1979 Gibson ES Artist 335 RARE Cherry Sunburst Ebony MOOG OHSC Vintage Prototype
Item History & Price
This auction is for a beautiful Gibson ES Artist from 1979PROTOTYPE Gibson ES Artist from 1979. The label is on the back of the headstockunderneath the finish, which says "Original Gibson Prototype". This was made in Kalamazoo, MI - the original Gibson factory. There are 4 small screw holes under theback control plate which are hidden. (The original owner said they werethere when he bought the guitar brand new, and that this was the reason for theguitar being stamped SE...COND). The ES Artist was the top of the linesemi hollow at the time, and the details show. Gorgeous flamed maple top, back, and neck. Beautiful vibrant cherry sunburst finish (please pardonthe slight "pinking" typical of digital cameras), with "burstingon the sides and neck as well. Factory gold hardware. The most unique feature is the lack of fholes, which helps control overtones and feedback, as well as imparting a mixof ES335 and Les Paul tone. The weight is 9 pounds, 2 ounces. The electronic setup is the top of theline Moog design, as used in the other Gibson Artist guitars of the era. This gives you not only the standard dual humbucker with 3 way selector, but amaster volume, active bass, and active treble controls. There is also aunique switchable compressor/expander that gives unique sounds, as well as asustainiac/eBow type of effect. The tuners are the original GibsonSchallers with the built-in cranks a really novel design. Playability is excellent, due to thelarge frets and ebony fretboard. Mild fret wear on the lower frets only. Overall condition is excellent. Hereare the mods: · 2 small screw holes next to the bottomstrap button where a vibrato tailpiece was once attached (see pic). · 4 small screw holes under the back controlplate which are hidden. (The original owner said they were there when hebought the guitar new, and that this was the reason for the guitar beingstamped SECOND). · An additional strap button (original buttonis behind the neck joint and a non-original button is on the tip of the uppercutaway.· Original brass nut appears to havebeen removed and reinstalled at some point.· Pickup surrounds have been replaced withbrass surrounds. Original black plastic surrounds are included, but thebrass looks awesome so I didn't swap them.· Pickguard is missing. Thiswould be a standard ES355 guard from the era.· Original fine tuner tailpiece hasbeen swapped with a traditional-style tailpiece. The original gold finetuner tailpiece is included but not pictured. Includesthe original hardshell case, which is in excellent condition, as well asadjustment tool and a copy of the 1980 Gibson parts list for this model. Ifyou have been looking for a unique top of the line vintage Gibson, here itis! A 36 year old prototype that is gorgeous and a joy to play. Free Shipping in the lower48 USA.Local pick up in L.A. iswelcome and given a $60 dollar rebateInternational shipping is$300 or less depending on your location
