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Gibson J-185 Acoustic Flat Top ( 1951 - 1959 )
The Gibson j-185 is probably one of the most under promoted , underated guitar gibson ever made .
The j-185 derived from their famous gibson j-200 but was a little smaller , less expensive and not as fancy lookwise .
During the 50s the gibson j-185 and j-200 were "THE" guitars for rhythm because of their big loud volume sound .
The j-200 is by far more well known, but many guitarist until today consider the j-185 a better sounding guitar.
The feel and craftsmanship of the j-185 is very impressive and is definitely amongst the very best jumbo flat top guitars ever made by gibson .
The j-185s' body was 1 inch narrower and were 20 1/4 inches long compared to the j-200 which was 21".
Although the gibson j-185 was short lived , it has paved the way for other future flat top guitars such as the gibson everly brothers which shared the same side shape of the j-185 .
The back and sides were constructed with figured maple ( one of the most desirable tonewoods for guitars ) .
In 1951 to 59 the gibson j-185 guitars had a 16" jumbo body shape , figured maple back and sides , 2 maltese cross inlays on the bridge , rosewood fingerboard ( 19 frets ) with double parallelograms , mahogany necks , bound body and neck , kluson tuners and were made in natural or sunburst finishes . Discontinued in 1959 .
Gibson J-185 Reissue ( 1990-1995 )
In 1990 gibson reintroduced the j-185 reissue with basically the same specs with a limited run of only 100 in 1991-92 . In 1999 they introduced the j-185 EC which was an acoustic/electric guitar and was fitted with a rounded cutaway ( still in production )
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1951 - 1956 > $13 500 to $14 500
1957 - 1959 > $11 000 to $13 000
1990 - 1995 > $1 700 to $2 000 ( J-185 reissue )
1999 - 2000 > $1 700 to $1 900 ( J-185 EC )
1951 - 1959 > Avg Upward Trend Of 14% A Year Since 2000
1986 - 1999 > 6% ( Reissue )
Prices are according to 4 different vintage guitar price guides and rounded off to the nearest dollar .
Gibson J-185
Gibson L-12
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Gibson L-12 Archtop Guitar ( 1932 - 1955 )
The gibson L-12 , L-7 and the L-10 were gibson L models that were produced in the late 20s early 30s after the famous L-5 archtop acoustic guitar .
Unlike the l-5 these gibson guitars are less sought after by collectors but are still considered vintage historic and collectible quality guitars that are rare and are increasingly gaining value on the vintage market .
In 1934 the gibson company wanted to add extra volume to their l-5 arch top guitars by increasing the body width from 16 inches to 17 inches and at the same time added this feature to three other L models (L-12 , L-7 and L-10) which paved the way for their highly acclaimed gibson super 400 with an 18 inch body in 1934 .
Since then gibson created archtop acoustic guitars with such premium craftsmanship that today these guitars are amongst the most sought after guitars in the world .
The Gibson l-12 was introduced in 1932 with a 16" wide body, trapeze tailpiece , single bound body , single bound pickguard and peghead , rectangle enclosed fingerboard inlays , had gold plated hardware and were made in mahogany sunburst finishes .
In late 1934 gibson increased the body width to 17 inches wide , they had an x-braced top , fingerboard inlays were switched to double parallelograms, diamond shaped peghead inlays and were made in sunburst finishes .
In 1937 a flat tail piece with cutouts was added, in mid 1939 the gibson l-12 featured parallel top bracing and in 1941 the l-12 had crown peghead inlays, sealed tuners and tulip tuner buttons .
Very few or no l-12 guitars were made during world war 2 , full production resumed in 1946 ( post war ) and were discontinued in 1955 .
In 1947 gibson also introduced the gibson l-12 p ( premier ) which had basically the same specs but were made with a rounded cutaway ( considered higher quality model ) and were discontinued in 1950 . Less than 90 of these gibson guitars were made . ( see 2nd pic )
Very often the L-12p is compared to the super 400 or the gibson L-5 but they are not in the same caliber both historically and performance wise .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1932 - 1934 > $3 500 to $3 900 ( 16" body )
1934 - 1941 > $3 400 to $4 100 ( 17" body )
1946 - 1955 > $2 900 to $3 500 ( post war )
1947 - 1950 > $5 500 to $6 000 ( l-12 p )1932 - 1955 > Avg Upward Trend Of 8% A Year Since 2000
1947 - 1950 > 11% ( l-12 p )
Note : Prices are according to 4 different vintage guitar price guides and rounded off to the nearest dollar.
You can find lots of Gibson L Guitars For Sale at bargain prices on ebay however make sure you read descriptions carefullly before you bid or buy ..
Gibson J-45
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Gibson J-45 Guitar (1942-1984)
When guitar players think of gibson electric guitars automatically gibson les paul guitars come to mind , because it became a gibson trademark , just like fender strats and telecasters . When people think of gibson acoustic guitars its the gibson j-45 that seems to stand out .
When The gibson j-35 jumbo discontinued in late 1942 , it was replaced by the gibson j45 . There was not much difference between the 2 guitars accept for the pickguard , fancier gibson logos in gold and minor changes to the pegheads .
Both guitars sound awesome ( warm & phat tone ) however , the gibson j-45 became a huge success because they were not expensive and they sounded really good ,that explains why they are still in production 'til this day.
In 1942 the gibson j-45 were dreadnought flat top guitars , made with mahogany wood (back and sides) , they had a teardrop firestripe pickguard unlike the j-35 which had a pickguard that followed the body contours, rectangular bridge , w/b/w top and back binding, 19 fret fingerboard , fancy gibson gold logo with a banner " only a gibson is good enough " ( see 3rd pic ) ( some had no truss rods )
In 1943 they replaced the pickguard with a tortoise shell celluloid teardrop pickguard , several j-45 guitars were made also in maple wood back and sides , and some had no truss rods ,
in 1945 truss rods were implemented in all j-45 guitars .
In late 1946 the "only a gibson is good enough" banner is gone , belly bridge was added . In 1947 they made a blonde version ( natural ) and called it the gibson J-50 ( same guitar but with a different finish)
1949-50 an upper belly bridge added with a triple bound top , in 1955 a larger pickguard was added with an extra fret making it a 20 fret fingerboard .
From 1956 to 1968 the j-45 went through some minor changes such as various similar sunburst colors , slightly larger frets in 1959 and on , gibson logos were added to the pickguards in 1966 and rosewood brigdes were used on and off ,
in 1968 some j-45 guitars had white pickguards ( screwed-down) .
In 1969 the gibson j-45 guitar were made with square shoulders and black teardrop pickguards with no logo . Very minor changes were made until they were discontinued in 1982 .
In 1983 the gibson j-45 celebrity acoustic guitar was introduced for gibson's 90th anniversary ( only 90 were made )
In 1984 gibson reintroduced the original model of the j45 with round shoulders , tortoise shell teardrop pickguard , triple bound top , single bound back , unbound fingerboard ( rosewood ) with dot inlays , and were made in sunburst , natural and ebony finish .
Throughout the 90s gibson continued production on gibson j-45 guitars with different related names such as the j-45 western , j-45 yamano , j-45 custom , j-45 rosewood and the Gibson J-45 buddy holly limited edition .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1942 - 1949 > $4500 to $7500
1950 - 1960 > $3700 to $4700
1961 - 1969 > $2400 to $3500
1969 - 1974 > $1500 to $2000 ( square shoulders )
1975 - 1999 > $1500 to $2000 ( round shoulders )
1942-1949 > Avg Upward Trend of 13% a Year since 2000
1950-1960> 9% 1961-1969> 8% 1969-1975> 8% 1976-1990> 5%
Note : The gibson j45 is not a highly collectable guitar because they made them in mass quantities and they are fairly easy to find accept for the 1940s and 50s era , however it doesn't diminish the quality and craftsmanship of the guitar as a matter of fact its actually a good thing for us guitar players who want a great acoustic guitar at a reasonable price .
You can find used or vintage gibson j-45 guitars for sale on ebay at good deals on several occasions .
Gibson Es 175
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Gibson Es 175 Guitar ( 1949-1971 )
The gibson es-175 guitars were one of the most important electric archtop guitars ever to come out of kalamazoo , its an all time classic and was a true players guitar .
During the 50s the gibson es 175 was extremely popular because it was affordable ($175) , and it had that deep body , warm , distinctive woodiness sound which was found only in more expensive gibson guitars such as the johnny smith and the L-5 .
The Es-175 was introduced in 1949 , it has a single pointed cutaway , one sunk in cavity pickup in the neck position (p-90) , bound body top and back , double parallelogram fingerboard inlays and were made in natural and sunburst finishes .
In 1957 the p-90 pick ups were replaced with a humbucker pickup , es-175 guitars were Discontinued in 1971 .
Vintage Prices For 2008 :
1949 - 1951 > $4500 to $5500 ( p90 pickups)
1952 - 1956 > $4000 to $4500
1957 - 1959 > $6000 to $7000 (Humbucker)
1960 - 1964 > $4500 to $6000
1965 - 1966 > $3500 to $4000
1967 - 1969 > $4500 to $6000 ( Black )
1967 - 1971 > $2400 to $3000 ( various colors )
Avg Upward Trend Of 12% a Year since 2000
The es-175 was played by jazz guitar virtuosos like Kenny Burell , Jim Hall , Herb Ellis ,Joe Pass ,Pat Metheny , and some rock guitarists such as Steve Howe , Mark Knopfler and more .
Gibson Es 175 d ( 1952 To Present )
In 1953 gibson also introduced the es 175 but with double p-90 pickups and called it the es-175d , in 1957 the p-90 pickups were replaced with humbuckers , these guitars are still in production .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1952 - 1956 > $5500 to $7000 ( p-90 )
1957 - 1959 > $11000 to $13000 ( Humbuckers )
1960 - 1963 > $5000 to $7500
1964 - 1966 > $3900 to $5700
1967 - 1969 > $3300 to $4000 ( various colors )
1970 - 1979 > $3000 to $3500
1980 - 1999 > $2000 to $25001952 - 1967 : Avg Upward Trend Of 12% a Year since 2000
1967 - 2000 : Avg Upward Trend Of 4% a Year since 2000
Note : 60s models with PAFs can be sold for more .
Other gibson es 175 guitar models were made along the way such as the es 175 t and the es 175 cc . The es-175t was introduced in 1978 , it was the same guitar but thinline , single pointed cutaway , 2 humbuckers and were made in natural , sunburst and wine red finishes , were discontinued in 1980 . Price valued at $2400 to $2700 .
The es 175 cc had one charlie christion pickup and were made in walnut and sunburst colors
discontinued in 1979 . Price : $3000 to $3300
In 1991 , gibson also introduced the es 165 herb ellis model which is based on the es-175 ( single pickup , parallelogram inlays , hollow body , later on gibson started making the es 165 with a floating neck pickup and a volume knob on the pick guard . )
Gibson Es-175 Guitars For Sale
Used and vintage gibson es-175 guitars on ebay.
New Gibson Es-175 /165 Guitars For Sale
Info and prices on gibson es-175 reissues .
Gibson Nick Lucas
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Gibson Nick Lucas Special (1928-1938)
During the late twenties ( roaring twenties ) it was a special time and a turning point in history for gibson because they started offering acoustic flat top guitars for the first time .
It was the golden pivotal moment for american popular music with stars like bing crosby ( actor ,singer), Paul whiteman ( orchestral king of jazz ) and of course nick lucas who was exceptionally known for his melodic jazz solos (an idol for many guitar players and musicians) .
In 1926 Gibson introduced the L-0 and the L-1 acoustic flat top guitars which were crafted based on economy price ,
In 1929 gibson introduced a finer crafted flat top acoustic guitar endorsed by nick lucas and called it gibson nick lucas special which had an extra deep body and was superior to the l-1 and l-2 .
Although the gibson nick lucas guitar was probably the finest crafted guitar of its time it wasnt as succesful as the l-0 and the l-1 guitars because the depression was taking its toll .
At $125, the nick lucas guitar was not affordable by many , because of this a year later in 1929 gibson made a less expensive guitar with similar features called the gibson L-2 .
At that time the l-0 , l-1, and the l-2 guitars were better sellers but the gibson nick lucas guitar gave gibson the respect and prestige they deserved , later on during the early thirties prices were reduced to $85-$90 and sales soared .
Since then they were not only played by nick lucas but by many famous guitar players and songwriters such as bob dylan ....
In 1928 the gibson nick lucas special was 13.5" wide ,had a 4.5" deep body which was deeper than most guitars , mahogany back and sides , 2 multi-ply soundhole rings ,
they had rosewood bridges , bound rosewood fingerboards , patterned fingerboard inlays , 12 frets clear of the body , had "the gibson" silkscreen logo on headstock , round nick lucas label on the inside ( see 2nd pic ) , and were made in sunburst finishes .
Late 1928 to 1933 gibson added a fleur de lis inlay on the peghead and were 14 3/4" wide . The gibson logos were inlaid on most of them ( not silkscreened ) , they also started making nick lucas guitars with rosewood back and sides , they had 12 frets clear of the body in 1929 ,
13 frets clear of the body in 1930, optional adjustable trapeze tailpieces with adjustable bridges were available too, some nick lucas guitars were made with elevated pickguards ( see 2nd pic ), and some were made with pickguards glued to the top .
In 1934 the nick lucas guitar was 14 frets clear of the body , maple back and sides and some were made in black finishes . Officially discontinued in 1938 .
In 1991 Gibson introduced the Gibson Nick Lucas Reissue Limited Edition with maple back and sides , 14 5/8" wide , vintage sunburst finishes and were signed by ren ferguson ( only a 100 were made ) . Discontinued in 1992 and were reintroduced in 1999 with flamed maple back and sides and were discontinued in 2004.
During the 90s gibson also produced other nick lucas models such as the nick lucas elite with abalone inlays in 1999 ,'29 nick lucas special in 1998 , Nick lucas Rosewood Montana in 1993 and several others .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1928 - 1938 > $8 500 to $12 000 ( Nick Lucas special )
1991 - 1992 > $1 600 to $2 100 ( Reissue limited edition )
1999 - 1999 > $1 800 to $2 200 ( Nick Lucas Reissue )
1928-1938 Avg Upward Trend of 19% a year since 2000
1991-1992> 3% -- 1999-2004> 4%
Note : 1928-1938 prices may vary due to preferences , maple body , mahogany , rosewood , 14 fret , 13 fret , 13.5" wide body , 14 ....... etc. ( many guitar players and collectors prefer the maple back and sides from 1934 and up )
If you are looking to buy the nick lucas model you find used or vintage Gibson Nick Lucas For Sale on ebay from now and then .
Gibson Dove Guitar
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Gibson Dove Guitar ( 1962 - 1996 )
In 1962 Gibson introduced a flat top acoustic dreadnought guitar , matched maple ( back and sides ) and square shoulders and called it the gibson dove model .
The guitar had a 3 piece maple neck , 20 fret rosewood or ebony fingerboard , and an ornate dove inlaid pickguard.
During early 70s the gibson dove model became the gibson dove custom guitar which gained extreme popularity ever since Elvis Presley toured with it in 76-77 .
There is hardly no difference between a dove custom model and the so called dove guitar accept for little minor finishes , (considered the same guitar) . From 1962 to 1986 these gibson guitars were available in natural and cherry sunburst colors .
In 1987 to 93 they made them only in natural finish , and in 94 they went back to sunburst . Exceptional sound very much like the gibson hummingbird in style.
Vintage Guitar Value For 2008 :
1962 - 1964 > $5000 to $7000
1965 - 1967 > $3500 to $4500
1968 - 1970 > $3000 to $3500
1971 - 1983 > $2400 to $2700
1984 - 1996 > $1700 to $2200
Avg Upward Trend Of 18% a Year since 2000
Note : in 1985 gibson made a 90th anniversary dove model which is worth about $1500 to $1900 > Prices are according to 4 different price guides .
If you want to buy a dove guitar , you can find some gibson dove guitars for sale on ebay at bargain prices from now and then ..
Gibson Barney Kessel
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Gibson Barney Kessel Custom ( 1961-1973 )
Influenced by charlie christian , during the late 1950s barney kessell was one of the most popular jazz guitar players in america. The gibson Barney Kessel guitar was launched alongside the johnny smith guitar .
During the early 50s barney kessel played on the gibson es-350 , later on in the late 50s he endorsed 3 guitars from a company called Kay musical instrument Co.
During the same time gibson convinced barney kessel that they would match the deal he had with this company and build him a better guitar .
In late 1960 , gibson introduced a prototype guitar with a double florentine cutaway shape, very similar features of the gibson l-5 ( 17" wide ), it was cherry sunburst , laminated spruce top , laminated back and sides , and with an oversized peghead .
From this prototype in 1961 two versions of this guitar were produced , the barney kessel custom which featured fancy bow tie inlays on the fingerboard similar to their banjos , gold plated parts , maple neck ,bound f-holes , music note on peghead , and a tune o matic bridge .
The barney kessel regular ( see top pic ) had a crown inlay on the headstock , mahogany neck , unbound f-holes , parallelogram inlays on the fingerboard , kluson tuners unlike the barney kessel custom which had grover tuners , the two guitars were made in cherry sunburst finishes and were equipped with 2 humbuckers .
In 1961 the barney kessel custom was not as succesful as expected due to other quality guitars such as the gibson byrdland which listed at the same price $599 and were considered by many as better looking guitars and more appealing .
However the gibson barney kessel regular was more succesful and popular because of the price difference ( $399 ) . Bk customs were discontinued in late 1973 and bk regular models were dicontinued in early 1974 , some speculate that they were both discontinued in 1974 .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1961 - 1964 > $4500 to $4900 ( barney kessel custom )
1965 - 1969 > $3800 to $4500
1970 - 1973 > $2900 to $3800
1961 - 1964 > $3300 to $4000 ( barney kessel regular )
1965 - 1969 > $2800 to $3600
1970 - 1973 > $2400 to $3200
Avg Upward Trend Of 9% a Year since 2000 ( for both )
Note : Early Models with P.A.F pick ups can be sold for more .
Gibson Es-335
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Gibson Es-335 Guitar ( 1958 to present )
Thinline Semi-hollow Electric Archtop Guitar Also Known As The Es-335 TD
In 1958 gibson introduced a guitar with a wood block that was glued to the top and back of the body which ran through the guitars' center leaving the sides empty , the guitar was called the gibson es-335 , the first semi-hollow body guitar .
The wood block not only made the es-335 guitar more solid but it also enhanced its woodiness warm sound and sustain .
Its ingenious body design structure plays a major role in gibson' history and paved the way for many gibson legendary guitars to come .
Cherished by many artists such as bb-king , eric clapton, chuck berry , joe perry, keith richards , george harrison, ritchie blackmore ... just to name a few .
The es-335 is coined by many as the best all around guitar in the world because of its versatility
In 1958 when gibson first launched the es-335 at a list price of approximately $270 the guitar became an instant success and continued its historical journey until this very day .
The first year in production the es-335 had a brazilian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays , 2 humbuckers , bigsby vibrato or stop tailpiece , bound top and back , neck joins the body at the 19th fret , 4 knobs ( 2-vol 2-tone ) , tune o matic bridge , pickguard extends below the bridge , large fat neck , and were made in sunburst or natural finishes . ( this model is highly desirable and sought after by collectors)
1959 : Cherry finishes were added
1960 : The es-335 had shorter pickguards and thinner necks
1961 : Natural finishes were discontinued
1962 : Dot inlays on the fingerboard were replaced with block inlays
1965 : Trapeze tailpiece replaced the stop tailpiece 12 string version also introduced
1966 : indian rosewood fingerboard instead of brazilian
1969 : walnut finishes were available
Note : In 1965 a 12 string version of the es-335 was also introduced and was called the gibson es-335-12 , ( see pic ) were made in cherry or natural finishes , various colors in 1968 and were discontinued in 1971 .
In 1981 the gibson es-335 was discontinued and replaced with the gibson es-335 dot which was a reissue of the original 1960 es-335 with dot inlays .
The gibson es-335 dot was discontinued in 1990 and replaced with the gibson es-335 reissue in 1991 which are still in production today.
From 1981 to present gibson also introduced more variations of the gibson es-335 such as the :
Gibson es-335 artist :( 1981 )
had a large headstock logo , metal truss rod plate , gold hardware with 3 knobs .
Gibson es-335 Dot CMT :( 1983 - 1985 )
like the es-335 dot but with curly maple top and back , gold hardware , and were made in various colors .
Gibson es-335 Studio :( 1986 - 1991 )
No f-holes , 2 dirty finger humbuckers , cherry or ebony finishes .
Gibson es-335 Showcase Edition : ( 1988 )
black hardware , emg pickups ,white or beige finishes and were made in limited quantities - 200 made .
Gibson es-335 Centennial : ( 1994 )
Gold medallion on the headstock , were made in cherry colors , diamond inlays in tailpiece . ( not more than a 100 were made )
Gibson es-335 '59 Historic Collection : ( 1998 )
basically a replica of the original 1959 model with dot inlays .
Gibson es-335 '63 Historic Collection : ( 2000 )
based on the original 1962 model with block inlays .
Gibson also made es-335 custom shop guitars during the 80s and 90s with a custom shop logo on the back of the headstock .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1958 > $60 000 to $75 000 ( Natural )
1958 > $50 000 to $60 000 ( Natural-Bigsby )
1958 > $34 000 to $41 000 ( Sunburst )
1958 > $32 000 to $39 000 ( Sunburst-Bigsby )
1959 > $75 000 to $100 000 ( Natural )
1959 > $50 000 to $65 000 ( Natural- bigsby )
1959 > $40 000 to $55 000 ( Sunburst )
1959 > $35 000 to $40 000 ( Sunburst-bigsby )
1960 > $25 000 to $35 000 ( Cherry )
1960 > $35 000 to $50 000 ( Natural )
1960 > $25000 to $35 000 ( Sunburst )
1961 - 1962 > $26 000 to $32 000 ( PAFs )
1961 - 1962 > $25 000 to $32 000 ( Pat # )
1963 - 1964 > $19 000 to $27 000 ( prices vary according to specs & color )
1965 - 1969 > $4 500 to $9 000 ( prices vary according to specs & color )
1970 - 1976 > $3 500 to $4 600
1977 - 1981 > $2 000 to $3 200
1965 - 1971 > $2 600 to $3 000 ( es-335-12 string )
1981 - 1990 > $2 300 to $ 2 950 ( es-335 Dot )
1981 - 1982 > $2 300 to $2 600 ( es-335 artist )
1981 - 1999 > $2 700 to $3 000 ( es-335 custom shop )
1983 - 1985 > $2 700 to $3000 ( es-335 Dot Cmt )
1986 - 1991 > $1 100 to $1 400 ( es-335 Studio )
1988 - 1989 > $2 300 to $3 500 ( es-335 showcase edition )
1994 - 1995 > $4000 to $4200 ( es-335 centennial )
1998 - 1999 > $2 200 to $2 700 ( '59 historic collection )
2000 - 2001 > $2 700 to $3 000 ( '63 historic collection )
1991 - 2000 > $1 700 to $2 300 ( es-335 reissue )1958 - 1969 > Avg Upward Trend Of 21% A Year Since 2000
1970 - 1981 > 9% ( does not include the es-335 dot reissue )
Prices are according to 4 different vintage guitar price guides and rounded off to the nearest dollar .
Gibson Es-335 Guitars For Sale
Find deals on used and vintage gibson es-335 guitars on ebay .
New Gibson Es-335 Guitars
View the new es-335 gibson models and prices of today .
In june 2004 eric clapton sold his 1964 gibson es-335 for $847 000 to benefit his crossroads centre charity . They also made a 55 minute educational video on how they recreated a limited edition of this legendary guitar . If you want to watch the video go here > The eric clapton crossroads gibson es-335 ( Awesome clip )
Below is another video of yngwie malmsteen playing on a gibson es-335 guitar, the clip is short and quite crappy but ive put it anyways for those of you who are interested ....
Gibson The Paul
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Gibson "The Paul" Standard (1978-1982)
During the late 70s gibson les paul standard, custom and deluxe guitars along side fender stratocasters and telecasters were pretty much dominating the market, especially for heavier rock music .
These guitars were great but a little pricy for some , gibson wanted to try a new line of less expensive but good enough to play on stage guitars to commidate the student or the guitar player who didnt want to invest too much on a guitar . (In other words an all around descent guitar).
These gibson guitars were called "the paul" and today are considered classics by many , guitar players today still buy them because they are workhorses ( solid ) , sound good , and are not expensive at all , seen some for sale at $400 ( bargain ) .
In 1978 gibson introduced the "the paul standard " guitar but were actually sold on the market in 1979 , these guitars had a les paul shaped body , 2 exposed coil humbucker pickups , walnut body ( beveled edges sg style see pics ), tune o matic bridges , no pickguards , decal logos a, were made in natural colors , "the paul" on truss rod covers and were Discontinued in 1982 .
In 1980 gibson also introduced the paul firebrand deluxe which was very similar to the paul standard except for a mahogany body , mahogany neck , most firebrand deluxe guitars had "firebrand" on the trust rod cover, mostly made in rough natural finishes and were discontinued in 1986 .
In 1996 gibson reintroduced the paul and named it the paul II , these guitars had a 3 piece mahogany body ( not sandwich ) , rosewood fingerboards ,tune o matic bridges , silkscreened logos , vintage style tuners , "the paul II" on truss rod covers , made in ebony and red wine colors , and were renamed the paul sl in 1998 . Pics courtesy of ebay .
Vintage Value For 2008 :
1978 - 1982 > $800 to $1 200 ( the paul )
1980 - 1986 > $800 to $950 ( firebrand )
1996 - 1998 > $550 to $700 ( the paul II )
Avg Upward Trend Of 7% a Year since 2000
If your looking to buy this guitar , you can find "The Paul" Guitar For Sale on ebay from now and then .....
Gibson J-50
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Gibson J-50 ( 1945 - prsent )
The gibson j-50 acoustic guitar along with its brother ( j-45 ) are probably the most succesful acoustic guitars that gibson ever produced , guitar players love them because they have a natural sweet and loud tone at a reasonable cost .
The body countours , sound and the dynamics of the j-45 and the gibson j-50 permit them to be fairly versatile " its an all around players guitar " you can play country western music , blues , folk , blue grass ......etc.
The gibson J-50 is the same guitar as the gibson J-45 accept for a natural top finish. The j-45 was introduced in 1942 in sunburst finish , in 1945 gibson made the same version of the j-45 but in nautural finish and called them the gibson j-50 .
In 1945 the gibson j-50 had a natural top finish , double bound top , round shoulders dreadnought shape ,mahogany back and sides ,tear drop pickguard , dot fingerboard inlays and gold logos .
In 1955 the j-50 guitars had larger pointed pickguards ( see pic ) , some had triple bound tops , and an additional 20th fret was added .
In 1968 some had white pickguards with gibson logos and in 1969 they had square shoulders .
Discontinued in 1985 , reintroduced in 1990 till 1995 , reintroduced again in 1999 .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1945 - 1949 > $4900 to $6900 ( round shoulders )
1950 - 1957 > $4100 to $5300
1958 - 1962 > $3500 to $4200
1963 - 1969 > $2500 to $3400
1969 - 1970 > $2000 to $2400 ( Square Shoulders )
1971 - 1974 > $1200 to $1800
1975 - 1999 > $1000 to $1300
1945-1949 > Avg Upward Trend of 17% a year since 2000
1950-1957> 11% 1958-1962> 7% 1963-1969> 7% 1969-1999 > 7%
You can find used or vintage gibson J-50 guitars for sale on ebay , however they don't have them all the time ....
Gibson Super 400
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Gibson Super 400 ( 1934 - 1955 )
Acoustic Archtop Guitar
One of the finest and most prestigious guitar gibson ever made was introduced in 1923 and was called the gibson L-5 ,
it was the earliest archtop guitar with f-holes and therefore considered the backbone of not only for their own line of archtop guitars but pretty much all archtop guitars you see on the market today .
It is fair to say that the l-5 is probably the worlds' most important guitar historically . It was a favorite amongst many professional musicians then , and a favorite ever since .
In 1934 gibson famoused the music world over with another extraordinary guitar which was thelargest and most expensive archtop guitar ever produced by any manufacturer or company.
This guitar was called the gibson super 400,its grand auditorium body shape shares the same characteristics like the Orville Gibson Style-O model of 1902 .
In 1934 the gibson super 400 had an 18" wide body , an adjustable bridge with triangular designs , it was assembled with figured maple wood back and sides , fitted with a Y shaped tailpiece , had triple bound f-holes , brown pearloid pickguards , ebony fingerboard with pointed ends ,
had double split-block fingerboard inlays , diamond peghead inlays , open back grover tuners , gold plated hardware, most of them had the model name engraved on the heel cap , and were made in brown sunburst finishes .
Important : The very first super 400 batches had " Super L-5 " engraved on the truss rod cover and " Deluxe L-5 model " written on the label . These guitars are extremely rare and are known today as the "super 400 intro models" or " Super L-5 Deluxe " .
In 1939 the gibson super 400 P ( premier ) originated , it had a single rounded cutaway , kluson tuners with amber tulip-shaped buttons , were made in sunburst finishes , natural finishes were also available and named ( Super 400 PN ) .
In 1940 gibson introduced the super 400 N which was a natural finish version of the original super 400 .
In 1941 production halted and was resumed after world war 2 in 1948 , the original super 400 and 400N stayed the same , but the 400p was renamed the gibson super 400 C ( C for cutaway ) .
In 1951 gibson introduced an electric version of the 400c and named it the super 400 CES , it was equipped with 2 p-90 pickups and were the first gibson electric guitars to feature the classic 2 pickup circuitry ( 2 volumes , 2 tones , and a 3 way switch for pickup combination ) , this was another turning point for gibson as electric guitar amplification evolved after world war 2 .
In 1952 a natural finish version of the 400 CES was available and named the 400 CESN ( N for natural )
In 1955 all super 400 non cutaway guitars were discontinued ( super 400 and 400N ) , the super 400 c and the super 400 CESN was discontinued in 1982 and the super 400 CES was discontinued in 1987 .
Some reissues and different versions were made later on through out the 90s as historic collection guitars or custom shop super 400 guitars .
Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1934 - 1934 > $35 000 to $40 000 ( Super 400 Intro Model )
1934 - 1941 > $14 000 to $18 000 ( Super 400 )
1947 - 1955 > $9 000 to $13 000
1940 - 1941 > $13 000 to $15 000 ( 400N )
1948 - 1955 > $10 500 to $14 000
1939 - 1941 > $30 000 to $35 000 ( 400P )
1939 - 1941 > $45 000 to $47 000 ( 400PN - Natural )
1948 - 1957 > $12 000 to $15 000 ( 400C )
1958 - 1965 > $9 000 to $13 000
1966 - 1969 > $9 500 to $10 000
1970 - 1982 > $6 000 to $9 000
1951 - 1953 > $16 000 to $19 000 ( 400 CES - P 90 pickups )
1954 - 1956 > $16 000 to $20 000 ( alnico )
1957 - 1962 > $25 000 to $30 000 ( PAFs )
1963 - 1964 > $16 000 to $18 000 ( Pat# )
1965 - 1987 > $7 000 to $10 000
1952 - 1956 > $25 000 to $28 000 ( 400 CESN )
1957 - 1962 > $28 000 to $35 000 ( PAFs )
1963 - 1964 > $17 000 to $21 000 ( Pat# )
1965 - 1969 > $11 000 to $15 000
1970 - 1982 > $8 000 to $11 000Avg Upward Trend Of 14% A Year Since 2000 ( for all )
Prices are according to 4 different vintage guitar price guides and rounded off to the nearest dollar . ( picture courtesy of gruhn.com )
If your lucky and you want to buy the super 400 , you can find gibson super 400 for sale on ebay from now and then , make sure you read the descriptions carefully before you bid .
