From The Chinery Collection

Gibson Super 400 Electric
Electro String Instrument Corporation
Los Angeles, California
Around 1931

This Gibson Super 400 was designed for 1930s guitarist Muzzy Marcellino, who asked Gibson to make him a larger, more powerful instrument. The success of this model over smaller-body guitars led other manufacturers to develop their own large-body archtops.

The pick guard, with mounted electric pickups, was probably added to the instrument in the late 1940s. Acoustic or electric, the Gibson Super 400 produced a loud sound that could compete with the brass instruments in a big band.