Gibson Southern Jumbo 40s Original Electro Acoustic Guitar with Baggs HiFi DNA in Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson Acoustic Southern Jumbo 40s Original in Vintage Sunburst is a round-shoulder classic that blends wartime banner-era character with modern playability and stage-ready electronics. With its lush rosewood and Sitka spruce tonewood pairing, comfortable SlimTaper neck and the new Baggs HiFi DNA pickup system, it is built for players who want authentic vintage flavour with reliable, contemporary performance.

Introduced in 1942, the Southern Jumbo quickly earned a reputation among discerning players for its distinctive voice and effortless feel. The 40s Original pays tribute to that heritage with a familiar J-45 style body outline, multi-ply binding and a timeless Vintage Sunburst finish, while elevating the formula with solid rosewood back and sides for added depth, shimmer and projection. It is an inspiring instrument whether you are writing at home, recording in the studio or performing on stage.

A solid Sitka spruce top delivers a responsive, touch-sensitive playing experience with impressive dynamic range, rewarding everything from a delicate fingerstyle approach to a full-blooded strum. Over time, the top continues to open up, further enhancing the guitar’s richness and complexity. The rosewood body adds piano-like lows, clear trebles and a wide, three-dimensional soundstage that sits beautifully in a mix.

The mahogany neck is carved to Gibson’s SlimTaper profile, offering a fast, comfortable feel that suits both chord work and flatpicking. A rosewood fingerboard with mother of pearl split parallelogram inlays provides a classic look and smooth playing surface, while the 24.75 inch scale length keeps the string tension forgiving and expressive under the fingers.

Hardware is chosen for stability and tone. Grover open-back tuners, a bone nut, rosewood belly-down bridge, bone saddle and TUSQ bridge pins work together to provide reliable tuning and solid transfer of vibration. A tortoiseshell teardrop pickguard and vintage-style Gibson script logo complete the period-correct aesthetic.

Baggs HiFi DNA Electronics

Inside, the Southern Jumbo 40s Original is fitted with the Gibson-exclusive Baggs HiFi DNA pickup system, custom-voiced for Gibson acoustics. Dual lightweight sensors on the internal bridge plate, each with its own preamp, capture the guitar’s natural acoustic character with impressive realism and gain-before-feedback comparable to an under-saddle pickup. Discreet soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls let you shape your sound quickly without cluttering the top.

Vintage-inspired Look and Feel

From the round-shoulder J-45 body shape and Vintage Sunburst finish to the split parallelogram inlays and script headstock logo decal, this model channels the spirit of Gibson’s 1940s banner instruments. Multi-ply binding on the top and back and a classic tortoiseshell teardrop pickguard add to the unmistakable Southern Jumbo aesthetic.

Comfortable SlimTaper Neck

The mahogany SlimTaper neck profile offers a modern take on a vintage feel, balancing support and speed for a wide range of styles. Combined with the 24.75 inch scale length and rosewood fingerboard, it makes extended sessions more comfortable, whether you are strumming big open chords or navigating intricate lead lines.

Rosewood and Sitka Spruce Tonewood Pairing

A solid Sitka spruce top paired with solid rosewood back and sides delivers a rich, articulate voice with strong low-end presence, sparkling highs and excellent projection. This classic combination provides the tonal versatility to handle folk, country, blues and more, while continuing to mature and improve with age and playing time.

• Gibson-exclusive Baggs HiFi DNA Pickup System - Dual bridge-plate sensors with individual preamps provide a highly natural amplified tone that reflects the guitar’s true acoustic character, with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls for easy onstage adjustment.
• Solid Rosewood Back and Sides - Rosewood adds depth, clarity and expansive projection, giving the Southern Jumbo a powerful low end, shimmering highs and a wide, detailed sound that works equally well solo or in an ensemble.
• Solid Sitka Spruce Top - The Sitka spruce top offers a responsive, dynamic platform that rewards a light touch yet holds together under heavy strumming, with a tonal character that continues to open up over time.
• SlimTaper Mahogany Neck with Rosewood Fingerboard - A comfortable SlimTaper profile, 24.75 inch scale and rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram inlays combine for smooth playability and a classic Gibson look.

Body

• Body Shape: J-45
• Top Material: Sitka spruce
• Back Material: Rosewood
• Sides Material: Rosewood
• Body Finish: Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
• Top Binding: Multi-ply
• Back Binding: Multi-ply
• Colour: Vintage Sunburst

Neck

• Neck Material: Mahogany
• Neck Profile: SlimTaper
• Scale Length: 24.75 in. / 628.7 mm
• Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 in. / 304.8 mm
• Frets: Standard
• Neck Joint: Dovetail
• Nut Material: Bone
• Inlays: Split Parallelogram
• Inlay Material: Mother of pearl
• Fingerboard Binding: None

Hardware

• Bridge: Belly Down
• Bridge Material: Rosewood
• Bridge Saddle: Bone
• Bridge Pins: TUSQ
• Tuning Machines: Grover Open Back
• Hardware Finish: Nickel
• Pickguard: Teardrop, tortoiseshell

Electronics

• Acoustic Pickup: Baggs HiFi DNA
• Controls: 1 volume, 1 tone

Case

• Case: Hardshell
• SKU: OCRSSJ40HFVS