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Gibson Custom Johnny Smith JSD 25th Anniversary Blonde Master Model Archtop Jazz
Estimated price for orientation: 8 500 $
Category: Electric Guitars
Class:
Description Brand: Gibson Series: Custom Model: Custom
Gibson Custom Johnny Smith !986 25th Anniversary ‘JSD’ Master Model - This fine example is an all original guitar with the rare blonde finish, a single Venetian Cutaway, all hand-carved solid woods, and made to the legendary jazz guitar artist Johnny Smith’s exacting specifications, complied with by Gibson unlike any other guitar manufacturer. Gibson president Ted McCarty went in person to Smith at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1961, where Johnny & Ted then drew up the plans for an awesome new Gibson signature model. THIS special guitar celebrates 25 years of success with Johnny’s signature model resulting from that first meeting. This guitar was made in 1985, but sold as a 1986 model (25 years after the first). Johnny wanted a precisely made ax with a 17” body, 3 1/8” thick (1/4” less than the L-5 & Super 400), ’X’ top-bracing like the 1938 L-5 instead of the later “tone bar” parallel braces, 25” scale, 1 23/32” nut (slightly larger than the typical 1 11/16”, but not quite 1 3/4”), a floating mini-humbucker (dual mini-HBs were not offered until ’63), output jack under pickguard, and the volume & tone controls mounted in the pickguard, all so there are no additional holes or hard materials mounted in or on the body anywhere, keeping the top vibrating freely. Finally, add the L-5’s ABM 1501 “Fine-Tuning Fingers” tailpiece (early models had the “standard” L-5 TP with Smith’s name on the insert), & Super 400 compound radius neck & fancy split-parallel headstock ornamentation inlay. There are other Johnny Smith models out there (i.e. Guild Artist Award), but Gibson is the ONLY guitar maker who did the job exactly right, without changing ANY of Johnny Smith’s 1961 specifications. THIS is one of THOSE amazing guitars, blonde, with dual PUs, and upgraded ABM fine tuning taiplece. This particular guitar has amazingly nice wood grains, the prettiest maple sides & back I’ve ever seen, and there are no marks or defects anywhere in the wood. There is wear on the gold PU covers, probably from polishing only, the guitar looks unplayed, otherwise. Install new PU covers or new PUs & it’s a brand-new-looking ax. The output jack under the pickguard is 1/8” (small) to keep weight down. I’ll include a cable that’s 1/8” male on one end & 1/4” male (standard guitar plug) on the other end. Plug & play as soon as you get it home!Master Model label, signed Jim Hutchins, 10/2/85Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 23/32”All original hardware in great condition, with some wear on PU covers as noted above. Replace those and it’s a new guitar, no dents or dings, zero defects. This 1986 25th Anniversary Model also has an upgraded ABM 1501 Finger Style Fine-Tuning Tailpiece - over $275 just for this upgrade that came on the guitar from the factory. I got the guitar about 5 years ago from archtop.com, you can probably still find pictures of it there in the list of Joe’s Sold axes. I have not touched the setup since receiving it from Joe. Comes with the original hard case it was shipped in.
Description
| Brand: | Gibson | Series: | Custom |
| Model: | Custom |
Gibson Custom Johnny Smith !986 25th Anniversary ‘JSD’ Master Model - This fine example is an all original guitar with the rare blonde finish, a single Venetian Cutaway, all hand-carved solid woods, and made to the legendary jazz guitar artist Johnny Smith’s exacting specifications, complied with by Gibson unlike any other guitar manufacturer. Gibson president Ted McCarty went in person to Smith at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1961, where Johnny & Ted then drew up the plans for an awesome new Gibson signature model. THIS special guitar celebrates 25 years of success with Johnny’s signature model resulting from that first meeting. This guitar was made in 1985, but sold as a 1986 model (25 years after the first). Johnny wanted a precisely made ax with a 17” body, 3 1/8” thick (1/4” less than the L-5 & Super 400), ’X’ top-bracing like the 1938 L-5 instead of the later “tone bar” parallel braces, 25” scale, 1 23/32” nut (slightly larger than the typical 1 11/16”, but not quite 1 3/4”), a floating mini-humbucker (dual mini-HBs were not offered until ’63), output jack under pickguard, and the volume & tone controls mounted in the pickguard, all so there are no additional holes or hard materials mounted in or on the body anywhere, keeping the top vibrating freely. Finally, add the L-5’s ABM 1501 “Fine-Tuning Fingers” tailpiece (early models had the “standard” L-5 TP with Smith’s name on the insert), & Super 400 compound radius neck & fancy split-parallel headstock ornamentation inlay. There are other Johnny Smith models out there (i.e. Guild Artist Award), but Gibson is the ONLY guitar maker who did the job exactly right, without changing ANY of Johnny Smith’s 1961 specifications. THIS is one of THOSE amazing guitars, blonde, with dual PUs, and upgraded ABM fine tuning taiplece. This particular guitar has amazingly nice wood grains, the prettiest maple sides & back I’ve ever seen, and there are no marks or defects anywhere in the wood. There is wear on the gold PU covers, probably from polishing only, the guitar looks unplayed, otherwise. Install new PU covers or new PUs & it’s a brand-new-looking ax. The output jack under the pickguard is 1/8” (small) to keep weight down. I’ll include a cable that’s 1/8” male on one end & 1/4” male (standard guitar plug) on the other end. Plug & play as soon as you get it home!Master Model label, signed Jim Hutchins, 10/2/85Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 23/32”All original hardware in great condition, with some wear on PU covers as noted above. Replace those and it’s a new guitar, no dents or dings, zero defects. This 1986 25th Anniversary Model also has an upgraded ABM 1501 Finger Style Fine-Tuning Tailpiece - over $275 just for this upgrade that came on the guitar from the factory. I got the guitar about 5 years ago from archtop.com, you can probably still find pictures of it there in the list of Joe’s Sold axes. I have not touched the setup since receiving it from Joe. Comes with the original hard case it was shipped in.