Gibson SJ-200 Western Classic

Back in the Saddle Again

A jumbo Gibson was the guitar of choice for nearly every singing cowboy of note during the thirties and forties. In fact, jumbo guitars didn’t exist until Ray Whitley worked with Gibson to design the J-200 in 1937 because he needed an acoustic that you could hear in a big room (remember, this was before the days of acoustic amplifiers!). It was a smash hit, and Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Jimmy Wakely all quickly commissioned their own Gibsons and made the J-200 the hottest high-end guitar in America.

Now, Gibson pays tribute to these horse-riding, six gun-shooting troubadours with the Gibson Western Classic SJ-200. As usual, they’ve managed to come scarily close to the original in looks, feel, and sound. The AAA Sitka Spruce top pairs with the rosewood back and sides to give you piano-like lows and crisp, bell-like highs, while the jumbo body allows you to be heard loud and clear several counties over. It’s easy to play for hours thanks to the delightful round neck profile, and the longer 25.5” scale keeps your attack tight and articulate.

It looks pretty, too! As usual, Gibson went all out for vintage accuracy, and the results of their efforts are stunning. The ornate binding on the top, the four-bar abalone bridge inlay, the bound pickguard, and the flowerpot inlay on the headstock all give this guitar a startlingly true-to-vintage aesthetic, and the gold Waverly tuners are the cherry on top!

The Wildwood team is proud to present the Gibson Western Classic SJ-200, and we invite you to put on your spurs and give one a test ride! We’re sure you’ll want to get back in the saddle again right away.