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The Red Thread: Factory Red Gibsons from the Golden Era

deytookerjaabs

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Messages
1,592
Nice, but it was already posted in this thread (#109, by JJ Blair in January 2014). Nice to see the photo of the back, though!


I bumped into it from "Mike's Music" website, it's been for sale for a THAT LONG :hee because I did go back a page first, eek! That's one I'd like to have too, a black McCarty pickguard would be a nifty addition to it.
 

Hamerfan

Active member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
791
What are the Classic red colors of Gibson? I see

Cherry Red
Cardinal Red (opaque)
Sparkling Burgundy (opaque)
Wine Red

What else?

BTW lots of greats pics in this thread are lost thru the Great Photobucket Pest
 

AlienVintage

Active member
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
334
Mystery circa 1963 Gibson factory custom order with L-5 CES features, using a ‘52 ES-5 as the starting guitar:

mf2h4yj9z1uju9iswcfk.jpg
 

JimR56

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
Custom ordered '59 ES-350T and Byrdland
img


'64 Super 400CES and '61 L5CES
img
 

Unbound Dot Neck

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
1,623
The Super 400 looks massive !! next to the L5 . lil bitty low E tuner on the L5

Never played a 400, yet...


:jim
 

JimR56

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
I think both of these appeared earlier in the thread, but they look pretty nice side-by-side, so...
'59 ES-350T and '59 Byrdland

img
 

Steve Craw

Formerly Lefty Elmo
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
5,292
My 1964 ES-345. Likely the only lefty 345 built in 1964. I love this guitar!!!


66232638_1284745988373822_2520742075826176_n.jpg
 
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Steve Craw

Formerly Lefty Elmo
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
5,292
That was the original fingerboard. Jimmy Fey played with a band (ironically) named "The Unknowns". They were a regional group who opened for some big names. They released three singles and an album, eventually changing their name to "Spur". The fingerboard was removed and replaced recently in preparation for sale.
Jimmy hadn't owned this guitar for several years (it seams) and the guitar was in Japan. Jimmy died May 7, 2019. Here's Jimmy, with this ES-345, circa 1967, or so.

66628005_1284967615018326_7162107868752117760_n.jpg


66839197_1284967871684967_660938219235311616_n.jpg
 
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Steve Craw

Formerly Lefty Elmo
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Messages
5,292
I haven't received confirmation from Gibson that the "named" fingerboard was factory-done, but I spoke with Walter Carter, who said that Gibson would do boards like that if the customer requested it. Also, the board has side dots on BOTH sides, consistent with left handed Gibsons from that time.
The Varitone and stereo wiring remain intact, and once I figured out how cool stereo is, and what It allows you to do, I know I will never change it.
 
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JimR56

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
588
Wow, really impressive, especially with the serial matching the details of the custom order in that original ledger page.
 
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