1958 Gibson Country Western SJN w/ K&K Pure Mini

In 1942, war-time production shortages prompted Gibson to replace the prewar J-35 and J-55 with the J-45 and the Southerner Jumbo. According to Gibson lore, the sales rep who handled the Southeast region requested the company build a flat-top targeted for the Southern states. He felt that Gibson flat-tops were especially appreciated there and in Country music, and apparently he was able to convince Gibson execs that a model dedicated to the South was just what they needed. The result was a 14-fret, slope-shoulder dreadnought originally called the "Southerner Jumbo," but quickly shortened to "Southern Jumbo" then later just "SJ." With a Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides, the SJ shared the same size and basic construction as the J-45, but it featured fancier details: multi-ply body binding, split parallelogram inlays, and fingerboard binding. In 1954, Gibson offered a natural-finish "SJN," which was re-named the "Country Western" in 1956. With a crown inlay on the peghead, the class