Above: the new Gibson Certified Vintage guitars have arrived.
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Explore the Gibson Certified Vintage collection: HERE.
Curated, Authenticated, Certified.
Gibson Certified Vintage features rare, highly collectible vintage instruments authenticated by the brand that made them.
NASHVILLE, TN Gibson--the iconic American-made, and leading instrument brand--has a legacy of making world-class instruments since 1894 when Orville Gibson was crafting archtop mandolins. As a natural extension of Gibson’s passion for its unique instruments and the stories they tell, the history-making Gibson Certified Vintage program--offers collectible vintage guitars authenticated, and certified directly by Gibson, with a new limited lifetime warranty and a certificate of vintage authenticity. All Gibson Certified Vintage guitars are sold via the Gibson Garage in Nashville, TN, call (615) 933-6000; select models will be available for purchase via https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Certified-Vintage.
Today the Gibson Certified Vintage program premieres the next collection of guitars, a 1955 Les Paul Custom, 1952 ES-295, 1960 ES-335, 1981 ES-347 (Left-handed), and a 1982 Leo’s Les Paul.
“We’re proud to offer stunning examples of our most legendary guitars, each certified and authenticated by the company that originally crafted them,” says Mitch Conrad, Gibson Certified Vintage Manager. “It’s exciting to see these iconic instruments return to Gibson and begin a new chapter of music-making with their next caretakers. These five guitars are just the beginning of the exciting things Gibson Certified Vintage has in store.”
Explore the next five guitars to debut in the Gibson Certified Vintage collection below and check back for refreshed vintage offerings as each guitar is sold; for all details, visit https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Certified-Vintage.
A world-first, the Gibson Certified Vintage collection features one-of-a-kind Golden Era blue-chip guitars, unique, one-of-a-kind prototypes, celebrity-owned guitars, as well as 70s and 80s models directly from the Gibson Vault. In an industry first, all Gibson Certified Vintage guitars sold will receive a new lifetime limited warranty. All guitars will also come with a detailed letter of appraisal confirming the provenance and history of the instrument, and a certificate of authenticity, signed by Gibson’s Certified Vintage Manager, Mitch Conrad.
Above (L-R): Gibson Certified Vintage guitars: Les Paul Custom, ES-295, and ES-335.
GIBSON CERTIFIED VINTAGE:
1955 LES PAUL CUSTOM
SERIAL #513507
This gorgeous 1955 Les Paul™ Custom is in excellent original condition with very minimal wear and no significant lacquer checking. It has one small ding on the back of the body near the strap button that removed the finish. This instrument was initially shipped on January 13, 1956, with four other Les Paul Custom guitars to CMI, likely for export.
This guitar has a note written in Swedish recounting a portion of its history, translated below: “I bought this guitar from an advertisement in Dagens Nyheter. It was in Luleå, so I went up and checked. A younger guy owned it then. He had received a tip that there was an elderly man in Haparanda who had an LP in a closet. He had bought the guitar in 1955 in the belief that he would become a musician, but it was not to be. He only played at home with an old radio as an amplifier. The original cables that came with it bear witness to this (banana plugs). You can see that the guitar is a little used. Original shoulder strap plus key with carvers + plectrum.”
Includes the original black and gold Lifton® hardshell case.
Availability Date: The purchased instrument will be available for pickup at the Gibson Garage in Nashville or shipment to an address in the US starting December 12, 2024.
1952 ES-295
SERIAL #A-12067
Debuting in 1952, the ES-295 built upon its successful predecessor, the ES-175. Unlike the single-pickup ES-175, the ES-295 boasted two P-90s and set the stage for the coming rock ’n’ roll revolution and became a significant part of Gibson’s storied “Golden Era” under Ted McCarty. Built from 1952-1959, the ES-295 carved its early sonic heritage in the hands of Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scotty Moore and continued its journey with players like the inimitable Danny Gatton, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, and Bryan Adams.
This particular ES-295 is in excellent original overall condition. There is very little greening of the finish and minimal wear throughout. It shows light play wear on the back of the neck in the “cowboy chord” first position, with wear through to the wood on the back of the neck at the third fret. There is fingerboard wear near the binding on frets 1-5, on both the bass and treble sides, and the frets are in very good condition. The gold hardware plating is lightly worn but still retains a lot of color.
The pickguard bracket nut was missing and was replaced with a Custom Shop replica. Light overspray on the headstock was carefully removed by Master Artisan and Luthier Tom Murphy. The instrument shows no evidence of any breaks or repairs. It comes equipped with flatwound strings, a factory out-of-phase middle position, and its original Lifton® brown and pink case.
Availability Date: The purchased instrument will be available for pickup at the Gibson Garage in Nashville or shipment to an address in the US starting December 12, 2024.
1960 ES-335
SERIAL #A33064
This stunning 1960 ES-335 is in excellent condition with light lacquer checking, nicks, and dings throughout. The laminated maple body has a two-piece back and one-piece top, and it boasts some 1959 spec appointments including a long pickguard, gold Top Hat knobs, and plastic strap buttons. It also features a slimmer, 1960 neck. This instrument was first shipped on March 18,1960.
This guitar has been refretted, and the original bridge (included in the case), which started to collapse, has been replaced with an aged nickel Custom Shop ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge. Other originals included with this exceptional instrument are the hardshell case, black leather strap, Pennsylvania Installment Sales contract, and Sonomatic Strings hangtag.
Availability Date: The purchased instrument will be available for pickup at the Gibson Garage in Nashville or shipment to an address in the US starting December 12, 2024.
1981 ES-347 (LEFT-HANDED)
SERIAL #82941056
Gibson ES™ models have seen several evolutionary changes since the debut of the ES-150 in 1936. In 1978, the ES-347 debuted as an alternate to the ES-345 with its Varitone and stereo outputs. The ES-347 replaced the Varitone with a coil-tap switch, along with some aesthetic updates, and remained popular throughout its run into the 1990s. The appreciation for this unique ES model continues today.
This extraordinary 1981 ES-347 Left-Handed guitar is in excellent New Old Stock (NOS) condition, right down to the protective plastic on the pickguard. This instrument is in a near-mint state with no appreciable play wear, finish wear, or hardware tarnishing. Still protected by its original hardshell case, this instrument is a rare example of a true time capsule from 43 years ago.
Availability Date: The purchased instrument will be available for pickup at the Gibson Garage in Nashville or shipment to an address in the US starting December 12, 2024.
1982 LEO’S LES PAUL
SERIAL # L1 0131
This rare 1982 Leo’s Les Paul™ represents the last era of Kalamazoo-made Les Paul guitars, inspired by what was done in the 1950s. This “pre-reissue” Les Paul was part of a limited run made at the request of dealers to replicate what Gibson was doing in 1959. Although some of the Leo’s Les Pauls were made in Nashville, this one features a serial number impressed in the control cavity, which was only applied to Kalamazoo-made instruments in this run.
The guitar is in very good condition overall. It has mild checking throughout, and there is some lacquer crackling around the neck joint in the cutaway that doesn’t cause concern but is visible in the photos. It has nicks and dings throughout, with four small, circular indentations on the back of the body. A new nylon nut has been installed by Gibson Repair & Restoration. This guitar ships with a brown and pink Lifton® 5-latch Reissue hardshell case.
Availability Date: The purchased instrument will be available for pickup at the Gibson Garage in Nashville or shipment to an address in the US starting December 12, 2024.
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About Gibson:
Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London.
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