1966-9 Gibson Johnny Smith Double

20/12/12 1966-9 Gibson Johnny Smith Double
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1966-9 Gibson
Johnny Smith
Double
Status: For pricing and hold
status for this instrument, please
check our Instruments page
here. If this instrument does not
appear on the Instruments page
it has been sold, and is no longer
available. Photos and descriptions
of Previously Sold instruments
may by found here. To be
notified of examples of this or any
other model in the future, please
contact info@archtop.com.
Serial #: 800767, Orange

"Union Made" Kalamazoo label
Body size at lower bout:17"

Scale length: 25" Nut width: 1
3/4"'
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: 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 under
pickguard; quintuple-bound tortoise pickguard; "Custom" imprint. truss rod cover.
Notes: 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. Four
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1966-9 Gibson Johnny Smith Double
decades later, it's hard to envision a time when the only floating pickups available were the DeArmond or the
McCarty pickguard pickup. The Johnny Smith debuted the world's first floating humbucking pickup, now the
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 the standard as well among contemporary archtop builders from Benedetto on.
While some of Smith's innovations were revolutionary, many more were evolutionary; incorporating a number
of ergonomic refinements designed to improve the playability of the instrument in subtle but significant ways.
Feeling constrained by the standard 1 11/16" nut, Smith again reached to past masters and revived the more
generous 1 3/4" fingerboard of the early 30's, a favorite of finger-style players. Similarly, Smith introduced a
25" scale, to facilitate stretch voicings without sacrificing response. Finally, the body was slimmed by 1/8th of
an inch to an even 3" depth, to make it just that much easier to hold.
The result is an instrument unique in playability, tonal response, and design 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.
This outstanding instrument is the rarest example of the model, with both the blonde finish and double floating
pickups. (Gibson's serial numbers allow us only to bracket the precise date of manufacture, but no more than
17 examples were built built in any one of these model years. So rare are they that in 1966, only a single
blonde JS double left the factory.) This remarkable guitar has been preserved in simply astounding original
condition, complete with original case and canvas case cover. Highly figured tiger flame back and neck; all
original amber blonde finish with no pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear; original gold JS medallion
tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners; twin floating gold humbuckers with independent volume and tone
controls and rotary selector switch; comfy light D profile neck with ebony fingerboard, solid ebony bridge
with inlaid base, orange Union Made label. The strap pin was moved from above the heel the cap to below it
some years ago, and apart from some plating wear and a bit of crystallization of the pickguard, this guitar
shows little signs of age, except for the warm tone of wood aged over four decades.
Now unavailable for almost 20 years, the JS is a definitive milestone in the evolution of the modern jazz guitar.
And it'd take some doing to find one nicer than this.
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 black deluxe Gibson Faultless gold plush hardshell case with blue canvas case cover.
1966-9 Gibson Johnny Smith Double
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20/12/12 1966-9 Gibson Johnny Smith Double

Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends

Serial #: 800767, Orange

Body size at lower bout:17"

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