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2023 Gibson Dove, Ltd. Custom Shop Edition
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SN#: 22553048, Gibson Montana Custom Shop label
Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .90/.93 String spacing at bridge: 2 1/4"
Materials: Solid Sitka spruce top; solid maple back and sides; solid mahogany neck; solid rosewood fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle; aged 7-ply binding.
Hardware: All original hardware includes engraved red tortoise pickguard, nickel Grover Super Rotomatic tuners, adjustable truss rod. LR Baggs VTC active under-saddle piezo pickup installed, with soundhole thumbwheel volume and tone controls and endpin jack.
Notes: Gibson's famous aviary began in 1960, with the introduction of their ever-popular Hummingbird flat top. Though the firm had hitherto disdained the signature dreadnought body design of rival C.F. Martin, Gibson finally bent to demand for the square shoulder body, and by 1963 added an upscale version to the flock, the legendary Dove.
By at least 1968, the model was available with a custom ebony finish, and the following year Vernon Presley made a gift to his son of a Dove in gleaming black. The King used it regularly on stage, including at a 1973 satellite broadcast from Hawaii, until he finally gave it away to a gobsmacked fan at a North Carolina concert in 1975.
This striking guitar was hand built at Gibson's Bozeman Montana Custom Shop, with premium features including aged multi-ply binding, and the iconic dove-on-a-branch engraved pickguard. Combining the larger dreadnought body with specs from Gibson's prewar Advanced Jumbos, the Montana Dove features an X-braced Sitka spruce top, solid maple 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.
At just 4lb 14oz, this gleaming example is notably light in weight, and well balanced on the lap or the strap. It's finely voiced spruce soundboard with high, narrow struts combine to produce a notably powerful voice, deeply resonant, with brilliant 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 correct dove inlay rosewood bridge, and is fitted with an LR Baggs VTC active under-saddle piezo pickup, with soundhole thumbwheel volume and tone controls, and 1/4" endpin jack.
In showroom condirion, the instrument has 100% original ebony lacquer finish and and hardware, and appears virtually unplayed. Complete with its original Gibson hardshell case and accessories, this bird is truly fit for a King. 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.
