Gibson's Biggest Stage: The 1956 Super 400 CES
There are guitars, and then there are statements. The Gibson Super 400 CES has always been the latter. Introduced as an electric version in 1951, it was Gibson's most expensive and most ornate production guitar — the one that said, unambiguously, that you had arrived. An 18-inch fully hollow archtop with a hand-carved spruce top and figured maple back and sides, gold-plated hardware everywhere you look, and multi-ply binding on virtually every surface. This isn't a subtle guitar.
This particular example dates to 1956 — right in the heart of the Super 400 CES's golden era — and it wears it's original Alnico pickups that were standard issue in that year, they give this guitar a rawer, more cutting voice than later PAF humbucker variants. Add in a period-correct Bigsby vibrato (patent D-169,120 — not factory-original to this guitar, but very much of the era), and you have an instrument that sits at a fascinating crossroads of collector significance and genuine playability.
This is a used instrument from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual guitar you will receive. If you are drawn to large-body archtop jazz guitars, vintage American craftsmanship, or simply instruments with serious historical weight, this one demands your attention.
The Body: 18 Inches of Hand-Carved History
The Super 400 CES remains the largest guitar Gibson has ever put into regular production. The body measures 18 inches wide, 21¾ inches long, and 3⅜ inches deep — numbers that translate to a genuinely room-filling acoustic presence before you even plug it in. The top is carved spruce, the back is carved figured maple, and the sides are maple, all solid wood. There are no shortcuts here — unlike the laminate-topped ES models of the era, the Super 400's tops and backs were individually carved by hand.
The fully hollow construction contributes to the Super 400's signature tone: warm, deep, and open, with a natural resonance that acoustic archtop players will immediately recognize. The f-holes are triple-bound, the body sports multi-ply binding, and the raised pickguard is a mottled plastic model with its own binding. Every surface of this guitar was treated as an opportunity for decoration, which is part of what makes it so visually striking — and so immediately identifiable — at any distance.
Neck, Fretboard, and Hardware
The neck on a 1956 Super 400 CES is a two-piece maple construction with a mahogany center strip — a configuration Gibson used through 1961. The nut width comes in just under 1-11/16 inches, and the scale length is 25.5 inches. The fingerboard is ebony, wearing pearl split-block position markers and bound with multi-ply black and white binding. The headstock features Gibson's traditional five-piece split diamond inlay. Players familiar with 1950s Gibson necks will know these tend toward rounder, fuller profiles than the later guitars.
All hardware is gold-plated, as is standard for the Super 400. The bridge is an adjustable Tune-O-Matic type (introduced on this model starting in 1953). The Bigsby vibrato — a patent D-169,120 unit, period-correct to the late 1950s era — replaces the original Super 400 trapeze tailpiece on this example. It is not factory-original to this guitar as noted in our product data, but it is a genuine vintage Bigsby from the correct period, not a modern reproduction.
Product Features:
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Body: Fully hollow archtop; hand-carved solid spruce top, carved figured maple back and sides
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Body Width: 18 inches — the largest body in Gibson's regular production history
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Neck: Two-piece maple with mahogany center strip; dovetail/set neck joint
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Fretboard: Bound ebony with pearl split-block inlays; 20 frets
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Scale Length: 25.5 inches; nut width approximately 1-11/16 inches
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Pickups: Original Alnico Pickups
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Controls: Individual volume and tone controls per pickup; three-way toggle switch
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Bigsby: Period-correct patent D-169,120 Bigsby vibrato tailpiece; not factory-original to this guitar
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Hardware: Gold-plated throughout; Tune-O-Matic style adjustable bridge
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Binding: Multi-ply binding on body, neck, headstock, f-holes, and fingerboard
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Year: 1956; Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Condition
This is a used vintage electric guitar from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual instrument you will receive.
Considering its nearly 70 years of age, this 1956 Gibson Super 400 CES remains in excellent condition. It shows normal signs of use consistent with a well-cared-for vintage instrument, including some nicks, dings, finish wear, binding wear, and other cosmetic imperfections accumulated through decades of ownership and play.
The electronics are functioning as intended, the neck is straight, and the guitar currently plays with low, comfortable action. It has been inspected and evaluated to ensure it is performing properly.
Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of the guitar's cosmetic condition, as they are considered part of the description.
Due to the age and collectible nature of vintage instruments, Please contact us with any questions prior to purchase.
Brand: Gibson
Model: 1956 Super 400CES
SKU: U-1956-SUPER400CES|A23464
Condition: Used
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