Gibson Lap Steel Guitar Serial Numbers
Many guitar series in Gibson's renowned history are classics – Jumbo and L-series for acoustics: Les Paul and SG electrics for solidbodies. Of semi-solid guitars, Gibson's ES range is the big daddy.
Gibson ES guitars encompass a huge range of models and choices, and from the 1930s to 2014 innovation keeps coming. It can be confusing. So if you want a quick-fire guitar geek guide to some of the best guitars in music history, here we go! The ‘ES’ means ‘Electric Spanish.’ Yep. In the 1930s Gibson needed to differentiate designs from their EH (Electric Hawaiian) line of lap steel guitars. At the time, lap-steel guitars were very popular. Gibson’s first 'Electric Spanish,' the ES-150, was launched in 1936, and made famous by Charlie Christian, argued by many to be the first electric guitar soloist.
Circa Late 1930's Gibson EH-150 Sunburst Lap Steel Guitar, Serial #621-9. Auction 181150 Lot: 81012 Dec 15, 2011. Sold For: Sign-in. Join (free & quick) 1950's Fender Professional Double 8 Walnut Lap Steel Guitar, Serial Number #1323. Auction 181137 Lot: 83106 Sep 15, 2011. Sold For: Sign-in.
Those numbers? Gibson usually used them to denote price.
So the Gibson ES-150 was originally $150. 1958's ES-335, ES-345 and ES-355 required the same bucks. But, duh, Gibson weren't thinking of inflation. Needless to say, you can't make 2014's ES-390 for 390 bucks. Unless it was built of paper! The numbers/name now differentiate design attributes and variations. Even so, the 3-pickup ES-5 was introduced way back in 1949.
And, no, it didn't cost five bucks! Most ES guitars are semi-solid - a center-block of wood with hollow “wings.” But there are exceptions – read on. The ES-335 is an enduring classic.
Gibson design legend Ted McCarty felt it was close to the Les Paul solidbody as Gibson's most important body design. “I came up with the idea of putting a solid block of maple in an acoustic model.
It would get some of the same tone as a regular solidbody, plus the instrument's hollow wings would vibrate and we'd get a combination of an electric solidbody and a hollowbody guitar.” All guitar players owe a debt to Ted McCarty’s vision. Early on, the ES-335 was nicknamed the “wonder-thin” body, as the ES-335 claimed to eliminate the feedback that sometimes plagued pure hollowbodies. ES-335s have a solid maple block running through the center of the body. That said, ES designs can still be prone to feedback at high volumes. Blues legend B.B. King used to stuff rags into his ES-335's f-holes to eliminate feedback. When King co-designed his own signature Lucille model with Gibson, he asked for no f-holes.
The single-cutaway ES-175 was introduced in 1949 and is still made to this day. It's the longest production run of any electric guitar ever. Gibson ES guitars can be highly versatile across a range of styles. Prog guitar legend Steve Howe uses an ES-175, bought in 1964, for most of his recording with Yes.
“The parallelogram inlays are beautiful, the whole guitar is beautiful.” 11. Chuck Berry was one of the ES-335’s earliest champions. Keith Richards says seeing Chuck with a red ES-335 “knocked me out” and he immediately “wanted to become a guitar player.” 12.
What's a Gibson ES-335TD? It means Electric Spanish 335 Thinline Double-pickup. Bit of a mouthful. But a fantastic guitar. The ES-175 (and others) have a 'Florentine' cutaway. Florentine cutaways are the “sharper” type. The rounder type you see on an ES-335, for example, is known as a “Venetian” cutaway.
There's no proven evidence this had anything to do with historic instrument making in the Italian cities of Florence or Venice. It seems to be something Gibson just came up with. But it's now standard guitar terminology for cutaway styles. The most expensive Gibson ES-335 sold remains the one auctioned by Eric Clapton in 2004. His Cherry Red 1964 Gibson ES-335 TDC (bought by EC that year and played extensively in Cream) sold for $847,500 at Christie’s.
$335 – yeah, right. The Gibson ES-295 – a blinging gold finish upgrade on the ES-175 - was made famous by Elvis Presley's guitarist Scotty Moore.
Brian Setzer (The Stray Cats, solo guitar star) has referred to the ES-295 as “the ultimate rockabilly guitar.” 16. ES-335s were originally only produced in Natural and Sunburst finishes. By the 1960s, Gibson was also producing ES-335s in Pelham Blue, Burgundy Red and Cherry Red. In 2014, color options abound. All are hand-sprayed.
The ES-345 and ES-355 were launched in 1958 with a “Varitone” rotary dial for extra tonal options and subtle tweaks to your sound (including then-pioneering stereo wiring). King calls Gibson's Varitone “the Magic Switch.” 18. ES-355's were factory-fitted with Bigsby vibratos (for just $20 more than a standard ES-335) yet some vintage dealers think they reduce value. Bigbsy-loaded ES fans include Noel Gallagher, Bernard Butler, Rich Robinson, Luther Dickinson and many more. The was/is different to many other current ES models, as it's fully hollow with no center-block 20. Gibson's sister company, Epiphone, has long produced variations on Gibson's classic ES designs. The “equivalent” of an ES-335 is the.
Of an ES-330, the Epiphone Casino. The Beatles used Epiphone Casinos massively in their mid-to-final career. Blues legend John Lee Hooker liked Epiphone Sheratons, as did Noel Gallagher in early Oasis days. New for 2014 is the Gibson ES-Les Paul, a unique hybrid of two classic Gibson designs.
Just a few features include ES-style laminated maple tops, semi-acoustic construction (including a mahogany central block and f-holes) with Les Paul-style shapes and appointments. Learn more about the. The is another new variation. All solid, but looking quite like an ES-335. There are many artist-specified signature models of ES guitars. There's the Black Crowes' – a red retro beauty with a factory-fitted Bigsby.
Download Free Happy Birthday Song Instrumental there. Then there's the with P-90 pickups and a tobacco burst finish. Or there's the with extra tones and a stunning green finish.
The new is a stunning-looking twist on '50s ES models. Kinda glam-punk and classic at the same time? And if you can't get on with a full-size ES design, try the. This is fully hollow, like an ES-330, but with a reduced body size for playing comfort and with newly-designed P-90 pickups.
With their huge history, Gibson ES models cover all bases for guitarists of all styles. Add your own geeky ES opinions below, please do!
And if you can't find a Gibson ES you like? Maybe make table tennis your new hobby.
You are looking at a Mandolin that has survived the test of time due to superior craftsmanship and great care. Popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s This “lower end”, built in the Gibson factory, instrument has some wonderful “fat” mid tones thanks to its bracing and with new strings, plays wonderfully when put up against modern instruments. All pieces including tuners, bridge and tail piece are original to the instrument. If you need any specific pictures or sound samples feel free to send me a message. This item comes from a smoke and pet free environment.
Vintage Acoustic Guitars With a vintage acoustic guitar, you can play music on an instrument that's timeless. Vintage acoustic guitars, including those made by Harmony, Yamaha, and Gibson, have classic looks and high-quality construction.
You can customize the experience by upgrading strings and putting on the right guitar strap. What are some vintage acoustic guitar models available? You can find a variety of guitar models if you're interested in playing something that was made to last. You can choose from the following body types: • Parlor - These acoustic guitars are smaller-bodied than other types. They were played in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
You can use these to play blues or folk music. • Tenor - This is a four-string instrument. Gibson and C.F.
Martin & Company were manufacturers of these vintage pieces. They can have a flat top or arch top, and they can have wood or metal-bodied resonators. • Dreadnought - The dreadnought is larger than other guitars. This can allow the instrument to have a riche, bolder tone. • Classical - This vintage guitar is made from wood and has nylon strings. The fingerboard typically has twelve frets and is ideal for playing more complex music that requires advanced finger-picking. Can you find vintage guitar parts?
Yes, vintage guitar parts are available, so you can have everything you need to make your instrument complete. • Tuners: You can find tuners, including those by Fender, to make sure you can sound the right notes. • Strings: You can put either nylon or steel strings on a guitar. Nylon is used for classical and folk music, and steel strings are used for music, like rock. Some guitars are designed to accommodate a certain type of string, so be sure to take the time to understand what your vintage guitar was built for. How can you get more from a vintage acoustic guitar?
Whether the guitar is by Gibson, Yamaha, or any other instrument manufacturers, regular upkeep can go a long way in helping the guitar's life. You can: • Keep your vintage guitar in a case. You can find cases that fit your specific type of guitar, whether it's a parlor instrument or a dreadnought. • Use a polishing cloth to clean the top, sides, and bottom of your guitar. Nanase Aikawa Red Zip Up Hoodie. A trace of dampness on the cloth or a warm breath of air on the guitar may be useful for getting rid of fingerprints and other smudges. • Check the conditions. Ideally, acoustic guitars should be held in rooms with humidities between 45% and 55%.
What are some vintage Gibson acoustic guitar models available? Gibson has made guitars for all types of players. Some of the vintage Gibson instruments that you can choose from are: • Archtop Hollowbody Jazz Guitar • J45 Gibson Sunburst • The Gibson Nick Lucas Special • TG-25-N Acoustic Tenor Guitar • Gibson J-50 Are there any vintage Yamaha acoustic guitars? If you'd like to stick with Yamaha, your choices could include: • FG-110 Red Label Nippon Gakki • Vintage Yamaha YW-800 • Yamaha FG-300 • Yamaha FG-45.