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1964 Gibson Melody Maker - a classic vintage guitar
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 A closer look at a Gibson Melody maker from 1964. The Melody Maker is one of Gibson's best ever selling guitars - despite it's comparatively low price it didn't skimp on Gibson tradition: well-built instruments, constructed from the finest materials. The body and set neck are both of South American mahogany whilst the fingerboard is South American rosewood. With a sunburst nitrocellulose finish the Melody Maker certainly looked the part. In fact the Melody Maker had more in common with many higher end Gibson instruments than guitars of a similar price bracket made by other manufacturers. The circuitry was simple; just a volume and tone control for one single coil pickup. See also Gibson Melody Maker shipping figures
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1966 Kalamazoo KG2a electric guitar
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 Details and information on the Kalamazoo KG2a electric guitar. The beat boom of the mid 1960s heralded a huge demand for electric guitars; youngsters up and down America were looking for affordable, well-built solid-bodies, with modern looks and a great sound. Gibson, better known for it's high-end jazz guitars, responded by producing the KG guitar and KB bass lines, under the Kalamazoo brand. They were initially modelled on the Fender Mustang, though soon took the shape of the Gibson SG, which was rapidly rising in popularity. The resulting instruments used modern composite wood technology, Fender style construction and actual Gibson hardware. They looked good, played well, and sold in large quantities. See also Kalamazoo KG shipping figures, a 1966 Kalamazoo KG1 (single pickup) and listen to the Kalamazoo KG soundclips.
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Gibson / Monzino (Italy) guitar catalogue, 1971
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 Gibson / Monzino guitar catalogue, 1971. America saw numerous promotional publications from Gibson in the first years of the 1970s, but new models were coming and going at such a rate, that some never made it into print. Just one US catalogue was printed in 1971: the Low Impedance for High Performance mini-catalogue, which contained just the Gibson Les Paul Recording guitar, and the Gibson Les Paul Triumph bass. However other countries were producing their own literature, capturing a snapshot of the Gibson range not seen in print in the US. This brochure was printed by the new Italian distributors, Monzino, and shows several instruments yet to be seen in US catalogues (the SG range in particular) and one that would never make it: the Gibson SB400 bass.
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Gibson Victory MV series
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 The Gibson Victory MV (multi-voice) guitars were launched towards the end of 1981, with a production period lasting just over two years. There were two models, the Gibson Victory MV2 and the Gibson Victory MVX. Both were very fine passive guitars with maple bodies and set maple necks. They had coil-tapped pickups for either humbucking or single coil sounds, but neither managed to give Gibson the Victory they required in terms of sales.
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1969 Gibson SG Special
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 The Gibson SG came in several varieties; and the Special is a typical 60s Gibson in many ways. Naturally, it has a mahogany body with a set mahogany neck, in true Gibson style. The pickups are typical Gibson single coil P90s, and the control layout, too, is classic Gibson. Have a closer look, or check out the SG Special soundclips of this guitar, through various vintage amps.
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1979 Gibson ES-175D
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 A closer look at a 1979 Gibson ES-175D. By the late 1970s, the ES-175D had followed the path of most Gibson guitars and changed it's mahogany neck, in favour of a maple neck with volute. It didn't last long, and the neck was again mahogany by 1983. Details of the changes in the ES-175D over time are detailed in the ES-175 timeline.
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Older updates here
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Gibson ES-355 TDSV
Thin line semi-acoustic guitar
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PART 1 description and chronology |
PART 2 specifications and shipping figures |
PART 3 BB KING |
Other users
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 | Gibson advert from 1972 BB King plays his Gibson ES-355 TDSV - The Man and the Woman
| By the 1970s this guitar was so heavily associated with BB King that he was featured in numerous Gibson advertising campaigns and on the front cover of the 1975 catalogue (below) more about BB King and his ES-355-TDSV
Other famous users include Chuck Berry, Freddie King and Alex Lifeson of Rush
check out pictures of ES355 in action
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The following description is taken from the 1966 Gibson catalogue
This magnificent stereo jazz guitar reflects all the beauty and skill of the guitar maker's art. With tone ranging from a clear treble to a throaty bass, with thrilling vibrato and instant response, it offers the accomplished artist a truly amazing range of sound. The Gibson Vari-Tone control provides six preset tonalities. The ES-355TD-SV stereo guitar can be played through a stereo amplifier, two channel amplifier or two separate amplifiers. Special stereo wiring and "Y" cable provide complete separation of tone.
and this comes from the 1970 Gibson thinline catalogue
A magnificent stereo guitar with bound "f" holes, the ES-355TD-SV offers the accomplished artist an amazing range of sound. Tone ranges from a clear treble to a husky bass - with thrilling vibrato and instant response. It can be played through a stereo amplifier or two separate amplifiers. Special stereo wiring and "Y" cable provide complete separation of tone.
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The Gibson ES-355TD SV is a variation on the Gibson ES355 or ES-355TD guitar (ES standing for Electric Spanish, and TD Thinline Doublecut) with the addition of Stereo output and six-position varitone (SV).
The 355 was the top of the line 300 series Gibson. Although it featured the same basic construction of the Gibson ES335 and Gibson ES345, it was fitted with a vibrato, stereo circuitry and gold-plating throughout.
It was a popular guitar, associated with Chuck Berry and BB King, though considerably more expensive than other thinline ES guitars.
ES-355 TDSV chronology
- 1958 ES-335 launched in August, the 355 about 2 months later [1]. 10 Instruments shipped in 1958? [2]. Bigsby vibrato. Cherry finish as standard
- 1959 First instruments shipped [3]
- 1961 Side to side vibrato
 1963 Gibson deluxe vibrola. The 355TDSV also graces the cover of the 1963 Gibson electrics catalogue
- 1969 Sunburst and Walnut finishes available [4]
- 1970 Sunburst finish withdrawn [5]
 1975 Cherry finish is replaced by 'Cherry wine' which is renamed in '77 as 'wine red'. BB King plays a walnut 355 on the cover of the 1975 Gibson thinline catalogue
 1978 Sunburst and antique sunburst finishes available [6]
- 1979-80 Vibrola replaced with the TP-6 tailpiece
- 1980 Sunburst finish discontinued [7]
- 1982 Model discontinued
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PART 1 description and chronology |
PART 2 specifications and shipping figures |
PART 3 BB KING |
OTHER USERS
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If you are looking for specific vintage guitars for sale, you may have to keep an eye on numerous vintage guitar stores, classifieds websites and ebay listings. Below are just the auctions - Vintage guitar stores tend to advertise theirs in their ebay online vintage guitar stores - have a look because there are some different listings.
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