Gibson 1962 Country Western

Gibson / 1962 Country Western

[Staff Comment: Hoshino]

A 1962 Gibson Country Western.
Originally introduced as a natural-finish version of the Southern Jumbo, this model was initially known as the “SJN” and was later officially released under the name “Country Western.” The year 1962, when this instrument was manufactured, marked a transitional period. It was produced just before the design was changed to square shoulders the following year, making this specimen one of the rare final examples of the round-shoulder era.

It produces the soft, airy tone and enveloping mid-to-low frequencies characteristic of round-shoulder guitars. When strumming chords, richness and clarity coexist, while in fingerstyle playing, harmonics steeped in the passage of time emerge from a dry attack. Here lies the unique “sound” that only an instrument with such a history can offer.

The slightly thinner neck profile fits comfortably in the hand, with a grip that naturally settles into the flow of your fingering. Although the grip has been treated with a later-applied over-lacquer finish, this actually creates a touch that seems to cling to your hand, fostering a sense of unity that allows you to focus fully on your playing.
The bridge is equipped with a long saddle, which directly transmits string vibrations to produce a well-defined sound with a strong core.

Visually, the amber-colored natural top—evoking over 60 years of history—and the subtle weather checking that seems to seep across the surface, along with the patina around the pickguard and bridge, all tell the story of this instrument’s history.

Its manufacturing background as a late-model round-shoulder guitar, the craftsmanship of the era, the carefully selected wood, and its excellent condition preserved to this day.
This is a vintage instrument still active today, capable of supporting singing on the front lines.

[Specifications/Included Case]
TOP: Spruce
BACK/SIDES: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD/BRIDGE: Rosewood
NECK: Mahogany
NUT WIDTH: 43mm
SCALE: 627mm
CASE: Non-Original Hard Shell Case

[Repair/Modification History / Replaced Parts / Cosmetic Condition, etc.]
*As this is a used/vintage item, the information provided is based on our inspection.
Please note this in advance.
-The fine weather checking throughout the case gives it a distinctive vintage charm.
-The entire neck has been over-lacquered, but the finish has worn down slightly, preserving the vintage texture and giving it a great vibe.
- The nut has been replaced.
- There are repairs for wood cracks in the upper right and lower left corners of the soundhole. (Glued and reinforced)
- The left side of the pickguard shows wood wear from picking.

[Playing Condition]
- String action at the 12th fret:2.5 mm on the 6th string side, 2.0 mm on the 1st string side
- Saddle projection:Approx. 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm
-There are no muffled or buzzing sounds; the instrument is in good playing condition.

[Recommendation from our in-house repair team, TC-TUNE]
As a Gibson from the early ’60s, I think this is a very appealing instrument, especially given its current condition.
Looking at the product description, some of you might be concerned about the over-lacquer on the neck or the crack repair on the body.

There are various degrees of over-lacquer, but on this particular guitar, it doesn’t appear to be thickly layered, and the vintage-like texture is still clearly preserved.
In terms of playability and sound, this isn’t a condition that should be a concern.
Unless you’re specifically looking for a guitar with “the original finish from that era” as an absolute requirement, I don’t think you need to worry about this point too much.

There are a few repaired cracks on the body.
Of course, a guitar without any cracks is preferable.
However, if you limit your search to vintage acoustic guitars over 60 years old that have never been repaired for cracks, your options will be significantly limited.

This guitar has already been glued and reinforced, and there are no other areas that appear to have caused obvious structural damage.
A properly repaired crack in the wood is one of the more manageable types of repair history found on vintage acoustics.

Furthermore, this particular guitar still has its original frets.
This isn’t just a matter of retaining original parts; since this guitar hasn’t undergone repeated refretting or other modifications to the fingerboard, the fingerboard still has plenty of room to accommodate future repairs.
For example, even if you play it intensively for the next 10 years, causing the frets to wear down and eventually requiring a refret, it can be properly restored at that time so you can continue playing it.

At TC-TUNE, even with vintage guitars, we assess their condition with the goal of ensuring they remain instruments you can enjoy for many years to come.
We’ve performed neck straightening and fret leveling on this particular guitar, bringing it into a condition where you can continue to play it reliably.

When we look not only at whether it has a repair history but also at the impact those repairs have had on the instrument today, this is a very well-rounded example of an early ’60s Country Western guitar.

[Peace of Mind Warranty: 6 months]

[Mail-Order Assurance Service]
Since we cannot offer customers the opportunity to try out the instrument when purchasing by mail order, we provide a 6-day trial period after the product arrives.
Please take your time to try out the product at home, and if you are not satisfied, we will refund the purchase price.
*The customer is responsible for round-trip shipping costs.