2008 Gibson CSM "Songmaker" Very Good, Hard, $895.00
The Gibson CSM Songmaker is a Grand Concert-style guitar with a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back, sides, and neck. Gibson introduced the line in 2008-9 as a slightly smaller and more economically friendly version of Gibson's famed J-45—something like the “Working Man” series which replaced the J-40 in the 1980s. This particular instrument’s serial number (028880060) indicates it was made on the 288th day of 2008, and was the 60th instrument made that day.
The Songmaker has a 14/20-fret rosewood finger board with pearl dot inlay, a large tortoise pick guard, a multi-stripe inlaid rosette, an ebony belly-down bridge with bone-colored pins, and full body binding, top and back. It has three-per-side “Gibson” chrome tuners, and a screened logo on the blackface Gibson headstock. It is clearly designed to represent a working man’s guitar, with no frills and no fuss—nothing but the quality materials and huge sound for which Gibsons have been famous for decades.
Cosmetically, this 7-year-old guitar has very few visible nicks and dings. However, there is a professionally repaired crack in the top of the back, and another repaired crack from the bridge to the end binding. These humidity cracks have been professionally glued, they are virtually invisible, and this ol’ boy sounds and plays great. There is also a re-filled strap button hole on the heel cap--visible but not relevant.
The included new hard shell case is not original with this guitar, but it is five-ply hardwood, with a black plush interior which is in mint shape. The outside is pristine, the shiny new hardware all works perfectly (including the keys), and it fits the instrument extremely well. It offers excellent protection to this fine guitar.
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; 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 unique instrument and its 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 buying.
Thank you for your interest in this fine guitar.
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.