1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor

ARCHIVED • SOLD

1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor

An incredibly rare and fabulously wonderful Gibson Tenor guitar, this J-35 Tenor is the only of its kind that we’ve ever seen or heard tale of over a quarter-century in the vintage guitar biz. It was shipped in the summer of 1938, and labelled as a TG Jumbo 35 in the shipping ledgers. The guitar features a standard J-35 body and a 22 3/4” scale tenor neck, which required the bridge be located 1” closer to the soundhole than a 6 string model and necessitated a modification to the pickguard shape.

With its big body and 3 tone-bar bracing, this J-35T is a perfect candidate for low E tenor tuning, which is how we’ve set it up. Tuned in 5ths with a guitar’s low E string, the J-35T has a strong fundamental with excellent clarity, presence, rumble and midrange punch. It’s a completely unique and engaging tone, and the guitar is a lot of fun to play.

This J-35T is in excellent condition and is completely original. It has had two minor back cracks repaired, and its top’s center seam reglued. All the braces are glued well and unrepaired, the original bridge hasn’t been cut down, and the original frets are in good shape. Playability is excellent thanks to our in-store set up, and the action measures 5-6 64ths at the 12th fret. The original finish shows the playwear that is obvious in our photos, and plenty of crazing and flaking, as is the norm for Gibson finish from this period.

The neck has U/V carve that’s not unlike that of a 30’s Gibson mandolin, with a nut width of 1-3/16”. Neck depth at the 1st fret is .943 and is 1.15” at the 9th fret. The fretboard is flat, and the string spread at the saddle is 1-1/4”.

With modern hardshell case
1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor
  • 1938 Gibson J-35 Tenor

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Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario Canada

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We've spent thirty years building relationships with musicians, collectors, and fellow dealers across Canada and the US. Every guitar we sell has been inspected, played, and approved by hands that know the difference.

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