Byrdland

⚌Reduced‼ Gibson Custom Le Grande Archtop Electric Natural, 2008

On September 15, 2021 /

Here is a rare beauty – a Gibson Custom Le Grande archtop electric model from 2008, the successor to the classic Johnny Smith model built from 1961 to 1989. The Le Grande made its debut in 1993 and while it hasn’t appeared on Gibson’s website or catalog since around 2010, is still available on special order. The ‘stock’ finish is a Vintage Sunburst, with the Natural finish seen here as an extra-cost option. Always intended for the serious professional guitarist and never in mass production, the Gibson Custom Le Grande features a 17 inch wide body with carved, solid Sitka Spruce top, carved solid and highly figured Maple back and figured maple sides.

Used

Price: $13,999.00 CAD

❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES350T Short Scale Archtop Electric Sunburst, 1956

On April 11, 2021 /

The thin-bodied, short scale Gibson ES350T appeared in 1955, replacing the full size ES-350 and was much like a plainer version of the Venetian-cutaway Byrdland, which also debuted that year. When launched, the fully hollow ES-350T featured laminate Maple construction largely for feedback resistance and lower production cost, but a number of versions shared the Byrdland’s Spruce top and carved Maple back and sides.

Vintage

Price: $6,999.99 CAD

This instrument has sold

⚌Reduced‼ Gibson ES350 Electric Archtop Sunburst 1951

On March 26, 2021 /

Here’s a real beauty – a Gibson ES350 Electric Archtop built during 1951 at the historic Parsons Street shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The ES-350 was built from 1947 to 1956, and for 1957 received a thinner body and new name – the ES-350T, the T standing for Thinline. This model was played extensively by top artists like Barney Kessel, Chuck Berry, B B King and Tal Farlow. At its 1947 introduction, the Gibson ES350 was named the ‘ES-350 Premiere’ and was a full body, single cutaway archtop with a single P-90 pickup in the neck position. For 1949, it received a second pickup. Construction was typical of Gibson’s electric archtop production, with Laminate Maple for the top, sides and back, part of an attempt to reduce feedback at stage volumes.

Vintage

Price: $7,995.00 CAD

❌SOLD❌ Gibson Byrdland Venetian Cutaway Archtop Sunburst, 1991

On October 9, 2019 /

The Gibson Byrdland Florentine Cutaway model has been in production since 1955 though Gibson also offers the original sharp Venetian cutaway. It is based on a thinline version of the classic L5-CES body, but with a short scale length of 23.5 inches, two inches shorter than the L5. The Byrdland was introduced as a custom model for two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland.

Used

Price: $6,999.99 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Gibson Byrdland Florentine Cutaway Sunburst, 1968

On October 6, 2019 /

The Gibson Byrdland Florentine cutaway model originally had a rounded, ‘Venetian’ cutaway between its introduction in 1955 and 1960, and regained the Venetian cutaway in 1969. Modern Custom Shop ‘reissue’ models are available with either shape, since 1992. The Byrdland had its origins in the requirements of busy working session guitarists – two working session guitarists in particular. Hank Garland and Billy Byrd were two of the top Nashville players throughout the 1950’s.

Vintage

Price: $6,000.00 CAD

This instrument has sold

❌SOLD❌ Gibson Byrdland Thinline Archtop Electric Natural, 1991

On March 28, 2019 /

The Gibson Byrdland thinline archtop electric appeared in 1955 and represents a functional adaptation to traditional archtop electrics. Two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland were approached by the Gibson president, Ted McCarty for ideas on new products. As busy players, Byrd and Garland wanted a shorter scale length of 23.5 inches to allow complex, extended chord shapes.

Used

Price: $6,500.00 CAD

This instrument has sold