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1966 Gibson Johnny Smith Custom

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Serial #: 407442, orange oval "Union Made" label

Body size at lower bout:17" Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1 10/16"'

Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce top; highly figured tiger flame maple sides and neck; handcarved bookmatched flame maple back; ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl block fingerboard and peghead inlay; 7-ply body binding, 5-ply peghead and fingerboard binding, 3 ply back binding, bound f-holes, bone nut.

Hardware: 100% original gold hardware includes engraved gold-plated medallion tailpiece; solid ebony bridge with pearl inlay in base; gold Kluson Sealfast tuners; twin gold floating Johnny Smith humbucking pickups with mini-jack mounted to pickguard; quintuple-bound tortoise pickguard; "Custom" imprint truss rod cover.

Notes: Working guitarists have long admired the opulent tone and peerless versatility of the classic Gibson Johnny Smith. But some have found its wider fingerboard a bit of a stretch, especially when accustomed to the slimmer necks of many modern electrics. So if you've always wanted the best of both worlds, you've been pretty much out of luck. Until now.

Introduced in 1961, the Gibson Johnny Smith Model represented the pinnacle of Smith's design creativity, in an instrument that married classic body styling with unprecedented technical innovation. Over half a century later, it's hard to envision a time when the only floating pickups available were the DeArmond or the McCarty pickguard. The Johnny Smith debuted the world's first floating humbucking pickup, now an industry standard. Taking inspiration from the past as well as the future, Smith resurrected the classic X-braced top, a design used by Gibson in the 1930's. With it's increased sustain and warm, throaty tone, the X-brace has become a de facto standard among contemporary archtop builders to this day.

While some of Smith's innovations were revolutionary, others were evolutionary; incorporating a number of ergonomic refinements designed to improve the playability of the instrument in subtle but significant ways. Smith introduced a 25" scale, to facilitate stretch voicings without sacrificing response, and slimmed the body to an even 3" depth, to make it just that much easier to hold. The result is an instrument unique in playability, tone, and aesthetics. The visual appointments of the Johnny Smith are drawn from a number of Gibson paramount models. The 17" Venetian cutaway body and deco tailpiece are those of the L-5C, the neck and peghead are from the Super 400, and the opulent 7-ply body binding recalls the classic Epiphone Emperor.

Rare and distinctive, this fascinating guitar is one of just 22 examples of the twin pickup Johnny Smith from this model year. Evidently a custom order, the guitar was factory equipped with a sleek, elegant neck, similar to that found on Gibson thinlines of the era. Preserved in 100% original condition, this gleaming instrument shows highly figured tiger flame maple in the back and neck, and all-original sunburst finish remarkably free of pick, thumb or fingerboard wear. A bit of plating wear and some light buckle worming in the back are about all the guitar has to show for its long playing career. Action is smooth and low over fine medium jumbo fretwork on an effortless gentle D profile neck. And fitted with Gibson's twin floating pickup assembly, the guitar offers unparalleled versatility and tonal coloration.

Big warm voice: nice comfy neck. What's not to like? Just don't wait for another one like it. Call now.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, crowned and polished; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge radius inspected and recurved as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.013-.056). 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 black arched Gibson gold plush lined hardshell case.

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