 1999 such as the Advanced Jumbo 12 in 2015 which had a 12 fret neck. The Jumbo 75th Anniversary which debuted in 2011 and 2012.

In 2013 a limited run of Adirondack spruce top Jumbo models with Indian back and sides were introduced, only 35 were produced. More models are listed below in the price guide.

> Look For Used or Vintage Gibson Advanced Jumbo Guitars For Sale.

Gibson Advanced Jumbo Price Guide (Updated May-4-2021)
  • 1936 - 1940 > $55 000 to $69 000 (Advanced Jumbo)
  • 1990 - 1999 > $1700 to $2200 (Reissue)
  • 2000 - 2005 > $5500 to $7500 (Jumbo CS - Luthier's Choice - Brazilian)
  • 2002 - 2018 > $1700 to $2200 (90's Reissue Reintroduced)
  • 2006 - 2006 > $2300 to $2800 (Jumbo Koa CS - Custom Shop Model)
  • 2007 - 2007 > $2100 to $2700 (Advanced Jumbo Supreme)
  • 2008 - 2008 > $2900 to $3800 (Jumbo CS - Luthier's Choice - Cocobolo)
  • 2010 - 2018 > $1950 to $2500 (AJ Randy Scruggs Limited Edition)
  • 2011 - 2012 > $2000 to $2600 (75th Anniversary)
  • 2011 - 2013 > $1250 to $1600 (Jumbo Pro)
  • 2013 - 2013 > $1650 to $2200 (AJ Red Spruce - Limited Edition)
  • 2014 - 2014 > $2300 to $2700 (AJ Iron Mountain)
  • 2015 - 2015 > $2400 to $2900 (Jumbo -12 Fret Neck)

Comments

  1. Anonymous12:52 PM

    Ive read some stuff on the net about gibson kinda losing the plot when it came to mid sixties to seventies acoustics, ive a 73 Sj and it sounds fantastic, what's the truth behind all this and was there a low point.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous4:25 PM

    it wasn't only gibson ,

    in 1965 fender sold to a company called cbs , and in late 60s gibson sold to a company called norlin.

    Because of the management changes ,new employees ,company policies ,reissues ,and other factors many musicians and collectors started buying older guitars and thus the vintage market began .

    Many believed that pre 65 guitars were more superior when it came down to quality .

    As the vintage market expanded during the early seventies , the demand grew for out of production guitars .

    This also created a whole different market for new guitars because fender,gibson and other major guitar companies started making replicas ,and reissues of older classics.

    New terms such as vintage look, vintage feel or vintage sound started appearing in ther catalogs

    I wouldnt call this a low point , it was more like a new marketing approach to a new demand.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9:39 PM

    I have, what I think is a 1938, J-35, or Advanced Jumbo Gibson Guitar...FON # on back of tuner headstock is DG-2865, Never been worked on, all original, scroll work on tuners, sunburst color, played once, by Merle Travis in So. Calif. in early 50`s. My Dad about passed out after hearing & seeing Mr. Travis play his guitar.....Advise where to send pics. Any help please reply to EESCR@AOL.COM Thank You !!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous5:21 PM

    Domenic

    My father in law has a jumbo gibson
    he has had it for 55 years and he thinks it is a 1939 model it has no numbers on it,and looks like the one in your picture.Where can we find out its worth

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:11 PM

    I just purchased a sunburst advanced jumbo with flamed pickguard and no electronics. It is the best sounding and easiest to play guitar that I have ever laid hands on. I have had some j45's in the past and a j50. I ended up selling them all because they either sounded somewhat flat or maybe it was the factory pickup that comes with gibsons that kills the unplugged sound. This advanced jumbo with rosewood back and sides has no electronics and it sounds alive and full. I highly recomend one of these reissue guitars to anyone that is thinking of getting one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:46 PM

    My uncle has one of those. He bought it for 50,000 dollars. He has lots of old martins and gibsons. hes opened for johnny cash and a bunch of people

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous4:23 PM

    i just bought a white explorer just like james hetfield of metallica and i need to know if i can just take off the pickguard because i want it to be just like his so please help me out. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous6:41 PM

    I was wondering if anyone can help i have my grandfathers gibson accu. gitar looking at it and the adj on the pic they look the same how can i be sure the center hole has 150 adj.bridge stamped in it is this a adj model or something elese thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous2:28 PM

    You should double-check your research. The '30's Advanced Jumbos were made with INDIAN rosewood, not Brazilian. Even though Martin and other makers were using Brazilian at the time, Gibson chose to use Indian. It's anyone's guess as to why.....

    ReplyDelete
  10. doctor_gogol1:45 PM

    No, the author is correct, they were made from Brazilian.

    If anybody would know, its George Gruhn.

    http://www.gruhn.com/features/Jumbo/advjumbos.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous6:09 AM

    My dad just passed away at 91 years. He is the orginial owner of a 1936 Gibson Advance Jumbo. He purchased it new in 1936 and now has left it to me. I know Gibson produced only 300 in 1936. The guitar is all orginial and in very good condition. For years I have read about the 1936 AJ and I know the value. My mother wants to sell, I don't, but well do so for her.
    WHERE DO I START................?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous5:51 PM

    i'll help. email me at dustlucky at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10:16 AM

    As to the debate about Brazilian vs Indian rosewood, this argument has been around for a while. Supposedly someone cut/took somehow a piece of the wood and sent it to a lab in Germany for testing. I have always been dubious of this claim. First, who cuts a chunk of wood off a $50,000 guitar? Maybe it came from one that was damaged? How do we know it actually came from an AJ? What kind of tests were done? What are the labs credentials for identifying species of wood? Etc, etc. One of the employees of Gibson who was working there at the time stated that all their rosewood came from Brazil. expect this debate will continue.

    ReplyDelete

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