Gibson 1935 Super 400
This particular Super 400 has had quite a full life, that is, up until it found its home in my collection. According to Joe Spann, this piece was, 'constructed in 1935 and shipped on 21 January 1936 to one N. DeThomas as part of a Super 400 outfit. Also included in the shipment was a New-Old-Stock F-5 mandolin. This guitar was sent back to the Gibson factory twice for repairs, being returned to William Place Jr. on 27 May 1947 in a #400 case and then to Place Music Company of Providence, Rhode Island on 28 August 1947 in a #400 case.'
After it got to Providence, there is no more written information about its history. Apparently this guitar must have stayed around the region, because I got it a few years ago from a gentleman in Providence, Rhode Island.
I was told by the last owner that sometime in the 1960's it was refinished and slightly modified. It was given larger '60's Kluson Sealfast Tuners (actually a bonus) and a floating pickup, perhaps to emulate the 'Johnny Smith' model of the time.
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