Vintage Guitars
I'm happy with this
This website uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse traffic. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. See terms and conditions
GIBSON | CATALOGS | 1970 SOLID BODY | PAGE 4

Gibson SG Special

1970 Gibson electric solid bodies catalog page 4

Gibson Electric Solid Bodies 1970 Electric Solid Bodies catalogue. Page 4, details of the Gibson SG Special. Like the other SG models in this catalogue, the Special has the larger 'full body' style scratchplate - compare this guitar with the previous SG special catalogue appearance from 1966.

This is the 'Pete Townsend model' - used extensively in 1969/70, including at their iconic Woodstock performance.

The SG was selling very well at this time. Like the SG Standard, 1970 was the SG Special's peak year, selling approximately double the volume of 1969, and four times that of 1968. Again, like the SG Standard, the model was inexplicably deleted at it's peak, to be (admittedly briefly) replaced by the SG Pro in 1971. Gibson quickly realised their mistake, and a version of the SG Special, with a scratchplate more akin to the 1960s models replaced the SG Pro in the 1973 Solid body brochure.

Outstanding for it's tone, versatility and moderate price. The ultra thin, contoured body is available in two finishes: Natural Walnut, or Gibson Cherry Red

The US zone 1 price for the SG Special was $295 in March 1970, rising to $325 in September 1970.

1970 Gibson solid body catalog, page 4: Gibson SG Special
Got an opinion on the contents of this page? Disagree with something written above? Please comment

2025 Vintage Guitar price guide 2025 Vintage Guitar price guide

Need the value of your guitar? The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide 2025 is out now: Amazon


Gibson SG Special for sale

Vintageguitarandbass.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.
GIBSON SG SPECIAL - 1966

GIBSON SG SPECIAL - 1966

Gunnison, Colorado, 812**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$10499

This vintage Gibson SG Special from 1966 is a true gem for collectors and musicians alike. Made in the United States, this guitar features a solid body and 6 strings for a classic sound. The iconic Gibson brand and SG series are well-known for their quality and craftsmanship. The model is SG Special, with a unique history and story behind it. Its exact year of production is clearly marked, adding to its value as a vintage instrument. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, this ... more
eBay logo
Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special White w Original Case

Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special White w Original Case

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6995

Vintage original 1965 Gibson SG Special in killer White finish
Guitar plays fantastic. Features the early, desirable wide nut and neck plays great with a nice feel. Action is nice and low and neck is nice and straight. Frets in generally excellent condition
Original P-90 pickups are warm and strong and punchy. Screaming with distortion. Has that classic vintage '60s tone a la The Who "Live at Leeds "
No cracks, no breaks no issues. The finish appears to have had some ... more
eBay logo
1972 Gibson SG Special In Cherry Red Finish w / HSC

1972 Gibson SG Special In Cherry Red Finish w / HSC

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

$2195

1972 Gibson SG Special In Cherry Red Finish w / HSC
This Guitar Is Located At Imperial Vintage Guitars Orange
In Fair Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Professionally Repaired And Touched Up Headstock Crack
Enlarged Strap Button Hole
Non-Original Tuners Previously Installed, Originals Mostly Returned
B-String Replaced With Period Correct Gibson Tuner
Non-Original Bridge
Pots Dated 1976
Two Small Holes Near Bridge Indicate Previously Installed Synth ... more
eBay logo
Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special

Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special

Boston, Massachusetts, 021**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5900

Original 1965 Gibson Sg Special w Vibrola. Potentiometer code is 1376552 (52nd week of 1965), width of nut is 1 5 / 8 in. Everthing??s in a real excellent condition. Comes with original hard case in excellent condition too. Message me if you have any questions!
... more
eBay logo
1962 Gibson SG Special in Polaris White hot original beat sweet & what a treat !

1962 Gibson SG Special in Polaris White hot original beat sweet & what a treat !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8495

This is a very cool 1962 Gibson SG Special in the beautiful beat sweet Polaris White finish. Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan and originally intended as a student guitar, the 1962 Les Paul Special has since become a rock and roll classic. This has a flat 1 piece mahogany neck that is 1 & 11 / 16?? wide at the nut. It is in very good shape overall w / a ton of patina & has a powerful pair of ??Lollar?? P-90??s that kick ass for sure. It??s equipped w / a set of original 3-on-a-side Kluson ... more
eBay logo
1967 Gibson SG Special Alpine White with OHSC

1967 Gibson SG Special Alpine White with OHSC

Birmingham, Alabama, 352**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8100

This is a 1967 Gibson SG Special in Alpine White
Ok, the bad stuff first. It has had Grover tuners installed. It is missing a fretboard marker which is an easy fix, I just can't find another marker that I'm happy with the look of. The original lightning bolt bridge is long gone and has been replaced with a Music City Bridge which is as good as it gets. The studs are the Music City locking studs also, although the original studs are included
The good . All electronics are 100% original ... more
eBay logo
1969 Gibson SG Special, OHSC, Made in USA

1969 Gibson SG Special, OHSC, Made in USA

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 549**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

1969 Gibson SG Special. All original??body, finish, tuners, electronics, knobs, vibrato and bar, bridge, P90??s, etc. Pots date back to ??69. All original soldering. Dates for two of the pots are visible in the photos??other two pot dates are obscured by solder joints. There was a break (not uncommon in SG??s) where the neck joins the body??happened in shipping when I purchased the guitar. It was professionally repaired. The break and repair process was basically the same as shown in the ... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Special 1985 w /  Gibson Hard Case

Gibson SG Special 1985 w / Gibson Hard Case

Huntington, Indiana, 467**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500

For sale is a Gibson SG Special 1985 w / Gibson Hard Case in Very Good Condition!
This is a super cool oldie but goodie! The guitar has been fully gone over and has a clean bill of health! Just cleaned & restrung!
The SG did have a clean headstock break which has been professionally repaired which is why the headstock to neck is blacked out. The luthier did an incredible job though and is 100% structurally sound!
Sold as pictured / described
Case: Hard
Scale Length: 24 ... more
eBay logo
Gibson 1965 SG Special Polaris White All Original With Orig Case 100% Positive

Gibson 1965 SG Special Polaris White All Original With Orig Case 100% Positive

Debary, Florida, 327**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7495

This all original 1965 Gibson SG Special Polaris White has no fretware, original felt lined case and is in excellent condition. Electronics all original and working properly. Sounds amazing and plays brilliantly. Please inquire and thank you for looking.... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Special 1972 - Cherry Red

Gibson SG Special 1972 - Cherry Red

Mission, Texas, 785**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3500

Early 1972 Gibson SG Special in Cherry Red. Made in USA. The cherry red has faded to a dark walnut color. However, there is still evidence of the cherry red underneath the pickguard, pickup mounting rings, and the back of the body and neck is slightly more red than the front. This is a rarer, early model that has dot inlays for fret markers, including on the 1st fret. Straight Honduran Mahogany set-neck, low action, Indian Rosewood fretboard, and the truss rod works smoothly. 1 9 / 16" nut ... more
eBay logo
1972 Gibson SG Special Vintage Guitar Walnut w /  Mini Humbuckers

1972 Gibson SG Special Vintage Guitar Walnut w / Mini Humbuckers

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

$2800

Up for sale, a 1972 Gibson SG Special in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. This SG Special is an uncommon iteration of the model, notable for its pair of Pat. # mini humbuckers (instead of the P-90s more commonly seen with the model, on earlier and later versions)
The mahogany body and three-piece mahogany neck deliver plenty of natural warmth and rich midrange cut, and this SG is featherweight at 6lbs 7oz. The pair of Pat. # mini humbuckers ... more
eBay logo
1972 Gibson SG Pro Vintage Guitar Walnut w /  Bigsby & P-90s, Special

1972 Gibson SG Pro Vintage Guitar Walnut w / Bigsby & P-90s, Special

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

$3800

Up for sale, a 1972 Gibson SG Pro in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original case. This uncommon SG iteration was only produced in 1971 and ?72, introduced as part of Gibson??s early ?70s SG lineup overhaul and temporarily replacing the SG Special. Essentially a P-90 equipped version of the SG Deluxe, this SG Pro is the more desirable iteration produced near the end of the short production run, with traditional (rear-mounted) pots, eschewing the earlier large... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson SG Special Cherry Red Guitar w /  Maestro Vibrola #56359

1966 Gibson SG Special Cherry Red Guitar w / Maestro Vibrola #56359

Glendale, California, 912**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5995

ebay template
eBay Template Design by OCDesignsOnline HomeAboutTestimonialsPoliciesContactSell your Gear 1966 Gibson SG Special Cherry Red Guitar w / Maestro Vibrola #56359 ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Item DescriptionWORKING CONDITION: Very Good- Real easy player that we are selling on behalf of a lifelong pro session ... more
eBay logo
1984 Gibson SG Special quite a rare axe w / a set of killer Tim Shaw pickups.

1984 Gibson SG Special quite a rare axe w / a set of killer Tim Shaw pickups.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6995

This is a pretty cool 1984 Gibson SG Special guitar that boasts a unusual striking 2-tone Sunburst finish on a lightweight mahogany body that resonates with rich, authentic tones. The mahogany neck has a dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard w / an incredibly smooth feel. Equipped w / a pair of factory installed Gibson ??Tim Shaw?? Humbuckers delivering that unmistakable vintage punch we all expect from them. Also equipped w / its stock TP-6 stop bar w / adjustable bridge saddles. She??s excellent ... more
eBay logo
1962 Gibson SG Special Vintage Guitar Cherry w /  Case

1962 Gibson SG Special Vintage Guitar Cherry w / Case

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

$9500

Up for sale, a 1962 Gibson SG Special in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with original hardshell case. With the original Maestro Vibrola in the case, this SG is currently outfitted with a MojoAxe tailpiece (intonated for a plain G) and locking tailpiece studs for maximal sustain and resonance
Featuring solid Honduran mahogany construction with a dark rosewood slab fretboard, this SG is acoustically lively and detailed, featherweight at 6lbs 15oz and balancing well ... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Special Vintage 1972 - Original

Gibson SG Special Vintage 1972 - Original

Holderbank AG, 5***, SWITZERLAND

$3633

I am the 3rd. owner of the vintage 1972 Gibson SG Special, this guitar is very light, the neck is straight- it has good intonation, nice "slinkey" action, (with 46-009 ) strings. the pick ups are original mini humbuckers- no P-90's- all controlls and wiring are original it has a new tuneamatic bridge, and new tail piece, but I have the original "harmonica" Gibson bridge and tail piece. that are pitted- but still funcitional- turners are older self locking grovers. the action is low, it does ... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Special with Vibrato and with Hardcase 1969 USA Pre-Owned

Gibson SG Special with Vibrato and with Hardcase 1969 USA Pre-Owned

Knaresborough, HG5***, UNITED KINGDOM

£6499

Gibson SG Special with Vibrato and with Hardcase 1969 USA Pre-Owned Pre-Owned condition rating - 2 / 3 This item has been owned since 1969 by only one guitarist. This guitarist never really gigged and rarely took it out of the house, hence it being in fantastic condition for its age. No prominent marks, just some slight hairline scratching and a little bit of belt rash Plays and sounds great.
Service, restrung and action reset on arrival into store ... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Special 1966 - Cherry

Gibson SG Special 1966 - Cherry

Doncaster, DN6***, UNITED KINGDOM

£7599

FINESTSELECTIONSHIPPINGSPECIALISTS24 HourSupportLondon Vintage Guitars are please to offer:Gibson SG Special 1966 - CherryTHE SPECIAL
The following is this twin loaded P90 SG Special with the desired single side guard, details as follows:
Gibson SG Special 
1966 
Cherry 
Twin P90s 
Vibrola 
Internally / Externally Original  except 2 added Machine Head Screws 
Condition 8 / 10 ( Light , Normal Playing wear ) 
 
Comments ... more
eBay logo
1961 Gibson Reverberation brochure announcing the SG Special and SG Custom

1961 Gibson Reverberation brochure announcing the SG Special and SG Custom

Milton Keynes, MK6***, UNITED KINGDOM

£157

This is a super rare piece of Gibson SG memorabilia. This is the original 1961 leaflet (4-sides) put out to announce the Gibson GA-79RV amp, Florentine cutaway Byrdland, SG Custom and SG Standard. Has some water marks and pencil writing on the front
Very rare item in good used condition - see pics... more
eBay logo
1972 Gibson - SG Special - ID 4759

1972 Gibson - SG Special - ID 4759

Emmering, 82***, GERMANY

€3054

A Rare Bird
Zustand: Gut
SerNr: 774649
Gewicht: 3 kg Versandklasse: Standard
Koffer / Case: ja, nicht original
Sonstiges: Gurt
Vermittlungsverkauf: 11419
Die Norlin Ära Gibson SG Special war mit der damaligen SG Standard beinahe identisch. Statt mit für die Standard-Modelle üblichen Humbuckern wurden die Specials mit Mini-Humbucker ausgestattet, welche Gibson mit der Übernahme von Epiphone erhalten hat. Die Dot-Inlays der frühen Modelle wurden bald durch Block Inlays ... more
eBay logo

Find more Gibson SG Special for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 0 comments on this page so far. Add your comment

Comment on this article

Anti-spam question - to catch web robots

Contact
info@vintageguitarandbass.com

mailing list

Follow

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube

Other Great Sites

Recent posts on vintage guitar and bass

1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

1973 Shaftesbury 3400

1973 Shaftesbury 3400 This example of the Shaftesbury 3400 was produced by Japanese manufacturer Matsumoku who made some great quality guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a slightly later example, and has some features not seen on earlier 3400s. Although nice guitars, these are not in the same league as the Gibson Les Paul it was emulating (no set neck, no carved maple top); but they are far better than many of the entry-level Les Paul copies available in the mid-1970s - for example the Shaftesbury 3400 has gold plated hardware, a solid body bound front and back, Maxon brand humbuckers and nice inlaid neck and headstock.

1971 Epiphone 1802T

1971 Epiphone 1802T The Epiphone 1802T was the early name given to the Epiphone ET-270 and derived from an existing Aria guitar, also the 1802T. This was the first of the 1970s Epiphone solid bodies made in Japan by Matsumoku.The model evolved somewhat over its short production run: the very earliest examples were very similar to the Aria, sharing the same body shape, hardware, and clear-coated neck with Fender-style headstock with decal logo. By the time it was designated the Epiphone ET-270 it had been upgraded with the classic Epiphone-style headstock, with nice inlaid logo, and Epiphone 'E' motifs on the truss rod cover and scratchplate. This example from 1971 is somewhere in between with the Epiphone-style headstock, but with silk-screened logo, and no 'E's.

1971 Shaftesbury 3400

1971 Shaftesbury 3400Shaftesbury was a brand distributed by Rose-Morris in the UK - generally imported guitars from Italy or Japan. This guitar, model 3400 was produced by Matsumoku in Japan, and was one of the earliest Les Paul copy guitars, debuting in the UK in 1969, although the same guitar was also sold as the Univox U1982 'Rhythm and Blues' by Merson in the USA as early as 1968. It was also available in different territories under different marques, most obviously the Aria 5522 (Japan), Jedson Jet 4444 (UK, Dallas Arbiter), with no doubt many more examples worldwide.

1981 Gibson Victory MVX

1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogScan of 1970 Epiphone guitar catalogue produced by Rosetti for the UK market. Undated but most likely from mid-late 1970, this was the first UK catalogue to show the new range of Japanese (Matsumoku) Epiphone guitars. Interestingly, these pages show the Epiphone solid bodies with a single-sided Fender-style headstock layout - a feature quickly replaced with a typical two-sided Epiphone headstock almost immediately. Epiphone electric guitars: 9520, 9525; bass guitars: 9521, 9526; acoustic guitars: 6730, 6830, 6834

A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

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 bass Rose-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 Zambesi This 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 Ace The 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 Escort The 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 Care Catalog 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 Folk The 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 guitar The 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