VintageandRare | 7 years ago
For sale on VandR.com here: https://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Gibson-Prototype-14-Fret-First-Dreadnought-Jumbo-Ever-HG24-Sunburst-1929-66720
Owner of The Fellowship Of Acoustics, Mr. Rudi Bults, presenting an original 1929 Gibson HG-24 Prototype 12 Fret acoustic guitar for VintageandRare.com - "Legendary Vintage Guitars Series"
1929 Gibson Jumbo Prototype, designated: HG24 (serial number #88875) This One-of-a-kind guitar surfaced some years ago through Gruhn guitars in Nashville shaking the roots of the steel string history. This guitar is of historical importance since it is the first dreadnought/jumbo sized 14 fret flattop ever made as far as we know today. Actually it's called HG24 - but it has little to do with the known HG24 that is known for having F-holes and a resonator. The HG24 is rare as well, but a bit strange and meant to be a Hawaiian guitar. This guitar has many high end features such as. raised fingerboard (like in archtop guitars, instead of glued-to-body as usual for flattops) highly unusual pearl fingerboard inlays, only one other guitar is known to have these inlays. pearl headstock inlay: fleur de lis and „Gibson“ highly flamed maple back and sides hand rubbed cremona sunburst finish (like early L5) Irrespective of what the label indicates, this instrument is not a HG-24 (a Hawaiian rosewood guitar with extra f-holes in inner baffles) but is essentially a Jumbo prototype that predates the first Gibson 14 fret dreadnought, the „Jumbo“ (1934) by five years. This Gibson Jumbo is among the most important Flattop acoustic guitars ever produced and of historic importance. I think its fair to say that this instrument that marks an era should be in a museum rather than in a private collection. This was the largest 'Spanish-style' flat-top Gibson had ever made up to this date. It's the original slope-shouldered Dreadnought and the first one shaped like the J-45 model that defines the ultimate Gibson acoustic guitar. This Jumbo features Birdseye maple back and sides, Red spruce top, mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard/bridge. And it's what would later to become the typical Gibson sound with a powerful mid, loud, pushing and balanced. Actually it sounds simply amazing! Its made in a very stylish way, elegant refined, detailed and beautiful, typically a master made guitar that is detailed to perfection with the beautiful Fleur de Lis peghead inlays and stylish fingerboard inlays, the neck feel is firm, but not overwhelming fat the playability/ set up is amazing. Depsite the fact that this guitar has been restored the current condition of the guitar is close to cosmetically excellent. Expertly restored through Gruhn Guitars, Nashville, formerly in private collection of George Gruhn himself.
