1965 Gibson F-25 "Folksinger" Natural

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 to mid-1960s. Generally speaking, the B-15 replaced the LG-0, the B-20 replaced the LG-1, the B-25 replaced the X-braced LG-2, and the B-25N replaced the X-braced LG-3. However, at about the same time (1963), Gibson introduced a model unique for its era, the F-25 “Folksinger”.

As the name implies, the F-25 “Folksinger” was designed to attract folk players in the early '60s. For a steel-string, the F-25 was unique in its small, 00-sized classical-like body shape as well as its wide, un-radiused classical neck. Visually, the F-25 was set apart by its dual white pickguards (similar to flamenco guitar tap plates), until in 1970 Gibson modified its shape to more of a small dreadnought, and in 1971 dropped the model altogether. However, at its early best, it's a 12-fret steel-string, very comfortable to play, and the wide neck frets impressively while the combination of solid Mahogany and X-braced spruce supplies you with a warm vintage sound, robust and warm.

The general description in The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars of the 1965 F-25 indicates a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back/sides/neck, 12/18-fret Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, reverse belly rosewood bridge, and (from 1965 to 1970) the dual white pick guards mentioned above. The blackface “open-book” headstock with the Gibson logo, individual Kluson Deluxe tuners, white multi-striped body binding (top and back) and rosette, are all set off by the natural finish. A bit smaller in some dimensions than the B series, it’s 38 ½” long, 11” at the upper bout, 14 ½” at the lower bout, and 4 3/8” deep, making it extremely easy to handle. Other specs: nut width: 2", string spacing at saddle: 2 1/4", scale length: 24 3/4", body length: 18 5/8", neck thickness at 1st fret: 3/4", neck thickness at 5th fret: 7/8", action: 1/8" at 12th fret low E, with a flat oval D-shaped neck. However, variations in these specs were frequent, and given the occasional unreliability of Gibson’s serial numbers as dating indicators, the date I’ve assigned to this great guitar is based as much on the changing specs as on the serial number (267081).

The Gibson “Folksinger” is truly a fingerstyle players' delight, but it shines with a flat-pick as well. The neck is wide but not deep, and the wide string spacing at the nut along with the 12-fret neck opens up the lower registers to where fretting is a breeze and note separation is better than most guitars on the market even today. The saddle is straight across like a classical, and the fretboard is flat like a classical, rather than radiused. It is also great in alternative tunings because of the neck, and the adjustable truss rod affords neck relief, a feature many vintage flat tops and virtually no classical guitars of the time have. It obviously was designed more for the coffee house of the 1960’s folk music scene than the blue grass stage, but it has enough carrying power for anybody.

However, this particular F-25 was apparently played with such great enthusiasm that it suffered some unusual pick wear—so much so that the spruce top has been lightly sanded and it and the mahogany back, sides, and neck have all been expertly but obviously re-finished with what I think is nitro lacquer. At presumably the same time the large white pick guards (considered sound killers by some) have been replaced with smaller, thinner clear Perspex pick guards, and for some reason the Klusons have been replaced with some no doubt vintage but certainly not original 3-on-a-plate tuners. The net result is a very clean and responsive top, but with the original back, sides, and neck showing considerable crazing.

As a vintage player it is in very good condition for a 56-year-old guitar: the frets are in good shape despite some visible wear, the binding and other inlay is still near perfect (except for the pick wear around the rosette), and the bridge is solid. The action has been set at 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and the wide neck makes it really easy to play. And of course what really matters is the wood, which has seasoned and opened up after over five decades of making music. This is a smaller-bodied guitar than the dreadnoughts and jumbos of the world, but with terrific resonance and a big sound which will cut right through the rather muddy sound of most modern acoustic guitars.

So: this is your chance to own a great-sounding cool-looking 1960s Gibson guitar with tons of character and jam cred with all the “playing-in” already done and relatively few remaining scars. It’s not a museum piece; it’s not prettied up with abalone and such; but it’s a great player’s guitar, embodying everything that the name Gibson has stood for over the last century or so.

It is very difficult to find a hard shell case which fits the smaller lower bout of the F-25, so I currently have it in a generic gig bag. It offers this classic instrument some protection while being very light weight and all that. However, if you enjoy this great little guitar as much as I think you will, I’m sure you will want to provide it with a case worthy of its performance.

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.

Thank you for your interest in this mucho cool vintage Gibson.