1942 Gibson ES-300

$4,099.00

  • Year: 1942
  • Manufacturer: Gibson
  • Model: ES-300
  • Case: Original Hard
  • Color:
  • Condition: Excellent
  • Description: Serial # 97420 FON 4096G-39. Upon its introduction in 1940, the ES-300 was the flagship of Gibson’s new Electric Spanish guitar line. Not many were produced though, as the War would curtail production shortly thereafter, and clean pre-war ES-300’s like this are quite rare today. This instrument is an example of Gibson’s second version of the model but apart from the pickup is virtually the same instrument (the first version featured a long, diagonal pickup). Its 17” body has a laminate arched spruce top and arched maple back and sides; Gibson designed in a pair of soundposts to help support the top. The headstock features a pearl script logo and a crown inlay – this model was the first to be outfitted with the crown – black painted rear, and individual Kluson tuners. The pickup is the predecessor to the P-90, and is a work of art in itself – with firestripe sides and a tortoiseshell top. Maple neck with a 25.5” scale, rosewood fingerboard, and pearl parallelogram inlays. The guitar is in wonderful condition throughout and quite original. The frets don’t show much playwear, and the guitar's original finish is glowingly beautiful. The pickguard has been expertly restored, and the pickup has just been rewound by Jason Lollar, whose work is undetectable. There is corrosion on the frets adjacent to the pickguard and some discoloration to the finish below. The original tuners tend to rattle at certain frequencies, and a few of the buttons have begun to corrode – we’d recommend replacing the set. All else is original and perfect. It is well set-up, has the most perfect fat / round neck you’ll ever put your hand on, and has incredible versatility. Rolling the tone off will give you that quintessential jazz tone, but leave that tone knob alone and blues and swing are the name of the game. With original tweed lined case