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2011 Gibson Sparrow
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SN#: 13011015, Gibson Montana label
Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .81/.86 String spacing at bridge: 2 1/4"
Materials: Bookmatched, quartersawn fine-grained solid Adirondack spruce top; solid East Indian rosewood back and sides; solid mahogany neck; solid rosewood fingerboard and bridge, with compensated bone saddle; herringbone top binding; engraved red tortoise pickguard.
Hardware: All original hardware includes gold Grover Super Rotomatic tuners, adjustable truss rod. LR Baggs Element active under-saddle piezo pickup installed, with soundhole thumbwheel volume control and endpin jack.
Notes: Gibson's famous aviary began in 1960, with the introduction of their ever-popular Hummingbird model flat top. Though the firm had hitherto disdained the signature dreadnought body design of rival C.F. Martin, by the end of the 50's they finally bent to demand for the square shoulder body with the Hummingbird, and by 1963 added an upscale version to the flock, the Gibson Dove.
It took half a century before the firm added another winged model to the lineup, with the debut of the Gibson Sparrow in 2011. In a short run of only about a year, Gibson's Montana Custom Shop luthiers produced a limited edition of this premium model, which has now become one of Gibson's rarest flat tops. Combining the larger dreadnought body with specs from Gibson's prewar Advanced Jumbos, the Sparrow features an X-braced Adirondack top, solid rosewood body, extended 25 1/2" scale, and generous 1 3/4" nut. The resulting instrument enhances volume and projection, with exceptionally vibrant bass response and sustain.
Distinctive design features include multi-colored herringbone purfling, and the ornately engraved pickguard. At a featherweight 3ln 11oz, this gleaming example is exceptionally light in weight, and well balanced on the lap or the strap, and its finely voiced spruce soundboard is X-braced with high, narrow struts for added stiffness.
The Adirondack top and long scale combine to produce a notably powerful voice, deeply resonant, with ringing sustain, and fine clear highs. The action is smooth and low over vintage correct narrow fretwork, over a comfy light C profile neck. The guitar has the vintage style reverse belly rosewood bridge, and is fitted with an LR Baggs Element active under-saddle piezo pickup, with a soundhole thumbwheel volume control, and endpin jack. Free of pick, buckle, thumb and fingerboard wear, the instrument shows 100% original natural blonde finish, and apart from a few incidental lacquer nicks, appears virtually unplayed.
A unique blend of classic and modern design, this rare bird is ready to sing, right out of its original deluxe Gibson logo plush lined hardshell case. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings.
