SJ-200 Monarch #100 Brazilian Rosewood, Tri Burst

The 100th SJ-200 Monarch–the most majestic rendition of the King of the Flat-Tops ever made Serial #23424138 First created in the mid-1990s, the SJ-200 Monarch has become the ultimate custom edition of Gibson’s world-famous Super Jumbo acoustic guitar. This museum-worthy masterpiece SJ-200 Monarch 100 is truly a one-of-a-kind work of art. Due to the considerable amount of handwork and customization done by our highly skilled artisans (the select luthiers and craftspeople who built this guitar have over 160 years of combined experience at Gibson), the SJ-200 Monarch is an exceedingly rare model from the Gibson Custom team in Bozeman, Montana, and each one is individually and sequentially numbered on the back of the headstock near the serial number. While every Gibson Monarch is exquisite, for Monarch #100, we went all-out and produced a truly exceptional instrument that has no peers. The SJ-200 Monarch 100 features Brazilian rosewood sides, a three-piece back made from Brazilian rosewood and AAAAA flamed maple ornamented with a hand-inlaid and engraved rosewood shield with mother of pearl and abalone crown detail in the center, a AAA Sitka spruce top, and a two-piece AAA maple neck with Indian rosewood stringers, a round profile, and Brazilian rosewood fretboard. Even the front headstock veneer is made from Brazilian rosewood. Brazilian rosewood is a rare and highly desirable tonewood that is renowned for its deep bass and clear treble response. All the woods used in the SJ-200 Monarch 100 were hand-selected from the Gibson Custom Wood Library in Bozeman, Montana. But that’s just the beginning. The SJ-200 Monarch 100 is opulently appointed with mother of pearl and abalone inlays, including the stunningly detailed, hand-engraved mother of pearl and abalone Monarch crown inlays on the fretboard, the 18K solid gold-bordered abalone inlays on the four-bar Brazilian rosewood Moustache™ bridge, the mother of pearl Gibson script headstock logo, and the sculpted mother of pearl and abalone truss rod cover. The rear of the headstock features a Brazilian rosewood veneer, with multi-ply binding on the back of the headstock and the volute on the headstock rear, and the headstock rear also features a mother of pearl arrow inlay bearing the serial number and “No. 100” designation indicating its status as the 100th Monarch guitar to be built. The body top features multi-ply 14K gold-filled rope binding–the first production guitar to be so adorned. Double-width abalone purfling is used on the remainder of the body, with “sideburns” along the neck heel. The large soundhole rosette is also abalone. The headstock centerpiece inlay is particularly noteworthy. 1.2 ounces of 18K solid gold was used for the hand-engraved crown inlay, which is set with nine 0.1-carat natural diamonds, with a 0.25-carat diamond at the peak of the crown. Shell inlays were also used in the center of the crown. Even the interior of the body is ornate, with laminated Brazilian rosewood and spruce stays on the ribs, a gold-embossed Brazilian rosewood soundhole label, and a Brazilian rosewood veneer with a mother of pearl and abalone crown inlay on the headblock. The famous SJ-200 pickguard is made from celluloid tortoise material. It is machine engraved and has an abalone border and dots. Four 0.1-carat natural diamonds, bordered in solid 18K gold bezels, are inlaid into the pickguard. The tuners are engraved gold Waverly open gear units. The nut and bridge saddle are bone, while the 18K gold-plated brass bridge pins feature 0.1-carat natural diamond inlays. Lovingly made by the master luthiers and craftspeople of Gibson Custom in Bozeman, Montana, a one-of-a-kind Gibson Custom Monarch 100 hardshell case with each detail carefully and thoughtfully crafted to align with the guitar is also included to keep this King of the Flat-Tops that is worthy of royalty safe and secure when not in use.