Gibson Es 300

Gibson Es-300 ( 1940-1953 ) 

The Gibson es-300 guitar was introduced in mid 1940 as a new upgrade for their electric guitars . The guitar shared much of its features of its predecessor ( es-250 ) and also had similar style hardware & features of the Gibson l-5 & the Gibson l-12. 

What made the Gibson es-300 different from other pre war guitars was the electronics and look of its new style pickups. 

Gibson made 3 versions of basically the same model with 3 different pickup variations , The first version of the Gibson es-300 in 1940 had a long slanted pickup extending across the top, the guitar featured a 17" wide body ( maple back ), plate tailpiece l-5 style, double parallelogram inlays on fingerboard (l-12 style), crown peg head inlays, pearl logos, and were made only in natural finishes. 

In 1941 Gibson introduced the ES-300 with basically the same specs except for a small slanted pickup near the bridge, and sunburst finishes were now optional. 

From 1942 to 1945 the ES-300 production came to a halt due to the war, however theres some literature I've read that states that Gibson sold some ES-300s through WWII. 

In late 1945 Gibson introduced the ES-300 with a straight p-90 pickup at the neck position, with beveled edged pick guards. In late 1948 to 53 they added a second pickup. 

The Gibson ES-300 guitar was considered their top guitar models for their prewar electric line of guitars , they were favored by many jazz guitar players such as mickey baker , was also used in the infamous solo of "rock around the clock" by Danney Cedrone. (The version with the long pickup is not a favorite amongst guitar players, and are somewhat sought after by collectors for its historical significance)

Vintage Price Value

1940 - 1942 > $4600 to $5000 (long pickup) 
1940 - 1942 > $4100 to $4400 (small pickup) 
1945 - 1949 > $2900 to $3400 ( P90 ) 
1949 - 1953 > $3000 to $3700 ( 2 pickups )

Comments

  1. For those interested, the early post-war ES-300s have many features of pre-war Gibsons in terms of headstock shape, logo, tuners, neck profile, etc. I have a 1946 model that looks very similar to the guitar in the 3rd picture, but with the rare Kluson f-hole tailpiece. These guitars are basically pre-war necks on a post-war body + p/u.

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  2. Anonymous4:41 AM

    Really good post. I was also in search of some good online guitar repair tips. There are also other helpful sites giving information on guitar repair, guitar design and Gibson Guitars.

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  3. Anonymous3:13 PM

    Stunning guitar! It puts my £99 elecy guitar from argos in the shade!

    Think im going to have to save my pennies up and get this bad boy! :D

    Cheers great post

    http://www.rarebeatlesmemorabilia.com/ :P

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  4. Anonymous6:32 PM

    I have had my ES300 with two p 90 pickups since I was a young teenager. I played it thru highschool and college and a lot of clubs after that. It is a joy for me to play and remember the great times. It is in pristine condition and still sounds great. By the way, I am 73 yrs. old.

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  5. Anonymous5:38 PM

    Great guitar. Just got a 1941

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  6. Anonymous9:02 PM

    I have an ebony model ES 300 that I believe is a 1950.
    It has a great sound, but I had to have a luthier re-fret it. He also had to put a bow back in the neck. The rod nut was totally tight and the strings buzzed when I bought it. He did a fantastic job with the neck and it has a great sound and plays like butter.

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  7. Anonymous8:14 AM

    All of you so-called "vintage guitar shop" proprieters and employees are all exactly the same. You are nothing but superficial parasites. Why should anyone sell a guitar to you in order for you to make a profit by resale when they can simply find out the value of the guitar they have themselves and sell it privately for top market value? Why should they give you a single penny of profit when they can make the profit for themselves? You are all nothing but a complete waste of time. If the majority of the general public with whom you deal were not so ignorant and foolish, you would not be able to make a single penny of profit because noone would be foolish enough to sell you an instrument for less than its top market value. Ergo, you would not be able to "exist" as the parasites you all are. Your worst nightmare is that people realize this. Then you would have no "business" at all.

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  8. Anonymous8:16 AM

    What is this guy so bitter about? Every business in the world operates under the same principle. You buy your product for less than you're going to sell it. Otherwise there no such thing as a successful business.

    This site has a a very good review about the ES 300.
    Thank you.....

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  9. Anonymous5:02 AM

    He`s not telling you that his guitar sold at commission shop and now he found out it was worth more. I have what I believe is a 1948 es-300 2 pk up my father bought it new and played it until he passed away. Logo is signature and serial begins with A. I have the original hard case also.Lots of great memories there. I see the movie when I look at the guitar. Know what I mean?

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  10. I have what I believe is a 1945 ES-300. No label found anywhere, but Ghrun Guitars evaluated it.

    Mine doesn't have any pole screws in the pickup, but has the nicely aged barrel knobs and the lovely parallelogram neck inlay and unique headstock logo.

    The pickguard is long gone and the bracket that held the original tailpiece sprung open about 20 years ago so it has a generic aftermarket tailpiece. Replaced the keys with Grovers over 30 years ago.

    Repaired cracks in the side, much checking and marks on the finish, but it's a lovely player and the pickup sounds cool. jpmist@gmail.com

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  11. Anonymous5:53 PM

    jeepers mr. bitter.it's called free market capitalism.
    get over it. some people would rather deal with a
    known company and pay extra than to trust that some anonomous is delivering the real deal.
    people constantly get scammed by private sellers.
    leave small buisiness alone to make a profit and pay taxes so you can enjoy your freedom.

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  12. Anonymous9:09 AM

    I also have what I believe to be 1948 (2 PICKUPS) or earlier es-300 My dad bought it new and played it until 2007 when he passed at age 85 I can`t play a lick but I have the Gibson and I too see the movie just when looking at it. PRICELESS. Oh yea, They took great care back then as I also have the orig. hard case and my guitar serial begins with A

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  13. Anonymous12:08 PM

    Just today (7/25/2010) I bought a 1951 ES300, sunburst, two P-90s, original small frets not badly worn, lots of player wear but no abuse to the finish, original brown worn case, $3,000. It's a fair price, not great but fair. These will only go up in value. It has that great flutey jazz tone when on the neck pickup. The bridge pickup sounds like it should too. I don't think I'll gig it but I easily could. Solid body guitars are a lot easier to handle on small stages.

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  14. Anonymous9:50 PM

    I also have a 1950 (I think this is the correct date) ebony ES-300 with single pickup. I also had to have a luthier put a bow back in the neck. The rod nut was totally tight. It now plays like a dream and sounds great amplified.

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  15. Anonymous8:04 AM

    I have a 1950 ES300, ser. # A5862, that has a rather long and complicated history. Was given to a friend of mine in the early 50s while he was in the Navy; he could play it, the owner couldn't, so when they were separated by restationing, it was given to my friend. Upon discharge in the 6os, the guitar was rather beat up, and my friend's cousin offered to refinish it. Years went by, the parts were lost. My friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and wanted me to rebuild it before he died. I took the guitar home and I got all the replacement parts from Gibson, and began to rebuild it, but regretfully my friend passed away before I was finished. At his funeral, his wife told me that Tony wanted me to have the ES. I then finished the rebuild and love it, although its not all original, it sounds and plays great.

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  16. Anonymous6:45 AM

    can the es-300 play without an amp you know as an acoustic if so pls notify me

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  17. Anonymous9:41 PM

    I too have an ES300 which my dad bought in 1947, he paid $350.00 for it with his muster out pay from the Navy after WWII...a lot of money then, it is in the original case, with the Amp with a tremelo box on top. It is in excellent conditon with the F hole tailpiece. I take it out every 6 months and tune it and polish it. Thanks dad...I miss you!

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  18. Anonymous3:58 AM

    Django Reinhardt played a single PU ES 300 when he toured the States with Duke Ellington in 1947. Many have believed that it was an L5 or and Epiphone but have a look at Paul Vernon Chesters site where he clarifies this. Thought this might be of interest to owners as I think the ES 300 is a much overlooked/unappreciated model - probably because it doesn't have the associations with certain players that later models have.

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