1947 Gibson ES-300

ARCHIVED • SOLD

1947 Gibson ES-300

Gibson’s ES-300 was reintroduced right after WWII and was positioned in the price list as the company’s flagship electric archtop. It featured a 17” wide non-cutaway body of figured maple, long 25.5” scale, a single P-90 pickup in the neck position, and lavish appointments. With the ES-125 and ES-150 also introduced in 1946, and the immeasurably popular (and less expensive) ES-175 arriving on the scene in 1949, the ES-300 proved to be an expensive instrument that didn’t perform well in sales, and was dropped from the catalog in 1952, shortly after the more ornate L5CES and Super 400 CES were introduced.

In excellent condition, this ES-300 is a particularly attractive 17” archtop guitar. It’s big and beautiful, nearly completely original, and sounds great. The neck carve is round with a standard medium/deep feel, and it’s set-up is slinky and fast. The guitar’s finish is beautifully preserved, and shows fine crazing on the back and front and sides with few blemishes. The original frets are nicely dressed and play well, and the electronic components are factory stock. The original pickguard is starting to show some decomposition at the mounting bracket but remains structurally secure, and the original tailpiece has been replaced with a modern Kluson reproduction. There are no extra screw-holes or modifications to the body. The new tailpiece has been aged slightly, and there are stress fractures in the hinge plating.

17” Laminate figured maple body with parallel braced top, multi-bound body, bound fingerboard and headstock. Pearl script Gibson Logo, Crown headstock inlay, split parallelogram fingerboard inlays, trapeze tailpiece, clear tall barrel knobs. Gloss lacquer finish with sunburst on all sides.

With original hardshell case in similarly fine condition.
1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300
  • 1947 Gibson ES-300

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