Advanced Jumbo
Introduced: 1935 - 1940, reissued 1990 Dimensions: 16 1/16 “ Wide Round shoulder Scale Length: 25.5 inches Bracing: X with 2 Tone Bars
Body: Spruce Top, Rosewood back and Sides white binding Neck: Mahogany V shape neck white binding vertical diamond and arrowhead peghead inlay
Finish: Dark Brown Sunburst
Notes: One of the first Round Shoulder 16” Flattop’s from Gibson
Dove
Introduced: 1962 to Present
Dimensions: 16 ¼” Wide Square Shoulder
Scale Length: 25 1/2 inches
Bracing: X
Body: Spruce Top, Maple back and sides - white binding around front and back
Neck: Mahogany white binding Twin parallelogram inlays - crown peg inlay on front of headstock
Finish: Natural and Sunburst
Hardware: Tune-o-Matic bridge in a rosewood base with inlayed dove wings
Pickguard: Mother of Pearl dove inlayed on a 3 point celuloid shape pickguard 
J-45 and J-50
Introduced: 1942 to Present
Dimensions: 16 1/8 “ Wide Round Shoulder
Scale Length: 24 ¾ inches
Bracing: X
Body: Spruce Top, Mahogany back and Sides white binding
Some with Mahogany tops and or Maple back and
sides in the 1940’s
Neck: Mahogany - some 40’s have maple - neck no binding
Dot inlays 19 frets then 20 in 1955
Finish: Dark Brown Sunburst - J-50 natural top
Notes: 1942 – 1946. Referred to as "banner" because the peghead
has a banner: “Only a Gibson is Good Enough”.
Teardrop pickguard then 1955 long pickguard with
point at upper bout.
J-185
Introduced: 1951 to 1959
Dimensions: 16 1/8 “ Wide 4 7/8” deep
Scale Length: 24 ¾ inches
Bracing: X
Body: Spruce Top, Maple back and Sides white binding
Neck: Mahogany white binding - 20 frets rosewood
fingerboard. Twin parallelogram inlays
Finish: Dark Brown Sunburst - or natural
Hardware: Gold – long 3 point pickguard
top belly bridge with Maltese pearl inlays on each wing.
Notes: Modeled after the J-200, but smaller in size
Hummingbird
Introduced: 1960 to Present
Dimensions: 16 ¼ “ Wide Square Shoulder
Scale Length: 24 3/4 inches
Bracing: X
Body: Spruce Top, Mahogany back and sides -
white binding around front and back
Neck: Mahogany – rosewood fingerboard with
white binding
Twin parallelogram inlays - crown peg inlay
on front of headstock
Finish: Natural and Sunburst
Hardware: Adjustable white ceramic
insert on top of top belly bridge
Pickguard: Engraved Hummingbird with blossoms
and ferns on a large celluloid pickguard
Notes: Some maple back and side long scale models in early
60’s.
Southern Jumbo (SJ, SJN Country Western)
Introduced: 1942 to Present
Dimensions: 16 1/8 “ Wide Round Shoulder
Scale Length: 24 ¾ inches
Bracing: X
Body: Spruce Top, Rosewood back and sides then 1943
Mahogany back and Sides white binding
Some with Mahogany tops and or Maple back and
sides in the 1940’s
Neck: Mahogany - some 40’s have maple - no binding
1947 white binding - 19 frets then 20 in 1955
Twin parallelogram inlays
Finish: Dark Brown Sunburst - SJN natural top
Notes: 1942 – 1946. Referred to as "banner" because the peghead
has a banner: “Only a Gibson is Good Enough”.
Teardrop pickguard then 1955 long pickguard with
point at upper bout.
Nick Lucas Model (Gibson Special): 1928 – 1942
Introduced with 13 1/21" wide, mahogany back and sides,
a little arch to the top and back, 2 multi-ply soundhole
rings, rosewood bridge with pyramids at ends,
extra pin below bridge pins, triple-bound top and back,
triple-bound rosewood
Fingerboard : various inlay patterns with diamonds
1930 most all are rosewood with pin bridge
with pickguard ebony fingerboard raised off of top
1933 14” “Big body” Flat top and back, maple back and sides
pickguard glued down to the top
14 frets clear of body
Special notes:
Finishes in Black, Sunburst and Argentine Grey but mostly Sunburst
Back and sides could be Mahogany, Rosewood or Maple
