Vintage Guitar Website

1966 Gibson ES-175D

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:01 GMT

Images and description of a 1966 Gibson ES-175D. Gibson's full-body jazz guitars are widely regarded, and the ES-175D is still the standard to which other manufacturers aspire. The ES-175 available today, has changed very little from the instruments of 40 years ago.

1966 Epiphone Granada E444T

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:01 GMT

A closer look at a 1966 Epiphone Granada. The non-cutaway Granada was the Epiphone version of the Gibson E120T thinline hollowbody. Both were built side by side in Gibson's Kalamazoo plant, and were the least expensive hollowbodies in their respective ranges. Sales of the Epiphone version were never huge (see Epiphone Granada shipping figures, at least compared to the Gibson, even when an otherwise identical cutaway model, the E444TC, was added. No Gibson cutaway version was released.

1967 Guild Capri CE-100

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:01 GMT

A closer look at a 1967 Guild CE-100. The Capri was a full-depth archtop, and Guild's first guitar with a Florentine cutaway - and a very sucessful model too; staying in the Guild catalogue in one form or another from 1958 until 1984. Stylistic similarities between models such as the ES-125C and ES-175 can be made, but this guitar is every bit as good quality as the better known Gibsons.

1976 Gibson L-6S Deluxe

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:00:01 GMT

A closer look at a 1976 Gibson L-6S Deluxe sporting a very nice (and quite unusual for the Deluxe) Tobacco sunburst finish. There were three versions of the Gibson L-6S: The L-6S Custom, L-6S Deluxe, and L-6S 'Midnight Special'. This was Gibson's new maple solid-body, available throughout the mid to late 1970s.

1968 Guild Starfire Bass I

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:01 GMT

Images and description of a single-pickup 1968 Guild Starfire bass. The Starfire was a very fine bass, and a serious competitor to the Gibson EB2, finding favour with bass players from Phil Lesh and Jack Cassidy to modern-day players such as Justin Meldel-Johnsen.

Gibson ES-175D

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:00:01 GMT

Page updates for Gibsons most popular jazz guitar. A closer look at four examples: a 1954 ES-175, a 1967 ES-175D, 1970 ES-175D and a 1974 ES-175D. The ES-175 set the standard for the guitar industry, and is still in production today, with very few changes in sixty years of manufacture.

1953 Guild X-175

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:00:01 GMT

New picture set of a 1953 Guild X-175 electric acoustic guitar. 1953 was the very first year of Guild production, and in fact this was one of the first 500 instruments produced. It has a number of early features: Franz single coil pickups with black covers, very early inlays, just one volume and tone control and mahogany/maple/mahogany neck. More about the Guild X-175

1967 Gibson ES-345TD

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:00:01 GMT

New picture set of a 1967 Sunburst Gibson ES-345TD electric guitar. 1967 was the peak year for the ES-345 (see ES-345 shipping figures), and Sunburst was the most available finish, although Cherry 345s actually outsold Sunburst in '67.

Epiphone Constellation EA72 bass amplifier

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:01 GMT

Page updates for the Epiphone Constellation EA72 bass amplifier. Pictures, catalogue information, specifications and shipping figures.

Epiphone Sorrento E452T - page update

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:01 GMT

Page updates for the Epiphone Sorrento 6-string thinline. New photographs of a 1966 Epiphone Sorrento thinline semi-acoustic guitar.

Epiphone Century E422T - page update

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:56:01 GMT

Page updates for the Epiphone Century 6-string thinline. Shipping totals and two new photosets. This guitar was launched in 1959 using numerous pre-merger Epiphone parts (see 1959 Epiphone Century) but by the 1960s was using the same components as the Gibson models made alongside it (see 1963 Epiphone Century).

1975 Gibson Marauder Promo Record

Thu, 15 May 2008 20:59:01 GMT

7 inch 45 rpm promo disk for the Gibson Marauder. Unlike the earlier Les Paul Recording / Triumph Bass flexi disk, this record is vinyl with a picture sleeve. It demonstrates the Marauder's versatility, both unaccompanied, and within a band, being played by Gibson employee/jazz guitarist Bruce Bolen in a range of styles. See also the main Gibson Marauder page

1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe (Wine Red)

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:00:01 GMT

New images of the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Sales of the Deluxe had been very good in the early 1970s, but by the mid 70s sales had dropped significantly. In fact 1976 was a sales low-point. See also Les Paul Deluxe shipping figures, and general information

Vox V.G.12 Semi-Acoustic 12-String

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:00:01 GMT

This was one of the last VOX guitars of the 1960s; introduced in 1969, this Japanese-made twelve-string guitar was part of the VOX Giant range, and was an obvious copy of the Gretsch Country Gentleman, remaining true with regard controls, fingerboard inlays, gold-plated hardware and painted-on f-holes. It didn't last long, and is somewhat of a VOX rarity.

1980 Gibson Catalogue

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:42:01 GMT

The first Gibson catalogue of the 80s was fairly substantial; 58 pages, with a different instrument on each page: 39 electrics, 10 acoustics, 4 basses, 4 banjos and a mandolin. From the prestigeous Kalamazoo Award Model to the lowly Sonex-180 Deluxe.

Gibson 335-S Deluxe, Custom and Standard

In 1980, Gibson launched the solid-body 335-S series; combining the familiar ES335 shape with "the playability and sustain of other legendary Gibson solid bodies". None of them sold well, and the range was dropped quickly, but today they are sparking considerable interest, from players and collectors alike. Look out for the top-of-the-range Deluxe, with it's mahogany body and neck, and bound ebony fingerboard.

Kalamazoo KB bass

Gibsons original budget brand was Kalamazoo. In the 1960s they produced several guitars and one bass; shaped like an EB0, with a mighty EB humbucker, yet half the price. No wonder over 6000 KB basses were shipped from 1966 to 1969.

Fender Coronado Thinline Semi-Acoustic Guitar

This was Fenders first go at a thinline - a guitar style that had been growing in popularity throughout the 60s. The Coronado was Fenders ES335....

Big Bass Sound of Fender

1969 Fender bass catalogue, featuring 5 basses (Precision, Jazz, Telecaster bass, Coronado and Mustang), and 5 amplifiers (4 valve and one solid-state Bassmen amps.

Fender Jazz Bass

Page update: includes parts lists, wiring diagram, catalogue apperances and more.

Fender Precision Bass

Page update: includes parts lists, wiring diagram, catalogue apperances and more.

1972 Fender Full Line Catalogue

The 1972 full line catalogue: guitars, basses, amplifiers, banjos, keyboards - Fenders full range from 1972. Full colour, 68 pages.

1970 Gibson electric acoustics catalogue

One of twelve mini-catalogues from 1970. Full colour, 12 pages. Features Gibsons range of artist instruments and electric arch-tops: Citation, Johnny Smith, Trini Lopez Deluxe, Trini Lopez Standard, Barney Kessel, Super 400-CES, L-5CES, ES-175D, ES-150DC, ES-125CD

1983 Gibson guitar and bass catalogue - American made. World played

Gibsons early eighties range, as demonstrated in this 28 page full-colour catalogue. Features selected instruments from the range of electric guitars and basses.

1968 Fender Full Line Catalogue

The 1968 full line catalogue: guitars, basses, amplifiers, banjos, keyboards - Fenders full range from 1968. Full colour, 48 pages.

1970 Fender Full Line Catalogue

The 1970 full line catalogue: guitars, basses, amplifiers, banjos, keyboards - Fenders full range from 1970. Full colour, 96 pages.

1971 Guild Guitar Catalogue

Fold-out ten sided Guild catalogue. Updates the 1970 Guild catalogue. featuring an expanded range of S series solid bodies, with the addition of the S-50 and S-90. Models are shown with new 70s styling and Guild humbuckers.

1970 Guild Guitar Catalogue

Fold-out ten sided Guild catalogue. Updates the 1969 catalogue with the new S and JS solid bodies, and the ST double florentine cutaway semi acoustics.

1969 Guild Guitar Catalogue

Fold-out eight sided Guild catalogue - solid body, acoustic and bass models from this American manufacturer. Featuring Starefires, BluesBirds, full body-depth jazz guitars and more.

1968 Gretsch Guitar Catalogue

'That Great Gretsch sound' - full scan of all 36 pages. Features all guitars, basses, acoustics and amplifiers produced by Gretsch at that time. White Falcon, Viking, Country Gentleman, Country Club, Nashville, Tennessean, Duo Jet and many more.

Hagstrom Concord bass

Profile of the Hagstrom Concord semi-acoustic bass; the mid sixties bass version of the Hagstrom Viking guitar. Two models exist the C-1, and the deluxe version C-2.

1975 Hagstrom catalogue

Scan of the 1975 Hagstrom guitar and bass catalogue. Features the entire mid seventies Hagstrom range; HG800 (F200N), HG801, HG802 Scandia, HG803 (Swede) HG804 (Jimmy D'Aquisto) electrics, and the HB901 (F400N) and HB903 (Swede) basses.

1972 Hagstrom catalogue

Scan of the 1972 Hagstrom guitar and bass catalogue. Features the entire early seventies Hagstrom range; Swede, Viking, Jimmy D'Aquisto and F-200 electrics, and the Swede, F100B and F400N basses. It also includes a range of 8 acoustics.