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The Red Thread: Factory Red Gibsons from the Golden Era

JimR56

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Joined
Oct 20, 2012
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588
Andy Nelson's dream.

Yes indeed. I bought the Tsumura book circa 1987, when it came out. That's the only way I even knew about this model. Other than that article about Nelson that I linked in the other thread, I've never seen a photo online (there weren't any, until now) or even heard about one of these, and I've been browsing vintage guitars on the web regularly for about 15 years.
 

captaincanada

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Apr 13, 2004
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599
KGrHqRlQE-3jKsGczBPzTeRqwQg60_57_zpsa777090e.jpg


KGrHqZHJEME-nGtZjckBPzTedNhkQ60_57_zps22f6266b.jpg
 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
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588
In case people didn't follow my link... there were only 6 (SIX!!) Crests made, and this one appears to be different than the other 5 (only has 20 frets, instead of the 22 that were indicated by the designer, Andy Nelson). Until now, there were NO photos of this model anywhere on the internet. :hmm

SIX!! :wah
 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
How about a little fantasy... Charlie Christian playing a red ES150

$(KGrHqMOKisE14ZVIp(PBNn)49u3c!~~_35.JPG
 

flameburst

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May 12, 2009
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313
A bit of excuse to bump this wonderful Red Thread...

One for JimR56... Time: The early-mid 1960's - A practically brand new all-cherry George Gobel L5-CN on one of Homer & Jethro's old album covers.

These two 'thinking mans hillbillies' had great taste in guitars and got the best from Gibson, Fender, D'Angelico and Stromberg.


 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
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Good one, flameburst. I've posted that cover image someplace before, but I guess it wasn't here. :) I had forgotten that the Gobel had a humbucker (and I'd also forgotten about that red mandolin). Very cool.
 

JimR56

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Oct 20, 2012
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588
Nice 355, but... this thread is really all about guitars that were generally not available in red. Rare stuff. If we start posting all red Gibsons from the golden era, I don't think this thread would be as special.

From the OP:
I'm not really talking about the common examples like cherry SGs and ES-335s, I'm talking about models that don't usually come in red, or custom examples like Sparkling Burgandy, Cardinal Red...
 

j45

Active member
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Messages
9,081
A few factory red custom colors I've had:

1959 ES-175 Factory Cherry
gtporn5.jpg


1959 ES-175 Factory Chery
red17521.jpg


1966 Thunderbird II Factory Cherry
red66tbird.jpg


Firebird I Factory cardinal red
redfb13.jpg


Far left 1965 L-4C Factory Cherry
red-and-blonde-b.jpg


1959 L5-CT Factory Cherry
1959L5-CT.jpg
 

chuckNC

New member
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Apr 24, 2012
Messages
1,261
Far left 1965 L-4C Factory Cherry
red-and-blonde-b.jpg
Love these pics, Kerry! I've never played a guitar with the McCarty guard setup. Are those pickups the same as the original slug-pole P90's?
 

JimR56

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Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
Is that a '61 Wilshire? Cool guitar, although I think red was a standard finish option.
 
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