The Gibson J-50 ADJ Slope Shoulder Dreadnought models were produced in tandem with the better known J-45, with the difference being the J-50’s natural vs the J-45’s sunburst top. This sometimes meant that the J-50’s used visually higher grades of Spruce, but the two guitars are otherwise identical.
Michigan
Built at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, the natural-finish Epiphone FT45N Cortez was produced from 1962 to 1969, but it first appeared with a sunburst in 1958. The Epiphone FT45N Cortez was very similar to some Gibson models, particularly the LG-2 (sunburst top) and LG-3 (natural top), which in 1962 became the sunburst B25, and in 1963 the natural B25N. They were built in the same plant and likely on identical forms.
The Gibson ES-175D was formally introduced in 1953 as the Double P-90 pickup version of the single-pickup ES-175. Informally, a few were shipped in 1951 and 1952 but without the ‘D’ designation. This guitar came onto the scene in 1949 as a single pickup archtop with a sharp Florentine cutaway, Maple laminate body construction, Mahogany neck and Rosewood bridge and bound fingerboard.
This beautiful 1935 Gibson Super 400 Sunburst with McCarty Pickguard guitar has a history – it is one of the guitars that the late Ed Bickert used before settling on his Telecaster. This example dates to 1935 and was built at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. 88 years old at time of writing, it is in overall good and completely playable condition.
Here’s a lovely rarity– an Gibson ES-150DC, a double cutaway, full depth hollow body electric archtop built as late as 1974 at the unionized Kalamazoo plant during the Norlin years. Drawing inspiration from the venerable ES-150 model – introduced in 1936 with the ‘Charlie Christian’ pickup and built until 1956 – the Gibson ES-150DC is unusual. In 1958, the all-new thinline, semi-hollow ES-335 and 345 were introduced and started the final decline of the popular full depth archtop.
Over the years, the Gibson Les Paul Standard has gained and iconic position in the guitar pantheon, though it has been in and out of favour as time passed. Built during 1976, about halfway through Norlin’s ownership, this Gibson Les Paul Standard sports a classic tobacco sunburst finish.
This instrument has sold
MORE →