1966 Gibson C-0 Excellent, Original Soft, $695.00

According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Gibson C-0 classical guitar was manufactured in various forms from 1962 to 1971. Gruhn’s Guide and Vintage Guitar Price Guide basically agree, although there is some disagreement as to specific features. Like most classical guitars, it’s smaller than the dreadnought or jumbo series, measuring 39” in overall length, 19” in body length, 11” at the upper bout, 9 5/8” at the waist, 14 ¼” at the lower bout, and tapers from 3 ½” to 4 ½” deep. While it may have been designed more for the classical studio or the coffee house of the 1960s folk music scene than for the blue grass stage, it still has enough carrying power for anybody and is an excellent example of Gibson craftsmanship.

The C-0 features a solid spruce top with mahogany back, sides, and neck in a light natural finish, a rosewood wrap-around bridge, and a 12/19-fret (including a zero fret) rosewood finger board with a 25 ½” scale. The serial number of this one (809384) pretty reliably dates it as 1966; the slotted classical headstock does have the Gibson script logo decal, and there is the wide patterned rosette Gruhn says was added in 1964. This guitar’s tuners may have been replaced so we can’t use them for dating specs, but Gibson has never been noted for its consistency, and I see no sign of replacement work.

At any rate, after 52 years of making music, there are very few cosmetic concerns and no structural repairs: the rosette decal is in very good condition, there is some crazing or cracking in the finish and a few small dings and bruises, but no pick or fingernail wear below the sound hole, and most crucially there are no cracks anywhere! The action is very comfortable, the neck is straight, the top is flat, there’s virtually no wear at the frets (presumably due to its nylon strings), and there is substantial room left on what is apparently an almost new saddle.

And, of course, there’s the famous GIBSON logo at the top. While I would not recommend this guitar as a classical concert guitar—it never was, after all—it’s still a really cool instrument with a prestigious name and plenty of character. Apparently the previous owner played it primarily as a folk guitar, judging from the vintage end pin. Whichever, playing music for over fifty years has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful. This is obviously a player’s guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it well and often.

The case is a period-correct black chip board case in which it came to me, and I assume that it is original. It fits this guitar’s dimensions very well, and it is in pretty good shape, inside and out, with hardware which still functions well. It affords adequate protection for this vintage guitar, and of course is stylistically complementary.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s 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 guitar and case, 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 purchase it.

Thank you for your interest in this cool vintage guitar.