1956 Gibson J-185
One of only 65 J-185s that Gibson shipped in 1956, this example came to Folkway with the family of the gentleman who played it for the better part of 50 years. It’s a perfectly beautiful guitar, with the perfect amount of playwear and finish crazing, some very sensitive repairs by Mark Stutman here at Folkway, excellent playability, and that quintessential J-185 tone.

The Gibson J-185 is a rare model of Gibson acoustic, considered by many to be the company’s best post-war flat-top. Produced only between 1951 and 1959, less than 1000 of this model were shipped, including both sunburst and natural variants, which makes it significantly rarer than a 1958-60 sunburst Les Paul Standard!

With a 16” small jumbo body of the same shape as all the 16” archtop models and ES-335 variants, the J-185 was built with an X braced spruce top and maple back and sides. It was trimmed similarly to the popular Southerner Jumbo, L-7, and ES-300 models but featured a sunburst-on-all-sides finish, gold Kluson tuners, pearl Maltese Cross bridge wing inlays, and a tortoise-pattern pickguard which was finished clear, rather than sunburst. This model is famous for its incredible string balance, strong and rounded treble-string response, volume, and comfort, in addition to its great looks and classic 50’s neck carve. This 1956 Gibson J-185 example is certainly all that and then some.

Repairs by our shop include neck reset, refret, bone saddle and new pins, a few cleanly reglued brace ends, and reinforcement of the old top crack repair below the bridge. The real repair magic you won’t be able to spot in these photos or in person. The guitar came to us with large Schaller tuners installed, large peg-head washers, and extra screw-holes on the back of the headstock that wouldn’t be covered up with the original Kluson tuner set that we sourced for this guitar. We’ve repaired and levelled the holes and washer imprints, oversprayed the front and back of the headstock (but not the sides or top of it) and aged the overspray to blend in with the rest of the guitar. The chips in the headstock edge finish are exactly where they were before the repairs. Without the use of a blacklight you’d more than likely never notice or suspect anything out of the ordinary. We’ve invisibly repaired a crack between the pickguard and fretboard extension, as well. The quality of the repairwork on this guitar is the stuff of legend.

The guitar plays perfectly thanks to recent frets and set-up. We have set the action at 5-6 64ths. The saddle is full height, and the nut is original to the guitar. During the refret we chose to leave the fretboard original and unsanded, as you would with a ’50s maple board Fender Strat or Tele. The fretboard shows all the fingernail divots and playwear of the last 70 or so years but plays like a new guitar. Don’t buy this guitar if you don’t appreciate that kind of playwear!

The neck has a deep and full rounded carve with a depth of .906” at the 1st fret and a nut width of 1-11/16”. Scale length is 24.75” and bridge pin spacing is 2-1/8”. A K&K Pure pickup has been professionally installed.

With Canadian-made Mainstage Flight Case.

1956 Gibson J-185 vintage acoustic guitar
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1965 Gibson EB-2
Making its debut at the 1958 summer NAMM show, Gibson’s EB-2 was the company’s bass guitar counterpart to the newly launched Thinline Double Cutaway guitars (ES-335 etc). The first variant of the EB-2 was produced between 1958 and 1962, with a second appearing in 1964 after a brief hiatus. These second variant EB-2 differed only slightly from the older models, with smaller cutaway horns as opposed to the “Mickey Mouse ears” of the late ’50s and early ’60s; a nickel or chrome plated pickup cover in place of black plastic and nickel or chrome plated right-angle tuners in place of banjo-style tuners. The mid 1960s brought huge success for the model; however, sales began to slump rapidly later in the decade, resulting in the EB-2 being discontinued in the early 1970s.

A beautiful example of an early second variant EB-2, this ’64 spec bass features a full 1-11/16″ nutwidth and a combination of nickel and chrome hardware. This 1965 Gibson EB-2 bass boasts a stunning and remarkably clean Cherry Red finish with minimal playwear. The original frets are in excellent shape with no significant wear. The overall condition of this instrument suggests that it has seen relatively little use over the last six decades. One of the four tuning machines differs from the other three in that it is a non-reverse chrome machine head. As this bass was built in an era where Gibson was transitioning to non-reverse chrome tuners, it is very likely that this part is original to the instrument; there is no evidence of otherwise.

The original humbucker offers a powerful, dark, and rich voice, with the baritone switch delivering increased clarity and articulation from the pickup when engaged. The instrument’s excellent sonic characteristics are complimented by a full and round neck profile that is wonderfully comfortable, making the instrument an absolute joy to play.

This original pickup is currently measuring 181 kOhm instead of the roughly 30k that we would expect. It currently sounds incredible and is functioning properly so we’re not particularly concerned by this measurement.

Scale length of 30.5″. 1st first fret depth of 0.907″, 12th fret depth of 0.985″. Weight of 8lbs 15oz.

With original hardshell case

1965 Gibson EB-2 vintage bass guitar
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The Firebird VII was the flagship model of Gibson’s then-new line of Firebird guitars upon its introduction in 1963. The guitar boasted three of the newly designed mini-humbucker pickups, a Lyre Vibrola and ABR-1 bridge, gold plated hardware, and an ebony fingerboard with block inlays.

Built in Gibson’s Nashville plant in 2006, this Firebird VII is an excellent tribute to the original “reverse” models produced between 1963 and 1965. The Polaris White finish has already begun to age and darken and the gold-plated hardware against the off-white finish looks spectacular. It’s a particularly handsome instrument.

The three mini-humbucker pickups offer rich, clear tones, with the switching allowing for a wide array of tonal capabilities. The wiring harness on this guitar has been modified slightly to offer individual volume control for each pickup and a single master tone knob, which allows a player to blend all three pickups together in any configuration. While not historically accurate, this easily reversible modification makes the guitar much more versatile than it would otherwise be. In its current state, the treble tone knob functions as a volume for the middle pickup, and the bass tone knob is a master tone.

With a first fret depth of 0.81″, 0.86″ depth at the twelfth, and the standard 1-11/16″ nut width, the neck has a fast and comfortable profile that measures up similarly to Gibson’s 1963 carve. The guitar weighs just under 8-3/4 lbs, which is quite respectable, given all the extra hardware a Firebird VII has.

The guitar shows normal playwear for an instrument that is nearly two decades old. The original frets show some wear but still have plenty of life left, and the guitar is set up nicely with 4-5 64ths action at the 12th fret. There is a small, repaired seam separation between the bass-side wing and the centre of the body at the lower bout that poses no concern to us.

With original hardshell case.

2006 Gibson Firebird VII electric guitar

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Introduced in 1993, the Gibson L-5 Wes Montgomery signature model is a tribute to the single pickup L-5 CES that Wes custom ordered from Gibson in the mid 1960s. The key feature that set his custom L-5 apart from a stock model was the single neck humbucker configuration, as the L-5 CES was typically outfitted with a pair of humbucker pickups in the 1960s. <br/><br/>

A stunning offering from Gibson’s Custom Shop, this 1998 L-5 Wes Montgomery boasts a deep and luscious Wine Red finish that pairs beautifully with the gold-plated hardware. With block marker fingerboard inlays, custom Wes Montgomery L5 tailpiece, and multi-layer binding throughout, this L-5 CES is a truly elegant instrument. <br/><br/>

Outfitted with a Gibson ’57 Classic neck humbucker (8.6K), this guitar offers a rich and full bodied voice with incredible harmonic depth and power. The full-hollow construction of the guitar imparts an airy and cavernous quality to the instrument’s tone that blends beautifully with the voice of the humbucker pickup. The neck has a comfortable early ’60s inspired neck carve that measures 0.781″ at the first fret and 0.901″ at the twelfth and has a 1-11/16″ nut width. <br/><br/>

A well-maintained and sensibly cared-for instrument, this twenty five year old Gibson guitar is in very good condition and presents very well. The original finish shows little in the way of playwear, the gold-plated hardware is relatively untarnished, and the original frets are in excellent condition. There are small, localized sections of finish delamination around the fingerboard binding which is quite common to see on Gibson guitars from this era. Our repair shop has stabilized the finish in these areas in order to prevent the delamination from progressing. A 2″ long top crack just left of the tailpiece has been glued in-house.  <br/><br/>

Solid carved spruce top with figured maple back and sides. 5-piece maple and walnut neck with ebony fretboard. Set-up in our shop. <br/><br/>

With original hardshell case.

1998 Gibson L-5 Wes Montgomery hollow body electric guitar

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The Gibson Super 400CES made its debut in 1951 as the flagship electric guitar model in the company’s catalog. The 18” wide Super 400 archtop had been the company’s most prestigious offering since its inception in 1938, and the electrified Super 400 CES of the early 1950s was designed to be the equivalent in Gibson’s line up of electric instruments. While the model went through several design changes throughout the following years and decades, the most iconic version of the Super 400 CES was the PAF-equipped variant built between 1957 and 1960.

Based on the Gibson Super 400 CES guitars of the late 1950s, this 1999 build features a rounded venetian cutaway and a pair of vintage-voiced PAF humbucker pickups. This exquisite instrument is crafted with a carved Sitka spruce top, beautifully figured maple back and sides, and a three-piece maple neck with two walnut streamers. An ornately adorned instrument, this guitar is appointed with multi-layer binding throughout, split block fingerboard inlays, split diamond inlays on both the front and back of the headstock and gold-plated hardware including hand-engraved Super 400 tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners.

Like many guitars of this quality, this Super 400 has been meticulously cared for over its now 25 years of life. The finish, gold-plated hardware, and frets are all in excellent condition with very little wear to speak of. The only evidence of the guitar’s age comes in the form of minor finish crazing and some small sections of chipped finish along the bottom edge of the fingerboard binding, all of which is common to see on a Gibson instrument from this time period.

Equipped with a pair of Gibson ’57 Classic pickups that measure 8.7k in the neck and 8.6k in the bridge, this guitar offers rich and full-bodied humbucker tones that are complemented wonderfully by the open and airy sonic characteristics imparted by the instrument’s fully hollow 18″ body. The 25-1/2″ scale length provides a subtle but present clarity to the guitar’s response that can be lacking in some Gibson models, resulting in a defined note separation that lends itself well to chord melody arrangements and lead playing. Featuring a C carve, 1-11/16″ nut width and a depth that tapers from 0.803″ at the 1st fret to 0.925″ at the ninth, the neck has a comfortable profile perfect for making complex chordal shapes and fast lead lines up and down the fingerboard while retaining a relatively full feel.

This Super 400CES is a one-owner instrument. It’s been setup in our shop and is strung with 12-52 flatwound strings and a fast Jazz action. It previously had a Bigsby tailpiece mounted, any evidence of which is hidden by the original tailpiece, now reinstalled.

With original warranty card (matching serial number) and original hardshell case.

1999 Gibson Super 400 elevtric guitar

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The Gibson Tal Farlow Artist model was a short-lived 17” electric archtop that featured a distinctive faux-scroll venetian cut-away and unique pickguard. Tal Farlow was a well-respected jazz guitarist whose fame peaked in the 1950s, a few years prior to Gibson’s release of his signature model in 1962. However, Farlow wasn’t performing much through the 1960s, which is likely one of the reasons the Tal Farlow model’s sales didn’t live up to expectations. The model was discontinued in 1967, with a total production of just 215 instruments.

A fine example of a Gibson Tal Farlow model and previously part of the Joe Bonamassa collection, this guitar remains in very good condition and is completely original apart from a professional refret and nicely made replacement nut. The Viceroy Brown finish is wonderfully preserved throughout the body, with light finish crazing and only a few minor chips and dents. The neck shows ample playwear, with the finish mostly worn away between the 2nd and 9th frets. With a neck constructed of laminated maple, the worn-in feel is akin to the smooth and fast feel of a well-played vintage Fender neck.

The original unmodified Patent Number pickups are a remarkably great sounding pair of humbuckers. In the bridge position this guitar offers a rich voice with excellent clarity and note separation. The neck pickup delivers a warm response with airy overtones. The pickups are perfectly balanced with one another, offering the ideal tonal variation from treble to bass.

With a lean neck carve and new frets that play perfectly across the fingerboard, this Tal Farlow offers a fast feel that is incredibly enjoyable. Weighing a comfortable 7lbs 7oz, this guitar can be gigged for hours on end without any discomfort.

Scale length of 25.5″, 1-9/16″ nut with, first fret depth of 0.810″, twelfth fret depth of 0.939″. Pickup DC values of 7.8k (neck) and 7.7k (bridge).

With original hardshell case.

1967 Gibson Tal Farlow vintage electric guitar

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