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GIBSON | VINTAGE ADVERTISEMENTS

Gibson advertisement (1978)

LAB Series

Gibson Lab Series L5 amplifier

June 1978 advertisement for the Lab Series amplifier range, picturing the 2x12" Lab Series L5 combo.

In only one year Lab Series Guitar Amplifiers have become the most talked about amplification on the market.
From pros, like Ronnie Montrose and you weekend warriors, we've been hearing:

"Most versatile amp I ever played."

"Super mid-range controls."

"Powerful, when it has to be."

"Finally! Compression on an amp."

"The multifilter is unique; it's great!"

But don't take their word for it, or our word either. Let your own ears be the final judge. Visit one of the Lab Series Authorised Dealers listed on the following pages. They will be more than happy to let you test drive a Lab Series amp.

But as mentioned in the text, this was not a single page ad.. following this page were three more full pages packed with names and addresses of close to 500 Lab Series dealers - 419 from across the USA, and a further 67 in Canada.

Gibson advertisement (1978) LAB Series

Other related vintage advertisements

Gibson Lab Series L5 - A new instrumental album featuring a man, his guitar, and our amplifier
Gibson Lab Series L5 - A new instrumental album featuring a man, his guitar, and our amplifier
One of the earliest publicity pieces for the Lab Series amplifiers placed in mid 1978. Unlike the majority of adverts for these amplifiers to follow, this one is short on text, letting the images d...
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Employment Assurance
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Employment Assurance
"Whether you're a star, a sideman, a session player, or a serious student, the Lab Series works"
Gibson Lab Series L5 - It
Gibson Lab Series L5 - It's got to be about the best tranny amp I've ever heard – damn it, it's got to be one of the best apps I've heard, tranny or not!
This 1980 advert for the Lab Series amplifier range was published in Guitar Player in 1980, and is made up of quotes by Gary Cooper (who proffered the title), Alan Holdsworth, and Whitesnake's Bern...
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Try my sound.. See if you like it!
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Try my sound.. See if you like it!
This interesting advert from June 1980 features Jimmy Messina and the Lab Series L5. Like many of the other Lab Series ads, it includes quotes from the artist describing the amp, but also gives one...
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Lab Series. They
Gibson Lab Series L5 - Lab Series. They've never sounded so good
December 1980 United Kingdom advert for the Lab Series amplifiers - available at a big discount due to the favourable exchange rate. Models listed are the: L2 (100w 1x15" bass head/cabinet), L3 (60...
Gibson Lab Series L5 - "My Lab Series amp takes all the bumps, and still gives a smooth performance."
Gibson Lab Series L5 - "My Lab Series amp takes all the bumps, and still gives a smooth performance."
This Lab Series advert featuring bluesman B.B. King and his L5 appeared in Guitar Player magazine in May and August 1981 - just one of many 'artist' adverts for the amp line. King's bassplayer, Joe...

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Gibson Lab Series L5

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Gibson LG1 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar 1965 w /  chipboard case + Fishman pickup

Gibson LG1 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar 1965 w / chipboard case + Fishman pickup

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 193**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2195

vintage 1965 Gibson LG1 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar. Fitted with a Fishman pickup system with endpin jack and volume and tone control discreetly placed in the sound hole. Guitar has finish cracking and checking consistent with age. There is a fair amount of buckle rash and play wear on the back. Some evidence that the bridge may have been reglued at some time. Comes with a vintage chipboard case
Setup for optimal playability with new strings
Guitar weighs 4lb 2oz
s / n 338930
... more
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Vintage 1950s 3+3 Kluson Deluxe guitar tuners 3 on a plate Gibson Les Paul

Vintage 1950's 3+3 Kluson Deluxe guitar tuners 3 on a plate Gibson Les Paul

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 468**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$199

Vintage 1950's 3+3 Kluson Deluxe guitar tuners 3 on a plate Gibson Les Paul They have a lot of plating corrison but turn easily I didn't try to clean them up to see if the corrosion can be removed
... more
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Gibson GA-5 Skylark 1964 Tube Guitar Amplifier vintage Crestline amp harp valve

Gibson GA-5 Skylark 1964 Tube Guitar Amplifier vintage Crestline amp harp valve

Rockford, Illinois, 611**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$725


1960's Gibson GA-5 Skylark Crestline amplifier. What a little vintage beast. For some reason I think it's a '64. This is one of the good ones, with the 6AQ5's in the output.
The valve set: A robust 6EU7, two JAN (Joint Army Navy) Sylvania 6005's (breaking up sweeter than the 6AQ5's), a JAN Sylvania 6X4, and and a rare Phillips JAN 6C4 . Joint Army Navy tubes were over-engineered to be more robust and 'give more'; they tend to last longer, be louder and sound more musical with more ... more
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Gibson 1972 USA Cherry Burst Les Paul Deluxe Body & Neck

Gibson 1972 USA Cherry Burst Les Paul Deluxe Body & Neck

Glassboro, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2400

Gibson Dependable
Home of the most First and most Dependable Gibson parts on Ebay
U S.A. and Worldwide Bidders Welcomed
How many of you guitar enthusiast out there have always wanted to build yourselves that awesome project guitar, but didn??t want to spend the money on a full guitar only to dismantle it. Well, here is your opportunity do so. We sell high end name brand parts and project guitars specifically for the purpose of building your own custom one off guitar
Description: ... more
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GIBSON ES-335 SATIN VINTAGE SUNBURST SEMI- HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH HARD CASE

GIBSON ES-335 SATIN VINTAGE SUNBURST SEMI- HOLLOW ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH HARD CASE

Orlando, Florida, 328**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$249500

2022 MODEL S N. 20822087
From its first appearance in 1958, the Gibson ES-335 set an unmatched standard for playability, and today??s ??335 Satin carries on the tradition. The pearloid dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard hand-rolled on a rounded C mahogany neck feels incredible and invites hours of playing every time you pick up the instrument. Gibson??s Calibrated T-Type humbucking pickups are paired with the company??s handwired control assembly. The result is the immensely versatile Gibson ES ... more
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One Sticky+Bent Gibson 1970s-80s Treble Side TUNER EB-3 Grabber Ripper RD #1

One Sticky+Bent Gibson 1970's-80's Treble Side TUNER EB-3 Grabber Ripper RD #1

Miami, Florida, 331**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$60

This one has a bent paddle and sticks when you turn it. It does turn and should work, but not optimal
7 % sales tax will be added to all items shipped inside the state of Florida. I will ship most of my items to many countries other than USA, but I ask that all buyers contact me before making a purchase. Foreign buyers are responsible for all of their taxes and customs duties. I will NOT declare lower values or declare items as gifts under any circumstance.
... more
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1927 Gibson Model L-O Guitar Vintage Antique Original Finish Featured On AP!!

1927 Gibson Model L-O Guitar Vintage Antique Original Finish Featured On AP!!

Barnegat, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7500

Amazing early flat top guitar that I picked on the History channel show American pickers , nice original case with some great case candy including the original warranty !
Featured on the season opener of American pickers episode that aired Wednesday Oct 9th 2024
Carefully Cleaned and conserved by the amazing professional luthier Craig Cianciolo
... more
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Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker 1964 Electric Guitar Serial #197585 Original Case

Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker 1964 Electric Guitar Serial #197585 Original Case

Sioux City, Iowa, 511**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

This auction is for a Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker 1964 Electric Guitar. On the neck is the serial #197585. We researched it on the internet and found the serial number means it was made in 1964. This Gibson guitar has all the original components. The guitar was tested and is in perfect working condition.
Also included is the original hard shell alligator skin case, strap and electric cord. There is a slight crack on the glaze on the body of the guitar. It can be buffed out. The pictures ... more
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1959 Gibson LG-1 a fantastic original example that sounds & plays perfectly.

1959 Gibson LG-1 a fantastic original example that sounds & plays perfectly.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3495

This is a very cool all original 1959 Gibson LG-1. Its Sunburst finished spruce top looks stunning w / its see-thru Walnut stain finished back, sides & neck. Its tortoise??gard looks perfect next to its rosewood bridge. It??s sporting its original factory 3-on-a-side single line Klusons. It's got an "S" production date code for 1959. Other than a perfectly repaired back seam separation (w / a few cleats to hold it tight) it??s excellent overall & comes in a non original period hard case ... more
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1974 Gibson ES-320 TD Natural

1974 Gibson ES-320 TD Natural

Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 180**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2899

In on Consignment is this killer 1974 Gibson ES 320 TD
Quick Details
Weight 6 6 lbs
Nut width 1 58 "
Depth at 1st fret 0 82 "
Depth at 12th Fret 1 00 "
This Natural finish 1974 Gibson ES-320TD is a treat to play and look at
The body is in very good shape with minimal wear for its age. There is a small chip in the clear on the volute of the back of the headstock(pictured)
There is a sticker on the back of the guitar from where the guitar was originally purchased with ... more
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VINTAGE GIBSON Ibanez JAPAN COMPENSATED BRIDGE SG Les Paul JR TV MELODY Maker

VINTAGE GIBSON Ibanez JAPAN COMPENSATED BRIDGE SG Les Paul JR TV MELODY Maker

Coldwater, Michigan, 490**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$99

1960'S GIBSON COMPENSATED BRIDGE VINTAGE BRIDGE SG ,Les Paul JR ,MELODY MAKER... more
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1979 Gibson Les Paul Artisan Vintage Guitar 3 Pickup Walnut, Custom-Spec w /  Case

1979 Gibson Les Paul Artisan Vintage Guitar 3 Pickup Walnut, Custom-Spec w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7000

Up for sale, a 1979 Gibson Les Paul Artisan in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. A unique spin on the 3-pickup Les Paul Custom platform, the Artisan features unique "banjo" (hearts and flowers) inlays, with a Pre-War-style script Gibson headstock inlay, and traditional tonewoods including a carved maple top, mahogany body, and a three-piece maple neck capped by a bound ebony fretboard. The Artisan also features multi-ply ... more
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Gibson NOS Mastertone Banjo Ebony Fingerboard, RB-800, 26 3 / 8?? Scale

Gibson NOS Mastertone Banjo Ebony Fingerboard, RB-800, 26 3 / 8?? Scale

Marshall, Michigan, 490**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$80

Gibson NOS Mastertone Banjo Ebony Fingerboard for RB-800 model. The ebony is undyed and a nice dark uniform black. The scale length is 26 3 / 8??, nut width is 1 5 / 16?? and thickness is 7 / 32??. There are no cracks or flaws in the ebony but some inlays are cracked and may need to be replaced. I??m selling 7 of them and THEY ARE PRICED $80 FOR EACH FINGERBOARD
These fingerboards come from the Maudie Moore Estate in Kalamazoo. Maudie Moore was the Engraver and Inlay Artist at Gibson ... more
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Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special White w Original Case

Vintage 1965 Gibson SG Special White w Original Case

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6995

Vintage original 1965 Gibson SG Special in killer White finish
Guitar plays fantastic. Features the early, desirable wide nut and neck plays great with a nice feel. Action is nice and low and neck is nice and straight. Frets in generally excellent condition
Original P-90 pickups are warm and strong and punchy. Screaming with distortion. Has that classic vintage '60s tone a la The Who "Live at Leeds "
No cracks, no breaks no issues. The finish appears to have had some ... more
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1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom Natural

1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom Natural

Litchfield, Illinois, 620**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

1975 Gibson Les Paul Custom Natural. Great condition for its age. This guitar is a tone machine, it weighs 11 pounds on my scale, so if you are wanting to do gigs with this, you'll need a strong back. It has T tops pick ups, ebony fretboard, 3 piece maple neck, mahogany body with maple cap (sandwich body) frets are in great shape, low / medium action that plays really nice. No repairs or major damage. Has some oxidation on the tuning keys and they are kinda loose when turning but I've never had ... more
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Vintage Gibson Bass Guitar Humbucker Pickup Cover For EB-0 EB-1 EB-3 Circa 60s

Vintage Gibson Bass Guitar Humbucker Pickup Cover For EB-0 EB-1 EB-3 Circa 60's

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$125

This listing is for an original Vintage Gibson EB Style Bass Guitar Humbucker pickup cover. This listing is for the cover only and is from a vintage Gibson bass guitar from the late 1960's or 1970's. The cover is for the Humbucker or Mudbucker type Gibson pickup that came on all EB bass guitars such as the EB-0, EB-2 and EB-3 models. The cover is chrome and comes as pictured with no mounting screws. The cover shows wear such as scratches and oxidation but should install fine. Please look at the ... more
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Vintage 1959 Gibson P-90 P90 Pickup 7 73k HOT Dogear Les Paul Junior Special 330

Vintage 1959 Gibson P-90 P90 Pickup 7 73k HOT Dogear Les Paul Junior Special 330

Chicago, Illinois, 606**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$995

Vintage Correct Parts is proud to offer, for your consideration,
A completely original and fantastic
One KILLER Vintage Gibson 1959 "dogear" P-90 pickup
From an all original late 1959 Gibson - vintage dogear P-90s are PURE magic .and 1959 is one of the most magical years of them all! They have ALL the attributes of killer p-90 pickups:
Fully original and never rewound, vintage 1959 alnico magnets, original windings, double black leads - absolutely killer!
Rich and HOT ... more
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Vintage 1961, Original Style Gibson EB-0 Bass, Cherry Red, GREAT PRICE

Vintage 1961, Original Style Gibson EB-0 Bass, Cherry Red, GREAT PRICE

Agoura Hills, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4750

A reasonably priced, 1961 Cherry Red EB-0 Bass. Very nice Condition
No cracks or damage
The Cherry Red finish has faded on the front, but it has a very nice vibe and patina 1961 is the last of the Thicker Double-Cutaway body style before Gibson introduced the SG style bodies The bass plays very nicely and has just been setup with Brand New D'Addario Short scale Round wound strings
This bass is original except the Pots have been replaced.
There is also an added Strap Button on the... more
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Gibson Victory Figured Top 2024 - Wine Red Burst

Gibson Victory Figured Top 2024 - Wine Red Burst

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1899

Here we have an 80s inspired Gibson Victory from 2024! This is the figured top version done in a wine red burst finish
Specs include a mahogany body, AA figured maple top, mahogany neck and ebony board. It's a double-cutaway body with set neck construction and front-loaded controls. It has an Explorer headstock, 24 frets, offset acrylic dot inlays, and medium jumbo frets. This is also a 25 5" scale length guitar with a compound radius. The electronics include a set of 80s Tribute ... more
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Gibson Style 5 Banjo - 1929, SN 8873-5

Gibson Style 5 Banjo - 1929, SN 8873-5

Las Vegas, Nevada, 891**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11500

This is a vintage Gibson Style 5 Tenor Banjo made in 1929. It comes with a period case, probably the original one, but the case is not in good condition. It was purchased 7 or 8 years ago from the original owner's family and I have not altered it in any way Note: The shipping cost includes packing and insurance or it can be picked up in Las Vegas NV
... more
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1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.