In 1972 Gibson produced a series of 'Guitar of the Month' brochures, each dedicated to one of their high end models, the Les Paul Recording guitar, L5-CES, ES-175D, Super 400-CES, ES-355TD-SV and Byrdland. Each brochure was a single sheet folded into four panels, with details of the instruments themselves, their features, musical purpose, and a little history behind the development of each guitar. Only the Les Paul Recording was a new model; the others were all well established in the Gibson line. Follow the link to see scans and further information on these leaflets and other Gibson guitar catalogues from the CMI and Norlin periods.

1966 Kalamazoo KB-1 bass

Gibson assembled these 30 1/2" scale Kalamazoo KB-1 basses in their electronics plant in Kalamazoo, MI - separate from the main Gibson plant. They used the same components and hardware as on the Gibson EB bass series; but with a pre-painted masonite body and a bolt-on maple neck; a very different construction to Gibson's usual output. Initially the KB bass had a Mustang-shaped body (see the 1966 Kalamazoo KB-1, left), which was soon redesigned with the classic SG shape (see the 1967 Kalamazoo KB-1, right). Have a listen to sound clips of this bass here.

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Gibson guitar pickups
Details of pickups used on vintage Gibson guitars

Gibson index > Gibson guitar parts > pickups

1960s

Gibson Single Coil

Gibson part PU380. The PU380 single coil is often referred to as a Melody Maker pickup; it was indeed widely used on Gibson Melody Maker guitars, but also the ES120T (and it's equivalent, the Epiphone Granada), the Epiphone Olympic and Olympic Special, and the Kalamazoo KG1 and KG2 guitars. It is a simple single coil pickup with a plastic cover; cheap but highly effective, in fact (according to available shipping figures) it was fitted to over 96000 Gibson, Epiphone and Kalamazoo guitars between 1959 and 1970. When you consider that many of these guitars had two or even three pickups, it is clear that Gibson produced these pickups in very large numbers.

Construction is a simple single coil wound around an Alnico magnet core, and then potted, for a "bright/low" tonality.

Typical resistance is around 7kΩ

1970s

Gibson L-6S Custom Pickup

This humbucker pickup was design by Gibson engineer Bill Lawrence, and was used in the L-6S Custom only, in the neck and bridge positions. Part numbers 13682 (neck) and 13683 (bridge). Dimensions: 70mm x 38mm x 19mm (excluding mounting tabs); Surround, 90mm x 45mm; Mounting screw holes are 78mm apart. DC resistance:

Have a closer look at a Gibson L-6S Custom

Gibson L-6S Deluxe Pickup

This humbucker pickup was used in the L-6S Deluxe only, in the neck and bridge positions. Part numbers 13654 (neck) and 13655 (bridge). Dimensions 73mm x 41mm x 19.3mm. Hole to hole 79mm. Surround 93mm x 54mm (widest). Typical DC resistance 6.5kΩ

Have a closer look at a Gibson L-6S Deluxe

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