Vintage Guitars
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Vintage Gibson guitars

Gibsons are perhaps the most highly-regarded of all vintage guitars

The Gibson plant at 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan
The old Gibson plant at 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan, now home of Heritage guitars

Vintage Gibson guitars are very special indeed, and they are held in very high regard by serious players and vintage guitar collectors alike. Especially the guitars made in the main Gibson plant, 225 Parsons Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The very best of these guitars were made in the 1950s and 1960s; often referred to as the CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments) period. These Gibsons are the epitome of quality. The best guitars were hand-built. Tops were carved and tap-tuned, a job requiring great skill and experience, and the pieces were assembled and finished by skilled craftsmen, with incredible attention to detail. But even the entry-level Gibson guitars were a step above the majority of guitars available at the time; both in terms of workmanship and components.

Gibson ES300
Late 1940s Gibson ES300

Gibson electric acoustic guitars

But this was a time of big change in the guitar market. Gibson specialised in expensive electric acoustics; high end jazz archtop models like the L5-CES, Super 400, ES-300, ES-350, ES-5, and the very well-known ES-175. These were all large hollow-body guitars with superb clean tones for jazz soloing. But 1955's Byrdland opened the door to a new possibility in guitar design, being the first thinline model.

Gibson endorsers of the 1950s were 'serious' musicians; often guitar virtuosos, in the jazz, pop or bluegrass genres. They would be accompanied by an upright bass, and a drummer using brushes. But the advent of rock 'n' roll changed everything. The necessary increase in volume rendered the jazz box almost obsolete and heralded the rise in popularity of the semi-acoustic and the solid-body.

Jack Bruce basses his sound on Gibson
Jack Bruce basses his sound on Gibson - Gibson advertisement from 1972

Gibson rock guitars

In this time, and under the stewardship of Ted McCarty, Gibson introduced the majority of the iconic models that it is famous for today. The Les Paul in 1952, the ES335, Flying V and Explorer in 1958, the Melody Maker in 1959, the SG in 1961, and the Firebird in 1963. Despite being superb instruments, many of these were too far ahead of their time, and were commercial failures until re-issued years later. Only 98 Flying V guitars were shipped between 1958 and 1959, and only 22 Explorers. The low-production numbers of these models guarantees their desirability to vintage guitar collectors, and if offered for sale could fetch a five or six figure sum, depending on the state of the market.

1969 Gibson Melody Maker D, 1967 Melody Maker bass, 1964 Gibson Atlas IV amplifier
1969 Gibson Melody Maker D, 1967 Melody Maker bass, 1964 Gibson Atlas IV amplifier

These classic guitars represent Gibson at their best. The quality of materials, workmanship and design placed Gibson guitars of this period right at the pinnacle of American guitar production. When people complain of perceived 'problems' with seventies, eighties or even current Gibson production, it is with these early sixties guitars that the comparison is being made. Gibson went from strength to strength in the early 1960s, selling guitars quicker than they had time to build them. 1965 was their peak year, selling over 83000 instruments. This success, however ultimately proved a huge problem for the company. They expanded to cover demand, even overproducing certain lines, only to find demand dropping in the later part of the decade. By the late 1960s, the American guitar industry was in trouble. Companies were folding and changing hands, and Gibson was no exception. Norlin took charge in December 1969, and immediately introduced numerous new models.

Keith Richards with the Gibson Les Paul Custom, from the 1975 Gibson catalogue
Keith Richards with the Gibson Les Paul Custom, from the 1975 Gibson Les Paul catalogue

The Norlin period

This period is not held in as high regard as the earlier CMI period, and it is true, Gibson produced a lot of low-priced guitars at this time, but the finest instruments are every bit as good as older versions. Guitars like the Citation, L-5S, and Crest are as good as anything Gibson ever built. In 1974 Gibson opened a new plant in Nashville, and some guitar output was moved there. The Nashville plant, especially early on, was unable to compete in terms of quality with Kalamazoo, and some of the seventies bad reputation may have been due to this.

This is the decade Gibson moved away from mahogany, in favour of other woods. The archetypal Gibson solid body sound was rich and dark; it had been produced by Gibson humbuckers, a mahogany body and a glued in mahogany neck. But there was a recognition that a wider tonal range would be greatly appreciated by the guitar buying public. In the early 1970s, electronics wizard Bill Lawrence designed a number of new guitars for Gibson: the L-6S, Marauder, S-1, Grabber bass and Ripper bass; all used maple and or alder, and many were natural-finished giving a distinctly different look to preceding models. They were electronically experimental, using a number of different techniques to achieve greater tonal palettes, from very simple ideas like a moveable pickup, to more in depth multi-position varitone switches.

Gibson RD Standard bass
The Gibson RD Standard bass, circa 1978

Gibson Nashville and Gibson Kalamazoo

The two Gibson plants, Nashville and Kalamazoo, were running in tandem throughout the second half of the 1970s; Nashville built a large proportion of the solid body guitars, including Les Pauls, the L-6S, 335 solids etc, whilst Kalamazoo was the home of basses, hollow bodies, custom order instruments and new product development. A new 'Research and Development' team set to work, their first design taking the name of the group. The all-maple Gibson RD series was one of the last instruments to be made entirely at the Kalamazoo plant. But at this time, even necks on a lot of traditionally all-mahogany instruments went maple, for example 70s Les Pauls, SGs and solid-body 335S. The RD was a collaboration between Gibson and Moog (another norlin company); again an attempt to increase tonal range but this time by creating an active instrument with built-in Moog expansion and compression circuitry. The success of the RD Artist lead to other guitars being fitted with the same electronics, most notably the Les Paul Artist and ES-Artist.

The popularity of the electric guitar was declining somewhat in the early 1980s, but with two plants up and running, Gibson had no shortage of production capacity. So Gibson proceeded with the first of several attempts to create a line of products placed somewhere between it's Japanese built Epiphone 'copies' and it's regular Gibson guitars - see the article on non-Gibson Gibsons. The Gibson Sonex was a range of entry to intermediate level guitars produced at the Nashville plant, using an innovative wood/particle board (resonwood) composite body. The cheapest, the Sonex-180 Deluxe was built in the USA, but actually fitted with imported Japanese pickups and hardware, allowing for an incredibly low launch price. Other models in the series actually used standard Gibson hardware, and the Sonex Artist even had the Moog expansion/compression circuitry of the RD series.

The Gibson Victory series was again all maple with state-of-the-art electronics, this time by Tim Shaw, but still aimed at expanding the range of sounds available from a Gibson. They were passive, save the Artist bass, and even that had a switchable passive mode. These guitars were designed at Kalamazoo, and a few early examples were built there, before production of this line moved to Nashville, at the end of 1981.

Finally in 1984 the Kalamazoo plant closed, and all electric guitar production moved to Nashville. In January 1986 Gibson was sold to it's current owners.

Non-Gibson Gibsons

Gibson was always rightly proud of it's beautifully-built American instruments, but such a large slice of the US guitar market was below the price point of a typical Gibson guitar. Whilst other distributors were importing cheaper guitars from around the world, Gibson attempted (several times) to produce more affordable instruments in the US - typically branded as something other than Gibson, but often with a nod towards the parent brand. These attempts were somewhat successful at first, (notably the 1930s and 1960s Kalamazoo brand) but unable to compete with the mass produced guitars of the 1970s and 1980s. Read more about Gibson's non-Gibson Gibsons: Kalamazoo, Epiphone, Epiphone USA Sonex and Gibson Guitar Co.

Latest Gibson updates on this site

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 catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini
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!
1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass
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

Vintage Gibson guitars for sale

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Vintage Early 1970s Gibson ES-335 TDW Walnut

Vintage Early 1970s Gibson ES-335 TDW Walnut

Birmingham, Michigan, 480**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6500

Norlin era early 1970s ES-335
Specs: Made in Kalamazoo (Michigan). Semi-hollow body construction. Laminated maple top and body; mahogany neck; rosewood fingerboard. 24 75" scale length; 22 frets. Walnut finish. Original Hard Shell case in poor but working condition
Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz
Electronics: Dual humbucking pickups. Individual volume and tone controls. 3-way toggle switch
Condition: Very Good+. A handful of dings, nicks and scratches but nothing remarkable and in overall ... more
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1969 VINTAGE Gibson es-340 All Original OHSC walnut Very Rare Collector Guitar!!

1969 VINTAGE Gibson es-340 All Original OHSC walnut Very Rare Collector Guitar!!

Durham, North Carolina, 277**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

Plays like a wet dream. You want this.

This 1969 Gibson ES-340 electric guitar is a rare gem for collectors of vintage guitars. With its all-original features and Original Hard Shell Case (OHSC), it is a prized possession for any musician or guitar enthusiast. The body of the guitar is made of walnut, giving it a distinctive look and feel, while the Gibson brand and ES series ensure exceptional quality and sound.

The guitar is a must-have for fans of Gibson's ES ... more
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Vintage 1960s Gibson Black TONE Knob ES-335tdc SG Standard Custom 1961

Vintage 1960's Gibson Black TONE Knob ES-335tdc SG Standard Custom 1961

Plano, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$195

Clear plastic with black skirt , white numbering, silver reflector cap , ??tone model ??, normal light vintage wear. Some ambering, No stress cracks , passes the Black Light test , nice original early 60s Gibson knob. Thanks for looking
... more
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1977 Vintage Fender Gibson Guitar Potentiometer CTS 250k Broken

1977 Vintage Fender Gibson Guitar Potentiometer CTS 250k Broken

Salina, Kansas, 674**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$65


Pulled from vintage parts collection Broken top... more
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1989 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III - Ebony

1989 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III - Ebony

Akron, Ohio, 443**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3200

The guitar is in excellent condition. 36 years old and only some light play wear on the body but nothing note worthy. All original and has been stored in the case for most of its life. Gold hardware shines like new and still had the plastic on the pic guard. A amazing looking, sounding and playing instrument
Includes original Gibson case also in excellent condition
$100 for UPS Shipping in the Continental U S.
Worldwide Shipping available, contact me for an exact cost before ... more
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Gibson Ebo Eb3 Front Pu Cover

Gibson Ebo Eb3 Front Pu Cover

La Mesa, California, 919**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$90

Gibson Ebo Eb3 Front Pu Cover has scratches some slight ruston bottom. Get it here garb2 7
... more
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Gibson Les Paul Standard Rosewood Fingerboard NOS Luthier Repair Restoration

Gibson Les Paul Standard Rosewood Fingerboard NOS Luthier Repair Restoration

Marshall, Michigan, 490**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$100

Gibson Les Paul Standard Indian Rosewood Fingerboard NOS in very good condition. Nice Rosewood with no cracks and already inlaid. The scale length is 24 3 / 4 " , the nut width is 1 5 / 8 " , 12" radius and 1 / 4" thick in center. The inlays are about 1 / 32" off center and you can see Maudie's note on the pearl stating this. However, if the board gets binding you should be able to center the pearl better. This fingerboard is being sold AS-IS
This fingerboard came from the Maudie Moore ... more
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Gibson 1969 SJN Country Western Acoustic Guitar with LR Baggs M1 Pickup

Gibson 1969 SJN Country Western Acoustic Guitar with LR Baggs M1 Pickup

Key West, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2795

Get your hands on one of the finest flattops ever made! This beautiful, truly vintage 1969 Gibson Country Western / Southern Jumbo in natural finish is a fantastic player, ready for gigging with an LR Baggs sound hole pickup. The sound from this guitar is amazing - the deep, rich acoustics you can only get from wood that has mutured and opened up over 50+ years. The finish has some checking, which you would expect for a player of this vintage. The neck is straight and the frets have plenty ... more
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CLEAN! Vintage Gibson Grabber Bass!! Plays great! W /  alt Pickguard

CLEAN! Vintage Gibson Grabber Bass!! Plays great! W / alt Pickguard

Monticello, New York, 127**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3000

This vintage Gibson Grabber Bass is a dream come true for any right-handed player looking for a solid body electric bass guitar. With its natural body color and 4-string configuration, this bass is perfect for any music genre. The alt pickguard adds a unique touch to this 1974 model year, making it a must-have for collectors and musicians alike.

The bass plays great and has been well-maintained, ensuring its quality and reliability. Whether you're a seasoned player or a ... more
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Gibson GA-18T Guitar Amp.  Built in 1962-63.  Original wood footswitch

Gibson GA-18T Guitar Amp. Built in 1962-63. Original wood footswitch

Lafayette, Louisiana, 705**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1335

Gibson GA-18T. This model was shipped in 1962 and 1963 only. It sounds great; better than many Fenders from a comparable era. Comes with original wooden footswitch for tremolo control. You will enjoy playing this amp.... more
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2 Vintage Gibson 1976 Les Paul Standard Strap Buttons - Item OK

2 Vintage Gibson 1976 Les Paul Standard Strap Buttons - Item OK

Midlothian, Illinois, 604**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$40

2 Vintage Gibson 1976 LesPaul Standard Strap Buttons
Item OK

From a parts drawer, marked1976 LP Std.

Please look at the pictures, what you see in the pictures is what you are getting in this auction

Good luck bidding. Paymentrequired within 3 days of auction end. Continental USA only. I only ship onceor twice a week so be patient
Full 48-hour approval, (buyerpays all shipping charges both ways)
I have lots of other items upfor sale right now. Check out my ... more
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Gibson 1970-1975 B-45-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar w /  Case - Natural (Pre-Owned)

Gibson 1970-1975 B-45-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar w / Case - Natural (Pre-Owned)

San Rafael, California, 949**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1250

Gibson 1970-1975 B-45-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar w / Case - Natural (Pre-Owned) Gibson 1970-1975 B-45-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar w / Case - Natural (Pre-Owned)
Gibson 1970-1975 B-45-12 12-String Acoustic Guitar w / Case - Natural (Pre-Owned)
This 1970-1975 Kalamazoo era Gibson B-45-12-N is a 12-string guitar featuring ... more
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Vintage Gibson 1954 GA-5 Amplifier Les Paul Jr Excellent Working Condition

Vintage Gibson 1954 GA-5 Amplifier Les Paul Jr Excellent Working Condition

Ballwin, Missouri, 630**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$800

GIBSON VINTAGE 1954 GA-5 LES PAUL JR AMPLIFIER IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION
This is a 3-tube amplifier using 5Y3 rectifier, 6SJ7 preamp, and 6V6 output. I replaced the old filter capacitors with 600 volt electrolytics. The coupling capacitors were leaky, and replaced them with 630 volt film capacitors, insuring the amplifier would work for many years to come without failures from the old paper capacitors. This is a 70 year amplifier, and it shows its physical age, but the electronics ... more
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1964 Gibson ES-125 TC

1964 Gibson ES-125 TC

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

$4795

1964 Gibson ES-125 TC, Vibrant Cherry Sunburst finish, Wideat the nut, Nice looking figured Maple top, P-90 pickup, Nickel single line Klusontuners, Gold knobs, Tortoise guard, Light weight, Resonant, Acousticallyrobust, Nicely setup, Excellent condition, Worn Original soft alligator case.
... more
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Gibson Kalamazoo KB bass 1960s

Gibson Kalamazoo KB bass 1960s

Salem, New Hampshire, 030**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1200

1960s Kalamazoo KB Shortscale bass made by Gibson. Few small chips / dings on body and headstock.
... more
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1956 Gibson J-50 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w /  Case

1956 Gibson J-50 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w / Case

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

$7200

Up for sale, a 1956 Gibson J-50 in excellent condition, complete with the original chipboard case. A golden age example of Gibson's quintessential dreadnought model, this guitar features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides paired with a one-piece mahogany neck capped with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard
Sound simply leaps from this instrument, and this dreadnought offers plenty of detail and woody cut, with the sweetness and soft growl of mahogany when digging in hard with a ... more
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Vintage 1960??s Gibson Scout GA17 RVT Guitar Combo Amp Amplifier & Pedal

Vintage 1960??s Gibson Scout GA17 RVT Guitar Combo Amp Amplifier & Pedal

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

$1200

Pre-owned - Normal Wear
Tested & Working!

A great addition to any collection!

Includes:
-Gibson Amp
-Tremelo / Reverb Switch Pedal



This vintage 1960's Gibson Scout GA17 RVT guitar combo amp amplifier and pedal is a rare find for any musician or collector. The brand, Gibson, is known for their high-quality instruments and this model is no exception. It features a combo amplifier type that is perfect for guitarists and is suitable ... more
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Vintage Gibson Style F Hole Mandolin & Case

Vintage Gibson Style F Hole Mandolin & Case

Healdsburg, California, 954**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$195

This is Vintage Gibson Style F Hole Mandolin & Case??Yes I know it is NOT a Gibson, it just resembles some of the styling aspects of some Gibsons??It has a straight neck and does play well??It also has its original case??If I had to guess I would say this is a 1960s instrument??I found no makers mark??SEE PHOTOS as it has a golf ball size indent on one side??Overall still a decent little instrument??Buyer Pays Shipping
... more
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Vintage 1980s Gibson Les Paul Chainsaw Electric Guitar Case - Blue Interior

Vintage 1980s Gibson Les Paul Chainsaw Electric Guitar Case - Blue Interior

Bergenfield, New Jersey, 076**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$200

Vintage 1980s Gibson Les Paul Chainsaw Electric Guitar Case - Blue Interior
For your consideration is a USED Vintage 1980s Gibson Les Paul Chainsaw Electric Guitar Case - Blue Interior
We will ship outside the U S.A via eBay's International shipping. If Ebay ships to your country, then you are welcome to bid on our items!
A Division of O. DiBella Music, Inc. - Est. 1910
456 South Washington Ave
Bergenfield, NJ 07621
TERMS & CONDITIONS
By placing a bid for this item, you... more
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1969 Gibson ES-335 - Cherry Red

1969 Gibson ES-335 - Cherry Red

Morgantown, Pennsylvania, 195**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9499

1969 Gibson ES-335 - Cherry Red


Very fine example of a vintage ES-335 with the classic deep cherry finish with excellent wood grain throughout


Weight is 8 3 lbs


Please contact me prior to purchase to ensure and questions are answered. This guitar is also listed at pointguitars com and may be pulled from Reverb if it sells there. International shipping available

Overall, the condition is very good. This guitar is quite clean. ... more
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1954 Gibson SJ-200

1954 Gibson SJ-200

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

$15995

1954 Gibson SJ-200 N, Legendary Jumbo acoustic with floral pickguard, Spruce top with Gorgeous flamed Maple back and sides, Gold kluson tuners, White label, mustache bridge with inlays, A couple of small Pro hairline repairs on top perfectly sealed, Recent neck reset, Big warm sounding flattop, VG++, Original Brown hard case1954 Gibson SJ-200 N, Legendary Jumbo acoustic with floral pickguard, Spruce top with Gorgeous flamed Maple back and sides, Couple of minor hairlines on top but overall ... more
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1959 GIBSON LG-0 Acoustic Guitar Good Vintage Player Condition + Hardshell Case

1959 GIBSON LG-0 Acoustic Guitar Good Vintage Player Condition + Hardshell Case

Buffalo, New York, 142**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1300

1959 GIBSON LG-0 ACOUSTIC GUITAR Good Vintage Condition
Has the usual nicks, scuffs, and scratches you find on 60-year-old guitars, but no bad cracks, splits, repairs, etc. Neck is straight providing excellent action. Bridge is original rosewood. This bridge shows some minor pulling up of the bridge at the base (possibly due to a slight bowing of the top?) but it appears stable.
The guitar remains fully functional and sounds pretty good, but the appearance could be improved. There's a ... more
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Gibson LesPaul Junior Guitar (SG) 1960s

Gibson LesPaul Junior Guitar (SG) 1960s

Freeport, Illinois, 610**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$700

Gibson Les Paul Junior solid bodied guitar manufactured from 1960s to 1970s. I purchased it about 30 years ago to refinish and didn't get it done. It is mising some parts but one of the pictures shows you what I have. The person I purchased it from gave me this number 239668110830. Not sure what it is.
The item is solid and would be a great item if someone puts it together. Asking price is a little over what I paid for it years ago. If completed it would definitely bring a modest ... more
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Gibson "RD Series-ELECTRONIC INNOVATION " -1977 Brochure-8 pgs-5 models-Mint &RARE

Gibson "RD Series-ELECTRONIC INNOVATION " -1977 Brochure-8 pgs-5 models-Mint &RARE

Fairport, New York, 144**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$75


This is the original Gibson 1977 BrochureGibson "RD SERIES-ELECTRONIC INNOVATION " 8 page Brochure - 7 " high x 10 " wide - of all 5 models in RD Series-RD Artist-RD Custom-RD Standard-RD Artist Bass-RD Standard BassFeatures Info, Pictures, & Specs
Please see my other listings for RD Owners Manuals & Schematics
Enlarge the pictures for greater detail
All the items I list are from my personal collection. Over the years I've acquired many music related pieces. The time has ... more
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1923 Vintage Gibson TB Banjo - Expertly Refurbished

1923 Vintage Gibson TB Banjo - Expertly Refurbished

Hemet, California, 925**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1100

For sale is a * 1923 Gibson TB Banjo * that has been lovingly and expertly refurbished to restore its former glory! This vintage gem has undergone a complete transformation, making it a fantastic player-grade instrument or a unique addition to any collection.

*Restoration Details: *
- * Hardware: *Replaced broken hardware with high-quality replacements
- * Paint: * Stripped and refinished to match the original aesthetic
- * Drum Head: * New high-quality drum head installed ... more
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Vintage! 1966 Gibson ES-125 TC Hollowbody Electric Guitar Faded Sunburst + Case

Vintage! 1966 Gibson ES-125 TC Hollowbody Electric Guitar Faded Sunburst + Case

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

$2995



Vintage! 1966 Gibson ES-125 TC Hollowbody Electric Guitar Faded Sunburst + Case

Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1966 Gibson ES-125 TC Hollowbody Electric Guitar with a Faded Sunburst Finish! The ES-125 TC was launched in 1960 as "a new Florentine cutaway style guitar" at a price of $189 50. The Florentine cutaway "enables the guitarist to play the higher frets with greater ease and speed " . It was produced alongside it's Epiphone ... more
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VINTAGE 1970S GIBSON SB 450 BASS GUITAR PICKUP

VINTAGE 1970'S GIBSON SB 450 BASS GUITAR PICKUP

Richmond, Virginia, 232**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$499

Vintage Gibson 1970's SB 450 Bass guitar pickup. Pickup is in good condition over all showing a little wear from over the years but nothing all that serious. Pickup read 6 02 and works as it should. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at anytime. Please continue to follow my listings for more vintage guitar parts and accessories to be listed in the following weeks. Thanks
... more
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Vintage 1960s Gibson B-25 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar w /  Hard Case

Vintage 1960s Gibson B-25 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar w / Hard Case

Hicksville, New York, 118**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3500

Vintage 1960s Gibson B-25 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar w / Hard Case
Hey there! You are looking at a Vintage 1960s Gibson B-25 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar w / Hard Case! This is truly a remarkable guitar! The tone is super rich, the guitar feels fantastic, it's light, and not to mention the sound this beauty produces is magnificent. This Gibson B-25 was manufactured some time in the 1960s. This is one of the best vintage Gibson acoustics I have ever played and I absolutely loved using it! These ... more
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1979 Gibson K M. Les Paul - 100% Original - Crazy Clean! - Custom Plaque

1979 Gibson K M. Les Paul - 100% Original - Crazy Clean! - Custom Plaque

Dayton, Ohio, 454**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

For your consideration is this 1979 Gibson K M. Les Paul in a Sunburst finish. Overall the guitar is in very good shape with only light to moderate play wear. 100% Original! Custom made plaque. Crazy Clean Guitar! The original pickups deliver excellent sound across all playing styles, truly capturing the iconic tones of your favorite players. Playability is excellent with low action & no fret wear. Light buckle rash on back
Comes with the original case and candy as shown. (232 ... more
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Gibson LAB Series L6 Guitar Amplifier model 331A 15" Bass Combo Amp 331 A

Gibson LAB Series L6 Guitar Amplifier model 331A 15" Bass Combo Amp 331 A

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

$400

... more
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Find more vintage Gibson guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 7 comments on this article so far. Add your comment

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How many legs does a duck have?
orangecrush Comment left 7th January 2017 05:05:37 reply
Do you have more info on the Gibson Corvus
buck rowley Comment left 22nd November 2016 08:08:45 reply
how many models pre 1970 had three pick-ups?
vintage guitar and bass Comment left 5th January 2017 23:11:47 reply
There was the ES-5 Switchmaster, Les Paul Custom, SG Custom and Firebird III and Firebird VII
vintage guitar and bass Comment left 6th January 2017 09:09:14 reply
Not forgetting the three-pickup SG-style Melody Maker of the late '60s
Jamie Moore Comment left 10th February 2014 17:05:32 reply
This is great BUT no mention of Gibson Howard Roberts Custom. Would you have any info about how much one is worth or where to find out how much it's worth? Single pick-up, oval sound hole, great condition circa 1975 with Gibson hard shell case. Can you help??
Lio Comment left 8th November 2013 21:09:16 reply
I have a old Gibson L 3. The lable inside is not very clear but I think it has patented Feb 1st March 30, '06 also number 535/??. It was made in Kalamasoo Mich. The body is in perfect condition with all original parts. The turtle hand guard is so brittle and falling apart is the only part that is not good. The rest of the guitar has no scratch or wear. It has its original hard case in great condition. Just wondering about the price. I want to sell it. This was a gift I received from my late father-in-law. five years ago. I certainly need the money so I am trying to sell it. I will greatly appreciate your help. Thanks.
joe chaisson Comment left 3rd March 2012 21:09:59 reply
i have a 1980 les paul gold top standard and i would like to know what it would be worth?

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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

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

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)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

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

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

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

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

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.