Description
Presented here is a well preserved and largely original post-WW2 this Gibson ES-300 Archtop Electric in sunburst finish, dates to 1947 or late 1946 at the Kalamazoo plant.
Introduced during 1940 as the flagship archtop with Gibson's 'Advanced' or enlarged body (now 17 inches wide, up from 16), prewar production only lasted into 1942. The pre-war models featured carved Spruce tops and two versions of diagonally mounted pickups, one large and one small. These pickups do not seem to have model numbers and were discontinued quickly. The first postwar models received Maple Laminate for the top, back and sides plus a single P-90 pickup in the neck position - a second pickup became available in late 1948. For 1946 and most of 1947, the headstock Gibson logo Mother of Pearl inlay is in Script form. In late 1947 and on, the logo shifted to the blocky style lettering. The 'tall barrel' control knobs are original and were replaced in 1950 with numbered versions.
This wonderful Gibson ES-300 is in very clean, mostly original condition with light wear for its age. The alterations from stock are a refret, a modern high-quality reproduction pickguard, and a replacement set of tuners of the original style. The finish is in very good condition for its 79-year age but on very close examination the top may have had a clear coat overspray long ago.
There is no serial number or FON (Factory Order Number) visible on this guitar, so it is dated by its several year-specific features. One of the identification features is a "Made in the USA" stamp, directly into the finish and wood on the upper rear of the headstock. This indicates that the guitar was intended for export from the USA, most likely to Canada.
Most of the alterations are very practical and of wear items, and have extended the working life of this instrument.
The original hard shell case is included.
Gibson ES-300 Construction and Materials
As with most archtop electric guitars, feedback rejection is a priority so the body is constructed of wooden laminates, here Maple and with Spruce bracing for the top. This model used Gibson's 'newish' larger 'Advanced' body intended to compete with Epiphone's 17 and 18 inch models.
The blocks, linings and neck are Mahogany, and the headstock has a layer of black-dyed Holly. The fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian Rosewood. The top and back are bound, as are the fingerboard and headstock. The Mother of Pearl Gibson logo is in Script form, with the leaf underneath, and the position markers are split parallelograms.
Tuners are Kluson Deluxe. The installed models are replacements of the same style, dating to at least 1953.
The tailpiece is original to this guitar, and was made by Kluson from the late 1930s to 1942 for Gibson. Gibson had a stock of them when war suspended production, and naturally started using them when production resumed. As stock dwindled, the modern tailpiece versions appeared.
The Gibson ES-300 electronics are also original, a single P-90 with volume and tone controls leading to an output jack on the side. This is a very early P-90, developed directly from the failed 'short diagonal' pickup used on the 1941-42 ES-300. Gibson engineer Walter Fuller reworked the pickup into a 'normal' rectangular housing and added adjustable polepieces, and the pickup is still in active production. The knobs are tall, barrel types with a gold finish underneath and no markings.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: ES-300 Archtop Electric
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson
- Instrument year: 1947
- Instrument Finish: Sunburst Nitrocellulose lacquer
- Instrument Class: Archtop Electric Guitars
- Instrument serial number: N/A, serials not always applied at this time but features date it closely.
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 6.292 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 2.86 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.5 in
- Scale Length Metric: 647.7 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.736 in
- Nut Width Metric: 44.10 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: N/A
- Case Type: Hard Shell
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190983
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |