In 1964, a professional musician and music teacher in Cleveland, Ohio named Frances Germ custom ordered this this sunburst Gibson Super 400 Cutaway 17" Archtop Guitar from Gibson Guitars of Kalamazoo, Michigan. She played in the German Central Orchestra most of her adult life. Every 10-15 years, she would upgrade her guitar. This was the last guitar she owned.

This instrument was well-cared for during the time she was alive. It was played every day until she passed away in 1994.

Custom-made by Gibson in 1964, this Super 400 took 14 months to build. It was made with a narrow neck, measuring 1 9/16 inches at the nut, a feature that would be a short-lived standard a few years later at Gibson.

It has a solid spruce top and flamed maple back and sides, with a Venetian cutaway. The five-piece curly maple neck is gently worn where the thumb is positioned (see pic) and it has very good action.

It included a Gibson-installed floating Dearmond Rhythm Cheif pickup mounted to pickguard (volume and tone knobs, and rhythm switch).

Frances' initials, FG, appear on the truss rod cover on the headstock.

Serial Number 177960 is impressed on the back of the headstock; an orange oval label is affixed to the inside of the guitar which also shows the serial number.

An area on the edge of the body about 6" long has some wear at the side where buttons from Frances' blouse wore off some of the edge.