1983 Gibson 'American-made. World-played' Catalog, Page 7: Les Paul Series >> Vintage Guitar and Bass
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GIBSON | CATALOGS | 1983 | PAGE 7

Gibson Les Paul Series

1983 Gibson 'American-made. World-played' catalog, page 7

Gibson 1983 guitar and bass catalog. Introduction to the Les Paul range of guitars. Pictured is the Les Paul Standard.

1983 "Gibson American-made. World-played" catalog, page 7: Gibson Les Paul Series
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1993 Gibson Les Paul Studio - Vintage Sunburst w /  Hard Case

1993 Gibson Les Paul Studio - Vintage Sunburst w / Hard Case

Carlsbad, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1499

Maker: Gibson
Model: Les Paul Studio Lite
Condition: Very good
Description:
Here for your consideration we have a 1993 Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite in a beautiful Vintage Sunburst finish! Looking for a Les Paul that won't break the bank, or your back? look no further! Although over 30 years old this one remains in very good condition. The body shows some light surface marks / scratches but no other notable damage. Neck has an area of discoloration behind the 11th fret. ... more
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1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - Wine Red

1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - Wine Red

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

$4299

This 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe is in very good condition for a nearly 50 year old guitar. The guitar appears in all original condition, except for the jack plate which has been replaced. The original broken jack plate is included. It also does not include its original case and comes with a fairly new Gator hardshell case
The guitar plays wonderfully with low, fast action. The original frets have plenty of life left in them. The mini-humbuckers have that classic tone expected from a Les... more
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Vintage 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black with Chrome Hardware + Protector Case

Vintage 1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black with Chrome Hardware + Protector Case

Miami, Florida, 331**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5495

This is a good solid guitar, but it's not a closet queen. There are no cracks, but there are lots of nicks, dings, dents and scratches. There's significant belt buckle wear and some worming. I can't get all of the buckle wear to show in pictures, but it's there. All of this is normal for a guitar this age. Still a great looking guitar. The guitar is all original, except for maybe the nut. I'm not sure. Frets and fingerboard are in good shape with normal wear. Nothing terrible. No deep ... more
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1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special

1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special

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

$16900

1957 Gibson Les Paul TV Special, TV Yellow with P-90 pickups! Great full feeling neck, Nice player with an excellent feel, Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz, has some playwear but is a solid guitar with no repairs! Perfect electronics, Very cool and sought after, VG+, Original soft case... more
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Vintage Gibson 1979 Les Paul Electric Guitar Pot

Vintage Gibson 1979 Les Paul Electric Guitar Pot

Fort Mill, South Carolina, 297**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$75

Up for sale is a vintage Gibson 1979 Les Paul pot. Pot shows very little wear, shaft rotates and pot works as it should. Pot reads 104 9 on the meter. Any questions feel free to message me. Thanks
... more
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1984 Gibson Les Paul Custom Kahler - Wine Red

1984 Gibson Les Paul Custom Kahler - Wine Red

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

$4499

This Custom has been professionally set up and plays fast and smooth up and down the neck

Weight is 11 0 lbs. All original with no mods


Overall, the condition is very good. The frets, fretboard, and neck show minimal signs of wear. The body is in impressive condition with light play wear throughout. There is a small mark in the center of the body toward the lower strap button. Some arm wear along the bass side of the body. Pick marks on the pickguard. Light ... more
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1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite ultra rare 1-off  Black Thin Bodied & "Lefty" !

1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite ultra rare 1-off Black Thin Bodied & "Lefty" !

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

$5995

This is a very cool & early production 1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom Lite w / a thinner body depth for a lighter guitar. Its black finish all over looks like a normal Custom from the front but it actually is 1 of the 1st of its type w / a thin body (w / o a contour body on the back like later models) to save weight. Its block inlaid ebony fingerboard has perfect original frets & nice Gold hardware all over. Loaded w / factory installed Tim Shaw Humbucking pickups w / its Pot Codes dating ... more
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Gibson Wildwood Spec 1957 Les Paul Custom 2023 Electric Guitar

Gibson Wildwood Spec 1957 Les Paul Custom 2023 Electric Guitar

Edmond, Oklahoma, 730**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5500

from wildwood guitars:

Les Paul Customs are the sort of guitars that strike fear into the hearts of men. They’re refined beasts, sure, but beneath that sophisticated veneer they’re all rock and roll muscle. Needless to say, we’re all huge Custom fans here at Wildwood, so we jumped at the chance to add one to the Wildwood Spec family! After many nerdy phone conversations about things like getting the color of the binding juuuuuuust right and countless hours of toil from ... more
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1963 Gibson Les Paul SG Standard

1963 Gibson Les Paul SG Standard

Tryon, North Carolina, 287**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$30000

Local pickup only. Will not ship. Please contact me beforehand to discuss payment options and pickup arrangements.

1963 Gibson SG Standard Les Paul:

This is an excellent example of a 1963 SG Standard. It is by far one of the most pristine out there. This was one of the last ones to have ??Les Paul?? on the truss rod cover, before being named the ??SG??.

One original owner. It was sold to me in 2023. The previous owner got it during high school, in the early ... more
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Classic 1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Series Standard 80 - Made in the USA

Classic 1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Series Standard 80 - Made in the USA

Pompano Beach, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5257

1981 Gibson Les Paul Model
Heritage Series
Standard 80
Made in the USA
Serial Number: 81601710
0122
Comes in a DELUXE Leather Soft Case
$$ Professionally setup for optimal tone and playability by Lay's Guitar Shop in Akron, Ohio (Including Fret Work, Intonation, Truss Rod, Buffed Fingerboard and Set the Action) who also repaired the back of the headstock
Truly Stage or Studio Ready!


Here is a golden treasure that is sure to give you more than a ... more
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1985 Gibson Les Paul Studio Standard Cherry Sunburst w /  Hardcase

1985 Gibson Les Paul Studio Standard Cherry Sunburst w / Hardcase

Carlsbad, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2699

Maker: Gibson
Model: 1985 Les Paul Studio Standard
Condition: Good / Vintage
Description:
Here we have a 1985 Gibson Les Paul Studio Standard in good condition. A really cool version of a Les Paul that has a slightly thinner body and dot inlays instead of the trapezoid inlays you typically see. This one has seen a fair amount of use in its life but remains is solid condition. The body has a fair amount of surface marks on the front and there is a decent amount ... more
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Gibson Les Paul Costom 1979 Black Beauty, all original, one owner. Nice shape.

Gibson Les Paul Costom 1979 Black Beauty, all original, one owner. Nice shape.

Snellville, Georgia, 300**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7900

Gibson Les Paul Costom 1979 Black Beauty, all original, one owner. Nice shape. . Condition is Used. Local pickup only.... more
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gibson murphy lab 1959 les paul 2024 Lightly Aged With Case And Paperwork

gibson murphy lab 1959 les paul 2024 Lightly Aged With Case And Paperwork

Washington, New Jersey, 078**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6295

gibson murphy lab 1959 les paul 2024 Lightly Aged With Case And Paperwork killer color looks real 8lbs 7 oz light and rocks big neck why pay 7995 plus tax for a new one
... more
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1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe cool Tobacco Sunburst from its 1st & only owner.

1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe cool Tobacco Sunburst from its 1st & only owner.

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

$4995

This is a very cool all original 1 owner 1973 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe made in this beautiful Tobacco Sunburst finish. It is clean overall & has a powerful set of Mini Humbuckers that kick ass for sure. Its got a nice feeling mahogany neck. Its Kluson tuners replaced w / Schallers. Its tun-a-matic bridge work really well. This is a very cool 52 year old Les Paul owned by Mr. Bob Stange from new. He replaced the inside pots & wiring w / a modern harness & kept its original stuff inside ... more
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Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Faded - Vintage Cherry Sunburst with Hardshell Case

Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Faded - Vintage Cherry Sunburst with Hardshell Case

Rapid City, South Dakota, 577**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2070

... more
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1991 Gibson Les Paul 40th Anniversary Edition Reverb Guitar

1991 Gibson Les Paul 40th Anniversary Edition Reverb Guitar

De Soto, Missouri, 630**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

This 1991 Gibson Les Paul 40th Anniversary Edition Reverb Guitar is a must-have for any serious musician. With its solid body type and 6 string configuration, this guitar is built to last and provide superior sound quality. The brand name Gibson and the series Gibson Les Paul speak for themselves in terms of reputation and excellence.
This vintage guitar is perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of history to their collection. Its beautiful design and exceptional sound make it a great ... more
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1960s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop or Custom Guitar Case w / Yellow Interior 1968-1969

1960's Gibson Les Paul Goldtop or Custom Guitar Case w / Yellow Interior 1968-1969

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

$1095

This listing is for a Vintage late 1960's Gibson Les Paul Case. This Gibson Logo case has a black exterior with a yellow-orange interior and is period correct for a Les Paul Goldtop (Standard or Deluxe) or Black Les Paul Custom made between 1968 and 1969. By 1970 Gibson had pretty much switched to the purple interior cases.
The case is fully functional and in good overall shape for its age but does shows a lot of wear such as nicks, dings and scratches and some frayed tolex around the edges.... more
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Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar 1980

Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar 1980

Berkeley, California, 947**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4165

1980 Gibston Les Paul Custom , good condition... more
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Gibson 1973 Cherry Burst Les Paul Deluxe Body & Neck

Gibson 1973 Cherry Burst Les Paul Deluxe Body & Neck

Glassboro, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2200

Gibson DependableHome of the most First and most Dependable Gibson parts on Ebay
U S.A. and Worldwide Bidders Welcomed
How many of you guitar enthusiast out there have always wanted to build yourselves that awesome project guitar, but didn??t want to spend the money on a full guitar only to dismantle it. Well, here is your opportunity do so. We sell high end name brand parts and project guitars specifically for the purpose of building your own custom one off guitar
Description: Gibson ... more
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Vintage! 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Cherry Sunburst + OHSC

Vintage! 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Cherry Sunburst + OHSC

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

$4695



Vintage! 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Cherry Sunburst + OHSC

Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar with a Cherry Sunburst Finish! This guitar has the tone and playability you would expect from a Les Paul Custom. Plugged in, this axe has some really nice meaty growls and great vintage overtones! Really shimmery highs that don??t get harsh. It plays great, has a comfy neck and a quick ... more
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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