1962 Gibson guitar and bass catalogue

Catalogue Index | 1962 Catalogue part 1 | 1962 Catalogue part 2 | 1962 Catalogue part 3

This catalogue is dated 1962 on the front cover, though has a printing date of May 1961 on the inside back cover. It featured the following guitars. Click on the images for full size versions, or click on the model names below for more about each instrument

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Gibson ES-137 Custom Electric Guitar Light Burst Gold Hardware

Based on the ES-137 Classic, the Gibson ES-137 Custom Electric Guitar is the first Gibson archtop to employ a mahogany center block for reduced feedback and greater sustain. Other features are all Gibson deluxe: laminated curly maple body, binding on top and bottom, bound fingerboard, bound peghead, ebony fingerboard, split-diamond overlay headstock, pearloid split-diamond fingerboard inlays, 6-way Varitone switch that filters tone from fat to thin, and '57 Classic pickups (the original Gibson humbuckers from 1957). The magnets and 42-gauge enamel-coated wire are from the original suppliers and the pickups are built by Gibson on the original machinery.

available in candy apple red, cherry sunburst, light burst and tri-burst

Gibson B.B. King Lucille Electric Guitar Black

Own the Gibson B.B. King Lucille Electric Guitar and you'll own the smoothest, sweetest blues axe out there. Features a laminated maple top for total sustain, a solid maple center block, special laminated maple neck and ebony fingerboard. Stereo/mono jacks require no special cords; TP-6 tailpiece allows precise tuning. Also includes the name "Lucille" scripted in mother-of-pearl on the headstock and gold-plated hardware

available in black and cherry

Gibson Custom Shop L-4 CES Mahogany Electric Guitar Natural

All of Gibson's century-long experience crafting high-quality archtop instruments can be felt when you lay your hands on this delicious, full-bodied jazz machine. The precision-carved solid spruce top emits a sonorous, silky, deep, rich tone. Full binding with a sharp multi-ply binding on the top combines with a multilayer pickguard, goldtop-style knobs, pearl parallelogram inlays on the ebony fretboard, a substantial gold-plated brass tailpiece, and an ABR-1 bridge with pearl inlays in the ebony base to make this one astoundingly gorgeous electric guitar with vintage appeal. But the real beauty rings through when you plug it in. 2 - '57 Classic Humbuckers with individual volume and tone controls generate a phenomenally smooth sound with a thick midrange, more tonal options than you might expect, and great response to the top's vibrant resonance. The Gibson L-4 CES has a carved solid mahogany rims and back, one-piece mahogany neck.

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Neck Heritage Cherry Sunburst Nickel Hardware

Exclusive Alnico V pickups with classic neck and head.
The feel and sound of the original '50s LP comes from a classic, hefty neck design with the smaller peghead, push-in-bushing green tuning keys, and nickel hardware. Staggering looks with brilliant transparent finishes on figured maple tops. Burstbucker V pickups feature Alnico V magnets like those used in the P90s from the '50s. One coil has more wraps than the other, as did most '50s and early '60s "Patent Applied For"s. These waxed, double-potted pickups deliver a tighter, balanced, biting tone with more midrange. Mahogany body and neck withrosewood fretboard. Includes hardshell case.

Gibson ES-335 Reissue Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry

The Gibson ES-335 Reissue Electric Guitar is about the most versatile guitar you can have. Classic semi-hollowbody design and dual '57 Gibson humbuckers combine to produce everything from full-bodied growls to singing sustain. Also features a thin tapered 1960s neck and rosewood fingerboard (24-3/4" scale), body/neck binding, nickel-plated hardware with Grover heads, tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, separate volume and tone controls, and a 3-way switch.

available in: ebony, heritage cherry, light burst, triburst, vintage sunburst, heritage cherry sunburst, honey burst, antique natural

Gibson Firebird Studio Guitar Cherry Chrome hardware

It has the classic reverse-shape body, but with a conventional set neck, mini-Grover tuners on the side of the headstock, a tapered body, and the traditional Gibson dual-humbucker sound. Mahogany body and neck. Its studio finish and simpler hardware retain Gibson's high-quality sound and feel. Black reptile pattern hardshell case with dark grey plush interior, black shroud, and silkscreened silver Gibson USA logo.

Gibson SG Reissue 4-String Bass Heritage Cherry Sunburst Chrome Hardware

The small, fast bass. Gibson's classic dual-pickup SG bass from the '60s is back! It has the 30-1/2" short scale of the original, as well as its slim, fast neck. Mahogany body and neck. It features a vintage-style TB Plus neck humbucker and a mini-humbucker at the bridge for wide tonal range. Includes hardshell case.

Also available in Ebony

Gibson SG Supreme Bass Natural