1964 Gibson B25-12-N Good, Hard, $995.00
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, and the B-25 replaced the LG-2/3. Thus, this B-25-12N is the equivalent of the acclaimed X-braced LG-3, but with the added power of a true 12-string configuration.
The general description in The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars of the 1964 B-25-12N indicates a solid spruce top, black pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, and a reverse belly rosewood bridge with an adjustable saddle. Since this guitar features a straight bridge without the trapeze tailpiece supposedly not added until 1965, I assume it’s an example from late 1964. The blackface peghead with the Gibson logo, six-per-side nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners, full body binding (top and back), and multi-stripe rosette, are all set off nicely in this case by the clean natural finish. Given the occasional unreliability of Gibson’s serial numbers as dating indicators, the 1964 date is based on the previous owner’s recollections and on the changing specs rather than on the serial number (which is not clearly visible on the back of the headstock, anyway).
A bit smaller than the J series, it’s about 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 1970s 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 guitar is a strong player, its natural finish is in very good cosmetic condition in most respects (note the finish “crazing” and dings in the pictures), and as far as I know all of its major components are “original” after over 50 years—with the possible exception of the Gibson tortoise pick guard [cracked and repaired] rather than the expected black pick guard. There is a slight dip in front of the bridge, but the braces seem tight and intact, and the action is a comfortable 3+/32” at the 12th fret low E. There is a substantial crack in the treble upper bout, and three cracks in the back; all have been glued and cleated as necessary. The frets are in good shape, and the bridge is solid, with the adjustable saddle if you want to set it up even lower.
And of course what really matters is the wood, which has seasoned and opened up after almost five 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, despite the smaller package!
So: this is your chance to own a great-sounding vintage Gibson 12-string guitar with tons of jam cred which still looks pretty darned good. It’s not a museum piece, and it’s not prettied up with abalone and such, but it’s a great guitar, embodying everything that the name Gibson has stood for over the last century or so.
The vintage black hard shell case is obviously not original, but it is in very good condition. The hardware works fine, and the exterior has only a few minor dings and bruises. The guitar doesn’t quite fit perfectly because of the extended 12-string headstock and the smaller body, but it offers excellent protection to this cool vintage 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 it.
Good luck!
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.