1978 Quality/Prestige/Innovation catalogue
Gibson guitar and bass catalogue
Catalogue Index | 1978 Catalogue part 1 | 1978 Catalogue part 2
Part 1
Throughout the 1970s, Gibson had produced publicity material split into segments: thinlines, Les Pauls, solid bodies, basses etc: this 1978 catalogue was the first time since Norlin took control (in fact since 1966) that a full-line electrics (no acoustic guitars or amplifiers) catalogue had been printed. And Gibson did a great job, producing a very full 36 page guide to Gibson's 1978 product line. 28 pages of guitars in full-colour 11" x 8 1/2".
The 1978 Gibson catalogue was most likely produced in the second half of that year: certainly it contains new models not included in the January or May 1978 price lists. The last Gibson catalogue of the seventies, and also the last catalogue appearance for several models. It is however, the first for quite a few more, such as the newly launched RD guitar and RD bass ranges, The Les Paul, the Les Paul Artisan, the Les Paul 55/78 and the ES-347TD.
78 was a great year for the Gibson Les Paul - sales, especially of the Les Paul Custom, far exceeded the levels of the rest of the Gibson range. The 78 catalogue featured 3 Customs; the two pickup, three pickup and the maple fretboard versions.
Click on the images for full size versions of each page, or click on the model names below
Guitars:
The Les Paul and Les Paul Artisan
Les Paul Custom
Les Paul Recording and Les Paul Custom
Les Paul Pro Deluxe and Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Deluxe and Les Paul 55
Les Paul Special double cutaway and The Paul
L5-S and SG Custom
SG Standard and L6-S Custom
L6-S Deluxe and Melody Maker
S-1 and Marauder
EDS-1275
RD Artist
RD Custom and RD Standard
Basses:
RD Artist and RD Standard bass
Part 2
Guitars:ES-355TDSV and ES-347TD
ES-345TDSV and ES-335TD
ES-350T and ES-175T
Super 400C and L-5C
Kalamazoo Award Model and Super V CES
Super 400CES and L-5CES
JS and Byrdland
Howard Roberts Artist and Howard Roberts Custom
ES-175D and ES-175/CC
Basses:
Les Paul triumph and EB3
Ripper L9-S and Ripper fretless
G3 and Grabber
Back to the GIBSON INDEX | comment
Was black a custom color for 1978 Gibson SG Special with dot fret markers?
Does anyone know how many SG Specials were produced by Gibson in 1978? I have a black one with purple lined case made at the Kalamazoo , MI factory- so I'm serious to know -thx
According to Gibson shipping statistics (which do have omissions, admittedly) only two SG Specials were shipped in 1978, neither in black. The last black (ebony) SG Special was shipped in 1973. Are you positive about your dating?