The Gibson J-160E is one of the most recognisable steel string guitars, due largely to recordings and performances during the early 1960s by The Beatles.
Up into the 1950’s, giant archtop guitars roamed the world’s stages and the Gibson L-7 was one of the most commonly seen. An aesthetically stripped-down version of the L-5, this was a ‘working mans’ quality guitar.
Based on the Songwriter designed by Ren Ferguson at the Gibson Acoustic shop in Bozeman, Montana, the Gibson Custom Shop Songwriter Performer Limited was produced during 2012. Using a traditional square shoulder Dreadnought body of Sitka Spruce and Mahogany, and a 25.5 inch, long scale Mahogany neck and Indian Rosewood for the unadorned fingerboard and bridge, the Gibson Custom Shop Songwriter Performer Limited sports an abalone ring around the soundhole.
The Gibson Explorer has been a more or less regular production model since then in a number of variations, mostly finding a home in harder rock bands; it’s seldom seen on Country stages. This Gibson Explorer in Vintage White has a simple construction – Mahogany for the body and neck, and Ebony for the fingerboard. 496R and 498T pickups are installed and controlled by a pickup selector, individual volume and a master tone control.
This Gibson ES-125 in the original full body, no cutaway, one pickup configuration, is clearly dated to 1953 from the FON, Factory Order Number stamped on the inside back and visible from the treble F-hole. FON’s were used at various times, and from 1952 to 1961 started with a letter code, counting down from Z to Q. Y represents 1953, and this guitar was the 26th in batch 4011.
This Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite from 1992! Built between 1987 and 1998 at the Gibson Nashville plant, the Les Paul Studio Lite features classic Les Paul construction, but without binding, and with an ebony fingerboard. As its name implies, the Les Paul Studio Lite is weight relieved, and this example, dating to September 10th, 1992 sits on the scale at a svelte 7.8 pounds. It also has a 1960’s slim taper neck, quite a bit smaller than modern profiles. Hardware is gold plated, with coverless Gibson 490R and 490T pickups.
