The Gibson SJ (Southerner Jumbo, not to be confused with the Super Jumbo...) is a legendary Gibson acoustic guitar. It was introduced during World War II, and this is a classic example of this first iteration.

The SJ was an upgraded version of the J-45; these guitars were introduced just as the war began in late 1941 and early 1942 as replacements for the J-35 (see here for a 1937 J-35) and the fancier J-55). The first SJ's had unbound fingerboards with the iconic double parallelogram inlays, the small rectangular bridge found on most 1930's Gibson flat-tops and, of course, the "Only A Gibson Is Good Enough" banner on the headstock. Later versions added fingerboard binding and used both versions of the Gibson belly bridge (up and down!). The wartime guitars still used Adirondack spruce for their top wood, as seen on this SJ.

Like many of our guitars, this one has seen a hard life with lots of playing. John Arnold of Tennessee repaired the various top cracks, repaired the bridge and generally got it back it top condition after some years of neglect - the previous owner bought it while standing on line at the refreshment tent of a bluegrass festival... for $100.