Gibson Custom Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Light Aged Faded Vintage Sunburst

The pinnacle of acoustic guitar building; Murphy Aged SJ-200 with Rosewood back and sides!

The Gibson SJ-200 first saw the light of day in 1937 and quickly earned its legendary nickname: The King of the Flat-Tops . Not only for its imposing size, but especially for its enormous projection, rich tone, and unparalleled stage presence. In the early years, the SJ-200 was built with rosewood back and sides —a design that remained in production only until 1947, before Gibson switched to maple.

Due to the economic circumstances following the Great Depression, quantities remained limited, making these early rosewood SJ-200s extremely rare today. Original pre-war examples now rank among the absolute top end of the vintage market. With the Pre-War SJ-200 Rosewood Light Aged, Gibson Custom now pays an impressive tribute to these legendary Super Jumbos from the pre-war era.

The body features a rosewood back with a triple marquetry strip and matching rosewood sides. The top is constructed of thermally aged red spruce , reinforced with traditional scalloped X-bracing , also made of red spruce. The result is an open, mature tone with depth, definition, and the kind of dynamics normally found only in instruments decades old.

Just like the originals, this SJ-200 is exceptionally well-appointed. Multiple layers of purfling adorn both the top and back, while the headstock is finished with binding for an extra luxurious look. The two-piece AAA maple neck has a 25.5” scale length , a walnut center strip, a comfortable D-profile , and a classic stinger on the back of the headstock. Up front, the Gibson logo and pearloid Crown inlays are paired with gold Grover® Imperial™ tuners .

The bound ebony fingerboard features graduated mother-of-pearl crown inlays and 20 standard frets. The nut, saddle, and bridge pins are made of bone for maximum sound transfer and clarity. The iconic ebony SJ-200 Four Bar Moustache™ bridge , also inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the tortoiseshell pickguard—with its multi-colored dots and double edge—form the visual centerpiece of this guitar.

As the name suggests, this version has been Light Aged by Murphy Lab . The subtle aging of the finish and hardware simulates decades of light playwear and instantly gives the instrument the character, vibe, and feel of an original SJ-200 from Gibson's golden era. The guitar comes in a Pre-War Red Line hardshell case , completing the authentic vintage experience.