1965/66 Selmer Guitars and Accessories Catalog, Page 1 >> Vintage Guitar and Bass
Vintage Guitars
I'm happy with this
This website uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse traffic. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. See terms and conditions
SELMER | CATALOGS | 1965/66 | FRONT COVER

1965/66 Selmer 'Guitars and Accessories' catalog, front cover

This 1965/66 catalog included the range of guitars available from Selmer at this time, and with Hofner making the greatest proportion of this range, it is no surprise that a new model, the Hofner Ambassador is featured on the front cover. This is one of the new Florentine cutaway models first introduced in the summer of 1965.

1965/66 Selmer "Guitars and Accessories" catalog: front cover
Got an opinion on the contents of this page? Disagree with something written above? Please comment

2024 Vintage Guitar price guide 2024 Vintage Guitar price guide

Need the value of your guitar? The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide 2024 is out now: Amazon


Hofner guitars for sale

Vintageguitarandbass.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.
1965 Gibson SG  Angus Young Owned And Played

1965 Gibson SG Angus Young Owned And Played

Los Angeles, California, 900**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$275000

1965 Gibson SG, Owned and Played by Angus Young AC / DC
Sold thru Pete Alenov obtained from Cliff Williams

Letter of authenticity included
... more
eBay logo
1965 GIBSON SG STANDARD, Cherry Red, All Original, Pristine, FREE SHIPPING!

1965 GIBSON SG STANDARD, Cherry Red, All Original, Pristine, FREE SHIPPING!

Tucson, Arizona, 857**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$22745

1965 GIBSON SG STANDARD, Near Mint, All Original, FreeShipping in US- $17, 495
PREMIUM and PRISTINE!
The 1965 Gibson SG Standard solid body electric guitar hasfrequently been described as the pinnacle of this desirable model??s production What is being offered for sale is perhaps the most perfect example you willever come across. Aside from a tiny blemish near the pickup selector (seephoto) and extremely light scratches on the pickguard, that the camera couldn??tpick up, this guitar is as... more
eBay logo
1965 Gibson ES-335 Semi-Hollow in Iced Tea 341401

1965 Gibson ES-335 Semi-Hollow in Iced Tea 341401

Highland Park, Illinois, 600**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$20095

This Used 1965 Gibson ES-335 Semi-Hollow in Iced Tea is here on consignment. This is a very fine example of a mid-60s Gibson, still in great shape. The neck is straight, the original frets are still crowned and the truss rod functions properly. Included with the guitar is a Gibson Hardshell Case from the correct era, which is likely the original hardshell case. All the electronics check out as original. The D tuning Key is slightly bent though it still functions. The body is weather-checked in ... more
eBay logo
Scotty Moores, Elvis Presley Era, Gibson, Tal Farlow Guitar, Autographed! 1966,

Scotty Moore's, Elvis Presley Era, Gibson, Tal Farlow Guitar, Autographed! 1966,

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

$16995

Serial Number: #406675
Scotty Moore was one of the greatest and influential guitarists of all time. His tenure with Elvis Presley spanned 14 years, starting with their first hit recording session at Sun Studios in 1954, through Elvis??s legendary ??Come Back Special?? in 1968. He played on most of Presley??s most famous recordings, including ??That??s All Right??, ??Good Rockin?? Tonight??, ??Heartbreak Hotel??, ??Blue Suede Shoes??, Hound Dog?? and ??Jailhouse Rock??. He was inducted into ... more
eBay logo
1964 Gibson ES-335 Cherry Red Late 1964  /  Very Early 1965

1964 Gibson ES-335 Cherry Red Late 1964 / Very Early 1965

Henderson, Nevada, 890**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$15890

For sale is a late '64 Gibson / early '65 ES-335. The "Bigsby" model ES 335s serialed in early 65 but with all 64 appointments were actually left overs from the recession year 1964. Nice wide fat neck, Nichel hardware, early pat numbered pickups, even '64 headstock angle and 64 style pebble case. It is essentially a 1964 and 10k less!
The guitar is all original except for perfect new frets and the back of the neck has been clear coated. It had a Bigsby on it
At one point the guitar had... more
eBay logo
Pre Owned 1965 Gibson SG Standard Cherry With OHSC

Pre Owned 1965 Gibson SG Standard Cherry With OHSC

Santa Monica, California, 904**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$14999

[contenteditable]{ pointer-events: none; }
Life question:  Do you really need a 1965 Gibson SG?  Oh yes you do   Especially one like this   What we have here is a super clean, almost entirely original (everything except for a few screws & springs), smooth playing and amazing sounding SG, from the great year of 1965
History lesson:  Originally released in 1961, the SG Standard was positioned above the SG Special but below the SG Custom in Gibson's lineup. It has remained one of the ... more
eBay logo
Gibson Firebird 1965 - Original Inverness Green, Super Rare and Beyond Cool

Gibson Firebird 1965 - Original Inverness Green, Super Rare and Beyond Cool

Commerce Township, Michigan, 483**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$12000

How do describe a guitar that's this rare? Gibson offered Custom Colors in 1965 for the radical, space-age Firebird Non-Reverse, but 95% of the time produced sunbursts. About 60 years have passed now, and how many Inverness Green Firebirds have survived in the dynamic guitar marketplace? Here is one in unfaded glory! The killer combination of 3 Vintage P-90s, effective Maestro trem, lightweight, massive tones, accurate innotation, Brazillian rosewood, aged mahogany, beautiful checking, simple ... more
eBay logo
1965 Gibson ES-175D Cherry Sunburst w / OSHC

1965 Gibson ES-175D Cherry Sunburst w / OSHC

Tarzana, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9995

1965 Gibson ES-175D Cherry Sunburst with Original Hard Case
For your consideration, an incredible and vintage 1965 Gibson ES-175D in Cherry Sunburst with its original hard case. All original, Serial # 368515 out of the Kalamazoo factory
This guitar came from the family of his original owner Horacio Malvicino, who passed away last year. Horacio Malvicino was an Argentine Guitar Player and Composer, best known for popularizing bebop in Argentina, and for his work with Astor Piazzolla. ... more
eBay logo
Gibson Vintage 1966 Non-Reverse Firebird III Re-Fin Re-Build Pelham Blue w Case

Gibson Vintage 1966 Non-Reverse Firebird III Re-Fin Re-Build Pelham Blue w Case

Canton, Ohio, 447**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$8808

The guitar pictured is the actual guitar you will receive!
At The Farm, we take actual pictures of each instrument and make sure they are fully set-up and ready to play before we ship them. Each instrument goes through a multi-point inspection, followed by a set-up process by our in-house tech staff. We then photograph each instrument with high-quality equipment in our on-site photography studio. We know that details like wood grain and color finishes can vary, so we want you ... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson ES-330 TD Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Ice Tea Sunburst, Near-Mint

1966 Gibson ES-330 TD Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Ice Tea Sunburst, Near-Mint

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

$8800

Up for sale, a 1966 Gibson ES-330TD in 100% original, collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A stunningly well-preserved vintage Gibson, the guitar features a lightly figured maple body finished in Ice Tea Sunburst
Highlighting both the clarity and note attack of maple and the airy quality of the fully hollow construction, this Gibson has a relaxed, smooth natural acoustic tone that translates well through the pickups. The P-90s have a glassy ... more
eBay logo
Vintage 1965, Gibson Firebird V, Non reverse body, Original & Pretty Sunburst

Vintage 1965, Gibson Firebird V, Non reverse body, Original & Pretty Sunburst

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

$8750


Vintage 1965 Gibson Firebird "V" Model This is a Very clean and nice example if you like clean vintage instruments It remains all-Original with No cracks, damage or modifications
I checked the pots, they are dated the 39th week of 1965 and all electronics remain factory original
This guitar has been in my collection for 30 years
It has just been cleaned, re-strung with fresh D'addario 10's, set up and tested
All is working perfectly including the Vibrato assembly and Arm ... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson ES-330 TD Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sunburst, Near-Mint w /  Case

1966 Gibson ES-330 TD Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sunburst, Near-Mint w / Case

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

$7500

Up for sale, a 1966 Gibson ES-330 TD in collector-grade, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. An exceedingly well-preserved vintage Gibson, the guitar features a lightly figured maple body finished in gloss Sunburst nitro lacquer
Highlighting both the clarity and note attack of maple and the airy quality of the fully hollow construction, this Gibson has a relaxed, smooth natural acoustic tone that translates well through the ... more
eBay logo
Gibson ES-175 1965 Electric Guitar

Gibson ES-175 1965 Electric Guitar

Wenatchee, Washington, 988**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7250

I found this really nice collector guitar in the Olde World Trading Co , Ephrata, WA, 10 / 08 / 94. It was pawned I believe by a traveling musician
It has been meticulously maintained and kept in a humidity controlled environment. It is in excellent condition with only minor scuffs. Everything works the last time it was checked
History of the Gibson ES 175:
Here's an answer I got using Microsoft Copilot AI:
The Gibson ES-175 is a legendary hollow-body electric guitar that has ... more
eBay logo
Gibson SG Junior with Vibrola Cherry Finish 1966 w / OHSC

Gibson SG Junior with Vibrola Cherry Finish 1966 w / OHSC

Renton, Washington, 980**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7000

Vintage Gibson SG Junior with Vibrola in Cherry Finish made in 1966 with original Lifton hard shell case. This guitar features a solid mahogany body, mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. Equipped with a single original Gibson dog ear P-90 in the bridge position and Controlled by 1 volume and 1 tone pots comprised of its original CTS pots dating to the 7th week of 1966. The 24 75" scale length neck has pearloid dot inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets on a 12" radius with a slim taper profile. The... more
eBay logo
1966 Epiphone Riviera Cherry Sunburst - Gibson-USA Made Vintage Guitar! es-335,

1966 Epiphone Riviera Cherry Sunburst - Gibson-USA Made Vintage Guitar! es-335,

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 640**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6999


1966 Epiphone Riviera Cherry Sunburst - Gibson-USA Made Vintage Guitar!
Great vibe on this beautiful 1966 Epiphone USA Riviera. Made in the old Gibson Kalamazoo factory right next to ES-335's, 355's etc! These Epiphone's have a slightly different flavor than their Gibson counterparts like slightly longer scale, mini-humbuckers and different branding of course, but the build quality is identical. The mini-humbuckers sound amazing as usual. This guitar is a great ... more
eBay logo
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
eBay logo
1965 Gibson J-160E 1965 - Sunburst

1965 Gibson J-160E 1965 - Sunburst

Fredericksburg, Virginia, 224**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6500

One of the first ??electric / acoustic?? models on the market, the J-160E was made famous in the hands of John Lennon and the Beatles. All the mojo of a J-45 with the added open P-90 in the neck position. This 1965 J-160E is in remarkable condition with no cracks and mild playwear. The adjustable bridge was replaced a few years ago with an era correct 1965 B-25 bridge keeping this guitar as close to Gibson specs of the era while increasing functionality. The truss rod works and the neck looks ... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson SG Junior Cherry

1966 Gibson SG Junior Cherry

Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

Very good condition 1966 Gibson SG Junior in cherry. All original. Original pickup screams as is known with these models. Some light play wear as pictured, but nothing out of the ordinary for a guitar this age. All tuners work great, and all electronics have been tested to be working perfectly as well. Original finish is still very much in tact. No neck break, but the body did have a break very early in its life near the lower bout, but is professionally repaired and as solid as it??s ever been.... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson ES-330 TDC Cherry Vintage Electric Guitar Excellent w / Pro setup OHSC

1966 Gibson ES-330 TDC Cherry Vintage Electric Guitar Excellent w / Pro setup OHSC

Hopewell, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5825

1966 Gibson ES-330 TDC Cherry Vintage Electric Guitar Excellent condition straight neck & very low playing time on this one. She sports a pro setup with low action. The Original Hard Shell Case well worth $500 on its own. Excellent Condition and new strings 10's. In this condition they are rare as this is one of 1151 Cherry ES-330 TDC's produced in 1966. The serial number is 887311. The neck joint at the 16th fret confirms she was born in 1966. Polished , neck lemon oiled, new set of ... more
eBay logo
1966 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse, Ready to Play

1966 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse, Ready to Play

Westfield, New Jersey, 070**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5500

Done right and ready to play
This 1966 Firebird has all the modifications generally done to these guitars. Ready to use with any modern-day amp from super clean to high gain. Stays in tune and set up perfectly. All replaced parts are genuine Gibson. I love this guitar and it sounds and plays like a dream. Just time to thin the heard. Frets are original and in like new condition. I don't have the case. Will ship with a quality soft case, packed with care. Here is the list of repairs and ... more
eBay logo

Find more Hofner guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 0 comments on this page so far. Add your comment

Comment on this article

Anti-spam question - to catch web robots

Contact
info@vintageguitarandbass.com

mailing list

Follow

Facebook  Instagram  YouTube

Other Great Sites

Recent posts on vintage guitar and bass

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.