From chuck berry to jack white, electric guitar has been the backbone of rock and roll for decades. Gibson folklore has also claimed its guitars were made by seasoned craftsmen who were too old for war. Gibson and slash are proud to present the new slash collection of signature guitars. Gibson now produces what many consider the worlds foremost guitars, especially reissues of the les paul model first manufactured in 1952. This model features an ink stamped serial number with no. While the archtop remains quintessential to spanish style players, dance bands, swing orchestras and western outfits, the decade gives way to flattop acoustic guitars and other manufacturers were already making waves in the new market.
The slotted classical headstock has the gibson script logo decal also added in 1964. The 1966 gibson catalogue was the most lavish produced to date, and for many years afterwards. Not a lot of people are fans of guitars from the norlinera, which lasted from 1974 to 1986. The original collection the modern collection the artist collection gibson custom. Sep 23, 2016 early gibson solidbody electrics received a serial stamp on the back of the headstock, with the first number indicating the year of production. The guitar 100 % original nickel parts wide neck like the early 1965 guitars. The most collectible gibson archtops are the larger models made from the early 1930s to 1959. Product registration customer service repair and restoration report counterfeits serial number faq gibson guitar specs 20152019 dealer resource center locate a. Gibson serial numbers 1975present this article is designed to assist in dating andor identifying instruments manufactured or distributed by gibson guitar corp. Brief epiphone history epiphone acoustics gibson brands. Only 249 guitars were made of this model, hence the high price. Feb 05, 2015 this is yet another one of those unsung gibson amps of the 60s. How to date a gibson using serial numbers, fons and. This is a list of gibson brand of stringed musical instruments, mainly guitars, manufactured by gibson, alphabetically by category then alphabetically by product.
The number one source of guitar and amplifier pricing and information so you can find the price and value of your used guitars and amplifier. Gibson began making stringed instruments using the archtop design of violins as his guide. Identifying gibson instruments by serial number is tricky at best, and downright impossible in some cases. This is yet another one of those unsung gibson amps of the 60s. Unfollow gibson guitar 1965 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The series consisted of the three different models, the b45, the b25, and the b15 the blue book also lists a b20, with a run of 500 units. Epiphone granada and granada cutaway thinline electric fully hollow archtop.
List of products manufactured by gibson guitar corporation. Gibson guitarmandolin serial number decoder guitarinsite. Although he began by making both guitars and mandolins, his first and only patent was granted in 1898 for a mandolin design. In 1961, gibson started a new serial number system. Vintage guitars info gibson collecting vintage gibson guitars. Of course, many of the older guitar builders and craftsmen were still in kalamazoo, and if they werent ready to change how they built guitars, then they may not have. The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the back of the headstock with made in usa below. During the early 50s gibson went through some crucial changes on the les paul goldtop model with their hardware and electronics,their guitars had an intonation problem until the tune o matic bridges was invented by ted mcarty in 1965. Dating your guild 19521960 year approximate last serial number produced 1953 1500 1954 15002200 1955 22003000 1956 30004000 1957 40005700 1958 57008300 1959 12035 19601969 this chart displays the first and last serial numbers of guitars produced in each year from 1960 to 1969 inclusive. The best method of identifying them is to use a combination of the serial number, the factory order number and. These are several different types of gibson guitars made. The serial number on the label and the back of the headstock 288587 plus the above features date this particular guitar as being from the next year 1965. Why are gibson vintage guitars made with mahogany and rosewood. Gibson is a manufacturer of acoustic guitars, and the vintage models produced by gibson are widely sought for their tone, action, look, and durability.
Its also 100% complete along with its original soft case the case has a lot of wear. Its all original with the exception of the screw for the vibrato arm along with a red nylon washer. Details about 1965 gibson electric guitar barney kessel signature series. It had been the first to be in full colour, and contained gibson s entire product range, from highend jazz guitars, solid bodies including the newly designed firebird range and gibson s wide range of acoustic instruments. The gibson b series was a series of acoustic guitars manufactured by gibson guitar corporation between 1961 and 1979, and as a reissue to a limited degree from 1991 to 1992.
Oct 06, 2009 the old gibson ga20rvt minuteman had 3x6eu7s,2x12au7s and 2 x 6bq5 output tubes and looked like this. Working in his home woodshop, orville appropriates the carved, arched top design of the violin and applies it to mandolins and guitars. This model includes a hare krishna sticker on the back of the head and belt wear on the back. Gibson fretted instrument pickups musicians friend.
Gibsons archtop acoustic guitars prove popular on into the 1920s and 30s. Working in his home woodshop, orville appropriates the carved, arched top design of the violin and applies it to. First off, is there such a thing as a 1965 les paul, beca. Between 19421945, gibson employed women to manufacture guitars. The variety of options for electric guitars is practically endless. Early gibson solidbody electrics received a serial stamp on the back of the headstock, with the first number indicating the year of production. Rrrr indicates the guitars place in production for that year. Get the guaranteed lowest prices on gibson fretted instrument pickups instruments at musicians friend. Vintage guitars info epiphone model history collecting. In 1977, gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day at gibson usa, gibson acoustic, and the gibson custom facility in memphis, tn. Vintage fender and gibson electric guitars, basses available from perth. Gibson electric serialization 1 gibson gibson electric serializationgibson electric serialization, cont. The melody maker was introduced in 1959 and was gibson best selling guitar in the companys golden era.
The golden era returns with the original collection. So the guitar is wonderful but the orange label was torn long time ago i dont understand why im looking for an original vintage label union made. It consisted of numbers that were impressed into the wood. This is generally considered to be the most confusing out of all gibsons serial number systems used. All original parts zero repairs or modifications original paf pickups. Women produced nearly 25,000 guitars during world war ii yet gibson denied ever building instruments over this period, according to a 20 history of the company. Paying tribute to our iconic past, the original collection brings back the classic guitars that shaped sound across all generations and genres of music. Gibson guitars olivias vintage guitars vintage and fine.
It has a wide patterned rosette gruhn says was added in 1964 and black binding on the top and back. Find new and used guitars from makers like martin, taylor, gibson takamine, yamaha and more. Vintage guitars info gibson collecting vintage gibson. Cmi and norlin published gibson guitar catalogues roughly every two years. The acoustic models have been manufactured in bozeman, montana since the end of. How to date a gibson using serial numbers, fons and reverb news. Please note that most of this information relates to serial numbers used from 1975 to present. Once this is known, go directly to the section about that type listed in the blue table of contents text above, and look at the model pictures and descriptions that matches your guitar. Find the current blue book value and worth of your new and used guitars, both acoustic, electric and amplifier. In 1965 john lennon and george harrison bought 1965 casinos, which are clearly seen in photos of japan concerts last world tour, 1966.
This model sat in the middle portion of the gibson amp lineup with a volume control, reverb, and tremolo both footswitchable, a. Gibson invented the archtop guitar as we know it and has remained one of the better makers. Either fullline catalogues containing the entire product range, smaller segmentspecific brochures just covering a part of the range, or modelspecific singesheet flyers. The discontinued epiphone slash les paul made has a standard. In 1974, norlin music instruments acquired gibson and changes were made to their entire product line. When the nashville gibson plant was opened in 1974, it was decided that the bulk of the production of products would be run in the south. Blue book of electric guitars sixth edition gibson japan. Gibson vintage acoustic guitars are coveted for their structural integrity and warm sound. If you are a guitar collector, this would be a great addition to your collection. Starting in 1961, gibson implemented a new serialization system designed to cover its entire lineup. Our product inventory is available as high definition pdf files for download for. John lennon used the epiphone casino as his main instrument during the remainder of his time with the beatles. Missing orange label union made gibson es gibson brands. Gibson vintage guitars have their roots in kalamazoo, michigan where, in 1894, an eccentric, selftaught luthier named orville h.
Deurloo, who started at gibson sanding guitar rims in the fall of 1958, said gibson officially began production at its nashville plant as a way to diversify its production model amid declining. There is also a fairly large gibson section, but it by no means contains all instruments produced under that brand at the time. The advance 17 or wider models from late 1934 onward are of the same construction used in todays archtops. This model sat in the middle portion of the gibson amp lineup with a volume control, reverb, and tremolo both footswitchable, a 10. This gibson les paul custom was the th guitar made by gibson in 1963. Inspired by slash, built by gibson, and now, played by you. The ones from the early 1960s have that fantastic neck shape, and are super lightweight honduras mahogany. Used by the pioneers of rock and roll, es models have a classic tone and vibe that cannot be beat. Aug 24, 2010 in 1960, gibson put in another big building at the north end of the gibson plant and moved all of their epiphone people out of the start up facility into it the official address was bush street. The onepiece mahogany neck was replaced with a threepiece maple neck. A timeline of important events 1894 the earliest documented instrument is made by orville gibson, a restaurant clerk in kalamazoo, mi. For more details on gibson serialization prior to 1975 and historical product specs, use your gruhns guide or view the following pdf files. One of the most significant dates in gibson epiphone history, however, is 1965.