1976 Gibson MK-35 Very Good, Hard, $595.00

According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Gibson MK-35 was made in very limited quantities: “Approx. 5,225 mfg. 1975-78” (p. 281. Gruhn’s Guide and Vintage Guitar Price Guide basically agree). George Gruhn adds that the MK models were custom designed by Michael Kasha—thus the “MK”--and Richard Schneider when Schneider was Gibson’s Master Luthier and were produced only in those four years.

The MK-35 has a number of special design features: modified bracing, an asymmetrical fan-shaped “Kasha” bridge to distribute the stress on the top more evenly (more recently adopted by Alvarez-Yairi and others for selected high-end models), a removable pick guard, interchangeable saddles, a narrow 1920’s snakehead headstock with points at the upper corners, a two-stripe rosewood soundhole cap, and an old style script logo (verified by Gruhn, p. 169). In other words, it will excite lots of interest when you take it out of its case, because few people will have seen a Gibson like this before.

Overall, it’s 40 ¾” long—about standard dreadnought size, 11 ¾” at the upper bout, but only 10” at the waist; it has a 25.5” scale, and tapers from 4 ¼” to a full 5” deep, which with the modified bracing and the 16” lower bout enhances its booming bass register—kind of like a jumbo without the jumbo bulk and weight. While it may have been designed more for solo work in the 1970s folk music scene than the blue grass stage, it still has enough carrying power for anybody and is an outstanding example of Gibson craftsmanship.

The MK-35 featured a solid spruce top with solid mahogany neck, back, and sides, all in a light natural finish. The solid rosewood fan bridge had black pins (upgraded on this guitar to white abalone-dot pins) and the 14/20-fret rosewood finger board had pearl dot inlay. It originally had the two-stripe rosewood soundhole cap rather than the usual rosette, and multi-stripe body binding, top and back. The removable pick guard is omitted here, leaving the natural finish, while the black veneer headstock with the original stylized truss rod cover and the vintage Gibson script logo adds to its coolness. The nickel 3-on-a-side Gibson Deluxe tulip tuners are consistent with the period and almost certainly original.

The serial number barely visible in picture six (00208846) is different from the Gibson serial numbers of most model years, indicating that this guitar’s creation was in 1976. There is no “Made in USA” imprinted below the serial number on the back of the headstock, which supposedly was embossed on all Gibson acoustics starting in 1970. I have no idea what this means—if anything—except perhaps that this was a very early example or prototype of the model.

After 39 or so years of making music, there are a few cosmetic and structural issues. First, there are two visible professionally repaired cracks, one extending from the sound hole to the end binding, and the other barely visible on the back. Second, the removable pick guard has not survived, but I kinda like the existing “natural” effect. The finish of the back and sides is in very good shape, with a few very small dings and some slight buckle bruising on the back, but there is a 1/4" ding in the top lower bout. The unconventional “replaceable” saddle (aren’t all saddles replaceable?) is a bit high, resulting in a slightly high action of just under 4/32” at the 12th fret. Obviously, this would be easy to adjust to your taste, and a good bone saddle would probably enhance the sound as well.

Bottom line: the action is okay, the top is flat, and of course playing music for over thirty-five years has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful. Despite its relative rarity, this guitar is not for a collector to put in a museum; this is a player’s guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will continue to play it well and often. It’s a unique combination of the Gibson name, quality, power, and eye-catching mojo which is really fun to play.

The nearly new hard shell case is obviously not original, it’s structurally perfect. Naturally the shiny hardware all works, the plush interior is spotless and fits this guitar like the proverbial glove, and the padded vinyl handle is a nice touch. While this is actually “new old stock,” it certainly provides outstanding protection for this valuable instrument.

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 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 fine guitar.