Gibson Unveils the Everly Brothers SJ-200

(Image credit: Gibson)

Phil (1939-2014) and Don Everly (1937-2021) were a pair of hitmaking machines during the rock ‘n’ roll dawn of the ‘50s.

Sporting matching Gibson flat-tops the pair strummed and harmonized their way to the top, winning the hearts of millions of fans and influencing a generation of budding guitar heroes.

Synonymous with the Gibson J-200 – the ‘king of the flat-tops’ – the brothers were honored with their own signature model, the J-180, in the early ‘60s. These are easily differentiated by their star inlays.

The Everly Brothers, (L-R) Phil Everly and Don Everly, performing on TV show, 1 April 1960 — Phil (left) and Don Everly peforming with matching customized Gibson J-200s (Image credit: Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty Images)

Though the prototypes are the same dimensions as the 17-inches-wide J-200, Gibson settled upon the smaller J-185-style construction (16¼ inches in width.)

With less than 500 Everly Brothers having been recorded shipped prior to their discontinuation in 1971, these classy vintage acoustic guitars are prized by players who find their tone to be the perfect balance between size and eloquence.

L-R: Phil Everly and Don Everly — Phil (left) and Don Everly peforming with their uber cool signature Gibson J-180s (Image credit: David Redfern/Redferns)

Mirroring the look of the Everly Brothers’ famous customized J-200s, Gibson have just launched the Everly Brothers SJ-200.

Priced $7,999.00 this primo flat-top features AA-grade flamed maple back and sides for great looks and a bright, articulate sound.

Along with a 25½ inch scale length these maple-bodied guitars make excellent strummers.

Though roughly half of the instrument's soundboard is occupied by the trademark double-pickguard, a thermally aged Sitka spruce top allows for enhanced tonal response.

Traditional hand-scalloped x-bracing, a hot hide glue neck/body joint, a bone nut and saddle, and a thin nitrocellulose finish add extra vintage-style appeal.

All in all, this is an upmarket instrument from Gibson with the finer details intact, including gold-plated Grover tuners and large mother-of-pearl crown inlays set in a nice rosewood fingerboard.

Visit Gibson for more information.

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.