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GIBSON | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Gibson advertisement (1981)

Lab series. If only you could see how they sound.

Gibson Lab Series amplifiers

One of the last Lab Series advertisements, from 1981, and one of very few printed in colour. The L-5 is pictured, but the text also highlights the 100w 1x15" L6 bass combo.

Light, clear blues. Red hot rock. And everything in between. That's the incredible sound spectrum of Lab Series. Electronically sophisticated amplifiers with advanced engineering in transistor technology. Designed to overcome the problems of low voltage transistors. For better sound. Better control. Better performance.
At the base of Lab Series sound is tone purity appreciated by all types of artists. Perfected distortion circuitry brings out the very best harmonics. And a multifilter control actually reshapes those harmonics to give your electric guitar some acoustic character. You can increase sustain. Distort sections of a chord. Even change your picking attack.
It's hard to find an amp that gives you so many musical sounds from so few controls.
What's more, all this sound capability is wrapped up in a sleek, road rugged package. That's why Lab Series is the working musicians choice. It can compensate for poor room acoustics. Control overtones during overdrive. And speaking of high volume, each Lab Series model has the voice of a much larger amplifier. Lab Series can suit every need from 100 to 200 watts RMS... And every artist, with the K-5 wide response keyboard amplifier and our new L-6 a self-contained single unit amp for bass. Lab Series. Engineered for sound that abounds. But don't take our word for it. See for yourself.

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    Gibson advertisement (1981) Lab series. If only you could see how they sound.

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    1968 Gibson SG Custom Pelham Blue Factory Bigsby Left-Handed 1 of 2 Ever Made

    1968 Gibson SG Custom Pelham Blue Factory Bigsby Left-Handed 1 of 2 Ever Made

    San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $395000

    This is one of two left-handed Gibson SG Custom guitars ever produced in this configuration. In May of 1968 two of these SG Customs shipped from the Gibson factory. Right from the start we have an incredibly rare axe.
    Also In 1968, Jimi Hendrix was at a jam at Ungano's in New York. He was playing with Elvin Bishop and B B. King. He was playing a left-handed Pelham Blue Gibson SG Custom with a Bigsby.
    We reached out to the family of famed photographer John Bellissimo regarding the ... more
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    1965 Gibson SG  Angus Young Owned And Played

    1965 Gibson SG Angus Young Owned And Played

    Los Angeles, California, 900**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $275000

    1965 Gibson SG, Owned and Played by Angus Young AC / DC
    Sold thru Pete Alenov obtained from Cliff Williams

    Letter of authenticity included
    ... more
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    GIBSON ES-335 SATIN VINTAGE SUNBURST SEMI- HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH HARD CASE

    GIBSON ES-335 SATIN VINTAGE SUNBURST SEMI- HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH HARD CASE

    Orlando, Florida, 328**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $249500

    2022 MODEL S N. 20822087
    From its first appearance in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 set an unmatched standard for playability, and today??s ??335 Satin carries on the tradition. The pearloid dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard hand-rolled on a rounded C mahogany neck feels incredible and invites hours of playing every time you pick up the instrument. Gibson??s Calibrated T-Type humbucking pickups are paired with the company??s handwired control assembly. The result is the immensely versatile Gibson ES ... more
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    1958 Gibson Les Paul Very Early Tom Murphy Refinish - Gorgeous - With Letter

    1958 Gibson Les Paul Very Early Tom Murphy Refinish - Gorgeous - With Letter

    Henderson, Nevada, 890**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $125000

    This is a one of a kind and a very special 1958 Les Paul Gold Top. Best sounding late 50's paf guitar I have ever played! Maybe it's because it only weighs 8 1 pounds? Ultra light and resonant. My guess is that is the secret sauce on this one? This guitar is a rare work of art by the most famous Les Paul Artist in the world, "Tom Murphy " . I was lucky to have spoken recently with Tom about it; what a nice guy. Tom remembered this guitar very well even back to 1995. He told me he thought it may ... more
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    1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom w / 3 original PAF pickups + Fretless Wonder HANG TAG!

    1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom w / 3 original PAF pickups + Fretless Wonder HANG TAG!

    Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $98000


    Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
    Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom in its original Black finish. It's all original and 100% complete along with its original hardshell case and original HANG TAG stamped "LES PAUL CUSTOM FRETLESS WONDER " . There's also a copy of the original sales ledger where the original owner made multiple payments of $13 a month for over a year. It has a good playing neck, but the small original frets are very worn as this would ... more
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    1958 Les Paul Standard Neck Gibson factory installed in 58 on 53 Goldtop see ad

    1958 Les Paul Standard Neck Gibson factory installed in 58 on 53 Goldtop see ad

    Hopewell, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $96395

    From the private collection of Sound Investments USA LLC

    1958 53 Goldtop Les Paul electric guitar sn. 8 3078
    It has a 1958 Gibson factory installed neck (put on in 1958) on a 1953 Les Paul Goldtop
    If you own a $400, 000 00 58 Les Paul that needs a 1958 original neck, then this guitar is for you!
    I have priced it for just that. I will consider reasonable best offers
    Ok here is the history of this guitar as told by the original owner. I am the second owner and While I had... more
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    1958 Gibson ES-335 TDN Vintage Semi-Hollow Blonde Thin Top w /  PAFs, Case

    1958 Gibson ES-335 TDN Vintage Semi-Hollow Blonde Thin Top w / PAFs, Case

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $85000

    Up for sale, a 1958 Gibson ES-335 TDN in excellent condition and perfect working order, complete with its original PAF pickup pair and Lifton hardshell case. This golden age Gibson ES-335 hails from late in the first year of production, boasting a highly coveted early feature set including the three-ply Thin Top construction, rounded "Mickey Mouse Ear" body horns, dot inlay on the bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard, a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck with long tenon joint, and a pair of PAF ... more
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    1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty w / OHSC

    1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty w / OHSC

    San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $64995

    1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
    In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
    Some Cosmetic Playwear As Shown
    Finish Checking Throughout
    Professionally Refretted By Glaser Instruments Of Nashville, TN
    Ilitch Hum Elimination System Removed And Put Back To Original (See Photos)
    Previously Owned By John Shanks
    Used On Bon Jovi's ' This House Is Not For Sale' Album
    Neck Depth At 1st Fret: 0 88"
    Neck Depth At 12th Fret: 0 99"
    ... more
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    Vintage 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty! All Original & Clean W / OHSC!

    Vintage 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty! All Original & Clean W / OHSC!

    Grand Rapids, Michigan, 495**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $60000

    Just in at Tone Chasers Music is this 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom. This guitar is all original with the pictured dings and checking being the most significant signs of wear. This is an exquisite example. The pictured original hardshell case is included. As pictured.

    Follow us here
    https: / / www facebook com / tonechasersmusic

    FOR THIS TRANSACTION I ONLY ACCEPT CASH, WIRE TRANSFER, OR CASHIERS CHECK TO BE CASHED ON DELIVERY. THIS GUITAR IS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL PICKUP... more
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    Jimmy Page Gibson 1969 EDS 1275 Double Neck Signed Collectors Ed -$100K APRw / CoA

    Jimmy Page Gibson 1969 EDS 1275 Double Neck Signed Collectors Ed -$100K APRw / CoA

    New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $54900


    Jimmy Page Gibson 1969 EDS 1275 Double Neck Signed Collectors Edition - $100K APR w / CoA
    ITEM DESCRIPTION:Presenting an extraordinary limited-edition collector's guitar from Gibson, this instrument is a true rarity, being #18 of only 50 produced in March 2024 to commemorate the grand opening of the Gibson Garage in London, England. Each of these exclusive guitars was personally played by legendary guitarist Jimmy Page. Following this, the necks were carefully wrapped in brown paper and ... more
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    1952 Gibson ES-295 All Gold | First Year, Vintage Guitar, Scotty Moore Early Elv

    1952 Gibson ES-295 All Gold | First Year, Vintage Guitar, Scotty Moore Early Elv

    Apache Junction, Arizona, 851**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $52000

    Vintage 1952 Gibson ES 295 gold top hollow body guitar. Used by Jerry Lee Lewis?? guitar player Kenneth Lovelace. Same model as played by Scotty Moore with Elvis. Plays and sounds beautiful. Has original case as well
    ... more
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    1958 Gibson Super 400 CESN - All Original - Chinery Collection

    1958 Gibson Super 400 CESN - All Original - Chinery Collection

    Piedmont, South Carolina, 296**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $49999

    TRM is excited to present such a stunning example of this very early example of a humbucker loaded Gibson Super 400. This guitar can be seen as plate 10 in the Tom Van Hoose "The Gibson Super 400" book and was sold to Scott Chinery to reside in his colleciton which was one of the finest guitar collections in the world at that time.
    1958 was the first official year of production of Super 400s with PAF pickups. They continued to have Alnico V "staple" pickups until the middle of that year, ... more
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    Vintage 1956  /  1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard PAF "Burst" Conversion - Holy Grail

    Vintage 1956 / 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard PAF "Burst" Conversion - Holy Grail

    Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $49500

    Vintage Correct Parts is proud to offer, for your consideration,
    A fantastic
    Vintage 1956 - 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard "Burst" PAF Conversion!!!
    Thanks for looking! We are incredibly proud to offer this SMOKING 56 / 59 Conversion. This is an absolutely incredible Les Paul Standard. Simply put, this is the best Les Paul Standard we have EVER played. It will hold court and go toe-to-toe with ANY Burst or PAF goldtop on the planet. It has THEE thing. The intangible, magical,... more
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    Gibson Les Paul Custom 1956 - Black Beauty

    Gibson Les Paul Custom 1956 - Black Beauty

    Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $37900

    Here we have an incredible 1956 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty! This road warrior exudes a vibe, and sounds phenomenal
    It unfortunately has had a minor headstock repair. There is a faint v shaped crack visible below the finish that has been expertly repaired. The area has also been touched up with black lacquer. This appears to have been done long ago as the finish has worn and checked already. There are also a couple of small holes on the top behind the tailpiece that have been filled ... more
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    1959 Gibson ES 175D Natual Electric Guitar 1 of 37 Cleanest one ever

    1959 Gibson ES 175D Natual Electric Guitar 1 of 37 Cleanest one ever

    Hopewell, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $37799

    1959 Gibson ES 175D Natural Holy Grail PAF??s Gibson hang tag (shown in pic). This one is the cleanest one I ever saw and judging by the two for sale on now by reputable dealers both asking about $40, 000 for a ??good condition?? one not nearly as clean or all original or barely played at all like this one. This is one of 37 natural ES175D sold in 1959
    Yes, the ??other?? Holy Grail 1959 Gibson in this condition is about $500, 000 00 now and climbing.
    SHIPPING CHARGES INCLUDE INSURANCE ... more
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    1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Gold All Original! w /  P-90s+OHSC

    1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Gold All Original! w / P-90's+OHSC

    Thousand Oaks, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $36995



    1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar Gold All Original! w / P-90's+OHSC

    Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
    Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar with a Gold Finish! In 1952, Gibson changed the world forever with the release of the Les Paul model. The very next year, this guitar was made and became a part of the legend of these iconic instruments. This guitar has the tone and playability you would expect from a Vintage ... more
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    1963 Gibson ES-335 TD

    1963 Gibson ES-335 TD

    Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $34900

    1963 Gibson ES-335 TD, Original Stop tail piece, Sunburst finish, TwoPatent Number humbuckers, Lightly figured Maple top and back, 1 11 / 16 incheswide at the nut, Original single line Kluson tuners back on, All Nickel part, ??MickeyMouse?? ears, Sweet playing and superb sounding, EC, Original hard case... more
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    1960 Gibson ES-355 TD Cherry Mono w /  Factory Bigsby, Period-Correct HSC

    1960 Gibson ES-355 TD Cherry Mono w / Factory Bigsby, Period-Correct HSC

    Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $32999

    1960 Gibson ES-355 TD Cherry Mono w / Factory Bigsby, Period-Correct HSC
    Vintage Gibson Collectors! We have a truly rare and unique guitar to share with you today! For sale is this 1960 Gibson ES-355 TD model. The 355 is right up there with the Les Paul and Stratocaster, in terms of its impact on modern music. Chuck Berry, B B. King, Keith Richards??The names go on and on. Nearly every popular rock musician, can trace some influence to a player that used a 355, in some form
    Featuring a ... more
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    1981 Gibson Citation

    1981 Gibson Citation

    Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $32995

    1981 Gibson Citation Custom, Special ordered, Vanderbilt Rose finish, Hand crafted Top of the line Archtop made in Kalamzoo Michigan, Finest hand selected woods, Gorgeous Heart of Abalone inlays, Comes with matching Flamed wood pickguard & interchangeable Flamed Charcoal Grey Maple electric pickguard with Pearl inlaid ??The Gibson??, Complete with special deluxe Green leather case with fleur-de-lis engraved hardware & special Two tiered case pocket to house second pickguard, Includes a... more
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    1963 Gibson ES-335 TD VIntage Semi-Hollow Guitar Sunburst Stoptail w /  Case

    1963 Gibson ES-335 TD VIntage Semi-Hollow Guitar Sunburst Stoptail w / Case

    Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    $32000

    Up for sale, a 1963 Gibson ES-335 TD in excellent condition and perfect working order, complete with the original Patent # pickup pair and Lifton hardshell case. This golden age Gibson ES-335 is a factory stoptail example which has never been fitted with a Bigsby, boasting many of the model's most coveted features, with small block inlay on the bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard, a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck with long tenon joint, and nickel-plated hardware
    At the heart of this ... more
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    1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

    1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

    1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

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    1961 Hofner Colorama I

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    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

    1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

    1960 Hofner Colorama II

    1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

    1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

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    1981 Gibson Marauder

    1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

    1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

    1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

    1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

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    1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

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    1961 Hohner Zambesi

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    1963 Vox Super Ace

    1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

    1966 Vox New Escort

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    1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

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    1973 Eko Ranger Folk

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    1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

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    1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

    1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

    1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

    1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

    1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

    1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

    1972 Fender Precision bass

    1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

    1967 Vox Stroller

    1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

    1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

    1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

    1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

    1959 Hofner Committee

    1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

    1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

    1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

    1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

    1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

    Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

    Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

    1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

    1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

    1965 Hofner President

    1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

    1963 1964 Fender catalog

    Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.