1971 Gibson B-25-12 Very Good, Hard, $795.00

According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Gibson B series of acoustic guitars was the successor to the LG series largely phased out in the early 1960s. Generally speaking, the B-15 replaced the LG-0, the B-20 replaced the LG-1, the B-25 replaced the LG-2 and the LG-3. (The 12-string Gibson LG-12 was made in very limited quantities from 1967-1973 since there was no 12-string version of the B-15 or the B-20, but it didn’t even appear in the Gibson total shipping records until 1970.) Thus, this B-25-D12 is the equivalent of the acclaimed earlier LG-2, but with the added power of a true 12-string configuration.

A bit smaller than the J series, it’s 40 ¾” long, 11” at the lower bout, 9 1/2 “ at the waist, 14 1/8” at the lower bout, and 4” deep, making it extremely easy to handle for a 12-string. I would guess it was designed more for the coffee house of the 1960s and ‘70s folk music scene than the blue grass stage, but it has enough carrying power for anybody. As with many of Gibson’s models, there are variations in the specs over the 15 years of production, but the bottom line remained the same: it was and is a guitar designed to hold its own and more against the banjo and fiddle players of the world. This wonderful veteran of the bluegrass and folk wars is ready to dominate once again.

The general description in The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars of the 1965 B-25-12 indicates a solid spruce top, tortoise pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, reverse belly rosewood bridge, and (from 1965 to 1970) a trapeze tailpiece to reduce the stress of the 12 strings on the top. The blackface peghead with the Gibson logo, six-per-side nickel tuners, white multi-striped body binding (top and back) and rosette, are all set off nicely in this case by the natural finish.

However, variations in these specs were frequent, and given the occasional unreliability of Gibson’s serial numbers as dating indicators, the date I’ve assigned to this great guitar—1971--is based as much on the changing specs and the “Made in USA” on the headstock as on the serial number (apparently 626003?).

This guitar has been thoroughly re-conditioned to make it a great-playing guitar, but a number of its components may not be “original” after almost 40 years. However, the cool Kluson “Gibson Deluxe” nickel-silver tuning machines with white plastic buttons are part of the original package and show no signs of replacement, and of course what really matters is the wood, which has seasoned and opened up for almost four decades of making music. This is a slightly smaller-bodied guitar than the dreadnought B-45-12, making it easier to handle than a dreadnought or 17-inch jumbo, but with terrific resonance and a big sound which will cut right through the rather muddy sound of most modern dreadnoughts and jumbos.

Cosmetically, the mahogany back, sides, and neck are in very good condition for a 40-year-old guitar, other than the usual finish crazing. There is a glued center seam section on the back, and the two glued hairline cracks in the top, but all are thoroughly stabilized for a few more decades. The frets are in good shape, the binding and other inlay is still near perfect, and the bridge is solid (I suspect that it is a replacement, although it fits the specs). I would guess that the saddle and bridge pins are also new.

While the action is a bit over 4/32” at the 12th fret low E, the truss rod works, and the saddle is unusually high, leaving ample room for lowering the action. However, if you buy your guitars to hear them, of course the sound is terrific for a smaller package! Big, full bass, trebles clear as a bell, everything resonating, filling the room!

So: this is your chance to own a great-sounding vintage Gibson 12-string guitar with tons of character and jam cred with all the work already done. It’s not a museum piece; it’s not prettied up with abalone and such; but it’s a great player’s guitar, embodying everything that the name Gibson has stood for over the last century or so.

The black thermoplastic case is obviously not original. The hardware works, the exterior has only a few minor dings and bruises, but there is no fuzzy plush on the inside. I have supplemented the strategically placed foam padding with a black wool “blanket” to make myself feel better. The guitar fits adequately, but it is slightly smaller than the case interior at the lower bout. However, it offers serious protection to this great little guitar.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy this cool guitar.

Thank you for your interest.