{"product_id":"1966-gibson-barney-kessel-regular-full-width-neck-4491","title":"1966 Gibson Barney Kessel Regular, Full-Width Neck","description":"Gibson’s relationship with Jazz guitar heavyweight Barney Kessel began in 1961 with release of both the Barney Kessel Regular and Custom models.  Kessel was among the most highly regarded Jazz guitarists through the 1950’s; his name endorsed Kay’s highest-end guitars through the last years of that decade, but his guitar of choice was always a Charlie Christian pickup-equipped late 40’s modified Gibson ES-350.  An endorsement deal with Gibson was a logical upgrade to his brand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\nThe Gibson Barnie Kessel models feature a 17” fully hollow archtop body with dual Florentine cutaways.  The body shape is the guitar’s most distinct feature, and along with the otherwise similar Trini Lopez Deluxe, was unique in Gibson’s lineup.  The neck was borrowed from the flagship Super 400, and features the oversized headstock shape of that model, and the long 25.5” scale length.  The pickups and wiring were standard Gibson issue, and the guitar’s tailpiece featured a wooden shield with Kessel’s nameplate affixed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\nThis example is particularly unique in that it features a pre-1965 style neck with a full-width nut (1-11\/16”) and an older style original nylon nut.   By 1966 most all Gibson guitars were built with narrower necks that measured 1-9\/16 across the nut.   We’re guessing that Gibson made more necks than they needed for this model in 1964\/5 and, as they could not be used on any guitars other than the Kessels and Trini Lopez models, were slowly used up though the mid 1960s.  The skinny necks show up on these models later in 1966. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \r\n\r\nThis example is in fabulous condition and is original but for replacement tuning machines, a ‘Custom’ truss rod cover (which might very well be original, and a Nashville-style bridge top.  The original frets show light wear and play well, the neck angle is excellent, electronics are totally original, and the guitar’s finish is original throughout.  There is a small chip out of the nut that doesn’t have any negative effect, and a small screw was at one point added to the corner of the pickguard through the pickup ring and into the top in an effort to counteract the guard’s cupping.   We’ve since flattened the pickguard but have left the screw in place.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \r\n\r\nSet up in our shop with Thomastic Jazz Swing 12-50 strings, this Barney Kessel offers the quintessentially Gibson electric archtop tone. You’ve heard the tone we’re talking about.  Warm, thick, round, quick, somewhat dark, with just a touch of raspiness when you dig in. It does what it’s designed to do perfectly. The original Patent Number pickups measure 8.2 and 8.4 kOhm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\nCherry sunburst maple laminate body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\nWith original hardshell case\r\n","brand":"GIBSON","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53614107820398,"sku":null,"price":7295.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/3660\/5550\/files\/1652995487299466GibsonBarneyKessel-0522-2Main.jpg?v=1790970166","url":"https:\/\/folkwaymusic.com\/products\/1966-gibson-barney-kessel-regular-full-width-neck-4491","provider":"Folkway Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}