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1947-8 Gibson ES-300N
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SN#: NSN
Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Materials: Arched flame maple top, back, and sides; solid Honduras mahogany neck; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
Hardware: 100% original hardware includes adjustable P-90 pickup; nickel Kluson 'f-hole' trapeze tailpiece; compensated rosewood bridge; bound tortoise pickguard, clear gold barrel tone and volume knobs, adjustable truss rod, nickel Kluson open back tuners.
Notes: Debuting in 1940, the ES-300 was Gibson's top-of-the line electric guitar. Originally sporting a huge 7" diagonally oriented pickup, the electronics were changed the following year to a smaller diagonal pickup in the bridge position. Revived in mid-1946, the ES-300 was fitted with a single P-90 pickup, and the unique Kluson tailpiece with f-hole cutouts, seen only on this model, and then only for a few months. This single pickup version was built only until 1948, when the ES-300 was refitted with twin pickups.
Though built in this era with neither label nor factory order number, the instrument may still be dated fairly closely by construction details. Built in late 1947 or early '48, it would have been one of the first to be graced with the modern Gibson logo, and one of the last with a bound tortoise guard and open back Kluson Deluxe tuners.
This brilliant example is a vey rare blonde version of the model (a mere 83 ES-300 examples in natural finish were built in 1948.) Crafted with warmly flamed maple throughout, the guitar has been maintained in wonderful condition, with all original finish, hardware, and electronics, and is without cracks, pick or buckle wear. Apart from some normal finish checking and a bit of honest thumbwear, the instrument shows few signs of use for its long career. The action is low and inviting, the P-90 pickup plays fat and sweet, and the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has fine original frets over an amazingly contemporary gentle C profile neck.
An exceptionally handsome and elegantly playable Gibson big-box jazzer, it's the first of its kind we've had the pleasure to present on these pages. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original deluxe Gibson arched brown plushlined hardshell case.
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