1969 Gibson Byrdland

$4,200.00

  • SOLD!

  • Year: 1969 (Circa)
  • Manufacturer: Gibson
  • Model: Byrdland
  • Case: Hard
  • Color: Sunburst
  • Condition: Very Good
  • Description: This gorgeous Gibson Byrdland is a thinline, hollowbody, archtop guitar with an eyecatching sunburst finish. The Byrdland was a collaboration of jazz guitarists Billy Byrd and Hank Garland as the name connotes. Owners of Byrdlands have included Jerry Garcia and Ted Nugent. The serial number, 5506_ _, suggests it was built in 1966, however, the body style is a rounded (Venetian) single cutaway reintroduced in 1969. The number is stamped on the back of the headstock and is handwritten on the back of the bridge. Also, stamped on the back of the headstock is the word second, which suggests it had some small finish flaw at the time of manufacture that we can't identify. The Byrdland has a solid carved spruce top, flame maple back and sides with a three piece set maple neck. The 22 fret neck is 1 11/16" at the nut with an easy to play scale length of 23 1/2". The fretboard is bound ebony with nine block mother of pearl inlays. The headstock has five ply binding and is set off by a flower pot inlay. The guitar is 16 7/8" wide at the lower bout and is 2 1/4" deep. The dual humbucker pcikups are stamped PAT. NO. 2,737,842 on the back. There are two tone and two volume controls along with a three position switch. Other features include a five ply bound raised tortoise pickguard, gold plated parts, a triple loop tubular tailpiece, single bound f holes, an adjustable rosewood bridge with floral inlay, seven ply top binding and five ply back binding. The guitar is all original with the exception of the Kluson tuners which have been changed to gold Grovers and possibly a couple of screws. The gold plated pickup covers show a little wear, there is one small finish scratch on the top, and there is a tiny finish crack near the jack input. Otherwise, this vintage Byrdland shows minimal wear, plays great and is in excellent condition for an instrument of this age. We are including a new TKL hardshell case with this guitar.