GIBSON: Firebird X, 2010

Firebird X
Edición limitada
Una guitarra revolucionaria.
Liguera.
Nuevas tecnologías.
5.570$


Body
Species Ash
Binding None
Body Type Chambered
Average Weight 2.3lbs

Tuners
Model RoboHead
Plating Black
Tuning Ratio 24:1



Controls
Volume Control Chrome/knurled
Tone Control Momentary switch, Black Chrome/knurled
Pickup Switch 5-way pickup selector
Gear Shift™ Knob 11 position rotary knob
Effects Faders (Blue) Modulation / Echo / Reverb
(Red) Compression / Distortion / EQ
Tog-Pots 3 position with wet/dry blend
(Blue) Modulation / Reverb / Echoplex
(Red) Compression / Distortion / EQ
(Silver) Pickup programming / Piezo / Tuning

Neck
Species 1-Piece Maple
Profile Asymmetrical Neck (.8/.925)
Truss Rod Standard
Joint Angle 3.75°


Bridge
Type TOM / Piezo Robot guitar
Material Zamac
Plating .07 Chrome

Neck
Fit Joint Mortise & Tenon
Joint Angle Tolerance +/- .005"

Tailpiece
Type Stop Bar Robot
Material Zamac
Plating .07 Chrome

Finishes
Sealer Nitrocellulose Lacquer


Fingerboard
Species Angelim Rajado (Brazilian Marblewood)
Scale Length 24.75"
Frets 23
Radius 12"
Nut/E.O.B 1.695 / 2.273
Inlays Abalone

Hardware
Control Plates Back cover: FBX Molded w/Battery Box
Switch cover: Molded

Strings .009 - .054
Strap Buttons Aluminum

Nut
Material Black Tefzell
Width 1.695


Pickups
Coil Wiring Bifilar
Neck Position FBX - Alnico II
Middle Position FBX - Ceramic
Bridge Position FBX - Alnico


Accessories
Accessory Pack G-Node interface™
Bluetooth Number Controller Pedal
Bluetooth Continuous Pedal
Stereo cable
Pedal Power Cord
Battery Power Converter
Battery Type Rechargeable Lithium Ion


Headstock
Logo Mother of Pearl
Truss Rod Cover Chrome Etched Firebird X Limited Edition logo
Angle 17 degrees
Binding 1 ply White




Electronics
Output Jack Locking Neutrik® ¼”/XLR stereo

System Requirements

Windows
1.5 GHz Pentium 4 or Celeron compatible CPU or faster (multicore CPU recommended), 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended), Windows XP or Windows Vista, Windows compatible sound card (ASIO driver support recommended), DVD-ROM drive, QuickTime recommended.

Mac
1.25 GHz G4/G5 or faster (Intel Mac recommended), 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended), Mac OS X 10.4.11 (10.5 or later recommended), DVD-ROM drive.

Firebird X
The Firebird X guitar takes the guitar instrument to new heights of functionality and usability for the professional player and the aspiring enthusiast. Using technologies that did not exist even a few years ago, we have enhanced an already outstanding instrument to unbelievable performance and creative heights. The enhancements touch every aspect of the instrument, from using improved manufacturing technologies to the latest electronics. Firebird X is like the world’s best street legal sports car in looks, feel and performance.


Orville Gibson
This guitar is clearly evolved from a Gibson Firebird, evocative of a rich history, but with contemporary features. With its hand applied and unique high end wood finish, the Firebird X is not unlike a cross between a vintage sports car and a modern sports racer. It is beautiful, historical and yet contemporary and unique. With a limited run of just 2400 units, it is sure to become a collector classic.

GIBSON: Firebird V 1963

Gibson Firebird V
Desde 1963


Body
Body Style Firebird
Body Species Mahogany

Hardware
Plating Finish Chrome
Tailpiece Gibson Stop Bar
Bridge Gibson Tune-O-Matic
Tuners Banjo In-line Tuners

Electronics
Neck Pickup Mini-Humbucker
Bridge Pickup Mini-Humbucker
Pickup Covers Yes
Controls 2 Volume - 2 Tone - 3-Way Toggle
Control Knobs Black Tophats with Silver Inserts
Control Pocket Cover Black Plastic

Neck
Species Mahogany/Walnut Laminate
Nut Corian
Nut Width Standard Gibson: 1.695" +/- .050"
Truss Rod Gibson Adjustable Truss Rod
Truss Rod Cover Firebird cover, stamped with Gibson Logo

Fingerboard
Fingerboard Species Rosewood
Inlays Figured Acrylic Trapezoid
Fingerboard Binding Antique Cream
Number of Frets 22
Scale Length 24 - 3/4"

Case
Type Gibson Hardshell
Interior White
Case Exterior Black
Silkscreen Gibson USA Logo

Finshes
Classic White $2,299
Vintage Sunburst $2,299



Firebird V
There is no mistaking a Firebird V—with its unique "reversed" zig-zag body design and equally distinct headstock, it is simply one of the most recognizable of all guitar profiles. First introduced in 1963, the Gibson Firebird was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer and visionary Ray Dietrich (Lincoln, Packard), enlisted by Gibson to bolster the guitar lines of the early '60s and help solidify the company's eminent rank among solidbody electric guitar manufacturers. Dietrich's unconventional design was based loosely on both the legendary automobile tailfins of the 1950s and the Gibson Explorer, which had been introduced several years earlier.

JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON: Ganster of Love, 1957

JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON:

Born February 3, 1935
Houston, Texas
Died May 17, 1996 (aged 61)
Yokohama, Japan
Genres Blues, blues-rock, electric blues, jazz blues, funk
Instruments Guitar, keyboards, bass, drums
Years active 1950s–1990s
Labels Federal, RPM, Keen, King, Chess, Fantasy, DJM




Ganster of Love
1957

Released 1957
Recorded 1953 - 1954
Genre Blues
Electric blues
Blues rock
Label Keen Records (1957)
King Records (1958)
Sanctuary Records (2002)

"I Got Eyes"
"Motorhead Baby"
"Gettin Drunk"
"Walkin To My Baby"
"Highway 60"
"Space Guitar (alt)"
"Sad Fool"
"What's Going On"
"Half Pint of Whiskey"
"No I Can't"
"Thinking"
"Broke and Lonely"
"Cuttin In"
"What You Do to Me"
"Those Lonely, Lonely Nights"
"You Can't Take It With You"
"I Just Wants Me Some Love"
"Gangster of Love"
"Space Guitar"
"Sweet Lovin Mama"


Johnny "Guitar" Watson - organ, synthesizer, bass, guitar, piano, conga, drums, keyboards, timbales, triangle, vocals, clavinet
Rudy Copeland, James Ivory Johnson, Randie Redman, Darcus Thomas, Marci Thomas, - vocals (bckgr)
Paul Dunmall, Knud Jensen - saxophone
Bruce Fowler - trombone, horn
Walt Fowler - trumpet, horn
Peter Martin Trumpet
Tommy Robertson - trombone
Emry Thomas - drums, vocals (bckgr), whistle, siren, bell tree
Albert Wing - horn, sax







Gangster Of Love
Johnny "Guitar" Watson

Jesse James and Frank James,
Billy the Kid and all the rest,
Supposed to be some bad cats
Out in the West.

But when they dug me,
And my gangster ways,
They hung up their guns,
And made into their graves.

Cause I'm a gangster of love,
Say, I'm a gangster of love.
Oh, well now,
When I walk down the street,
All the girls that I meet
Say: "he's a gangster of love"

(Yeah!)

I robbed a local beauty contest,
for their first place winner,
they found her with me out in Hollywood,
eating a big steak dinner.
They tried to get her to go back,
to pick up her prize.
She stood up and told them:
"You just don't realize, that he's a gangster of love"

And in the morning,
gangster of love.
(Uuh yeah, now!)
When I walk in to a bar,
girls from... from near and far,
say: "he's a gangster of love".

(Alright!)

I jump on my white horse Cadillac,
I ride across the border line,
I rope 65 girls,
I kiss them all the same time,
I take 25 or 30,
I put 'em all on a freight,
A million dollar reward for me,
In each and every state,
Sheriff say "Is you "Guitar" Watson?"
In a very deep voice
And I say "yes sir brother sheriff, and that's your wife on the back of my horse"

Cause I'm a gangster of love
I'm a gangster of love

(Yeah!)

When I walk down the street,
All the girls that I meet
Say: "he's a gangster of love"

ROY ORBISON: The Last Concert, 2010

ROY ORBISON
Vernon, Texas, 1936
Madison, Tennessee, 1988
Tres octavas en la voz.




Oh Pretty Woman
1964





The Fastest Guitar Alive
1967 MGM



Director: Michael D. Moore
Producer: Sam Katzman
Screenplay: Robert E. Kent
Cinematography: W. Wallace Kelley
Film editing: Ben Lewis
Music: Roy Orbison, Bill Dees, Fred Karger




The Last Concert: December 4, 1988
2010

1 Only the Lonely 4:32
2 Leah 3:16
3 Dream Baby 2:56
4 In Dreams 3:28
5 Mean Woman Blues 3:17
6 Blue Bayou 3:27
7 Candyman 3:45
8 Crying 5:43
9 Ooby Dooby 5:57
10 Go, Go, Go (Down the Line) 5:52
11 It's Over 3:29
12 Working for the Man 1:50
13 Lana 2:48
14 Oh, Pretty Woman

"The Big O" as Roy Orbison became universally known, was one of the most distinctive singers and songwriters of the Rock 'n' Roll era. Starting his career in the late fifties, he really hit the big time at the start of the sixties when a string of wonderful hit singles brought him fame on a worldwide basis. After a quiet period in the seventies he made a comeback in the eighties both as a solo artist and later as a member of the Traveling Wilburys. This live recording, released now for the first time, comes from a concert at the Front Row Theater in Cleveland on December 4th 1988, just two days before his sudden death from a heart attack on December 6th at the age of only 52. Orbison is in fine form delivering many of his best loved songs in his own unique style and with no indication of the tragedy to come. It is a fitting tribute to a truly great artist.




Gibson Roy Orbison ES-335 Reissue
70 unidades en 2006


Only The Lonely
Roy Orbison y Joe Melson
1960


Dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah
Ooh-yay-yay-yay-yeah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-wah
Only the lonely

Only the lonely (dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah)
Know the way I feel tonight (ooh-yay-yay-yay-yeah)
Only the lonely (dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah)
Know this feelin’ ain’t right (dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah)

There goes my baby
There goes my heart
They’re gone forever
So far apart

But only the lonely
Know why
I cry
Only the lonely

Dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah
Ooh-yay-yay-yay-yeah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-wah
Only the lonely

Only the lonely
Know the heartaches I’ve been through
Only the lonely
Know I cried and cried for you

Maybe tomorrow
A new romance
No more sorrow
But that’s the chance - you gotta take
If your lonely heart breaks
Only the lonely

Dum-dum-dum-dumdy-doo-wah

FREE: Tons of Sobs, 1968

Free
Londres, 1968-1973
Hard Rock británico.




Tons of Sobs
1968
Guitarra: Paul Kossoff (Gibson Les Paul, muerto por sobredosis en 1976)
Cantante: Paul Rodgers (Bad Company)
Bajo: Andy Fraser
Batería: Simon Kirke
Piano: Steve Miller



Paul Kossoff, gigante guitarrista de blues rock.


Similares: Humble Pie, Jeff Beck, Grand Funk Railroad, Led Zeppelin, Steppenwolfe, Electric Flag, Ten Years After, AC/DC, Dio.

T-BONE WALKER, Imperial Recordings 1950-54

Aaron Thibeault Walker 'T-BONE WALKER'
Linden, Texas, 1910
Los Angeles, California, 1975

Pionero de la guitarra eléctrica. El primer solista eléctrico de blues.
Una figura fundamental en la evolución del blues hacia el rock and roll. Chuck Berry o BB King quedaron enganchados a las escalas y acordes de jazz blues del texano.
Fundador del blues de Texas en los años 30.
El origen del paso del pato.



Complete Capitol Black and White Recordings
3 Cds.
Años 40.




The Complete 1950-1954 Imperial Recordings
52 temas.




Gibson ES-250
The ES-250 first appeared in the 1940 Gibson AA catalog with the slogan: "Gibson has created the best electric guitar possible to make." This top-of-the-line instrument was an upgraded version of the popular ES-150. It had significant refinements which distinguished it from the earlier mid-range model. These included a larger body, a more deluxe fingerboard, headstock, tuners and tailpiece, and a bar pickup with individual mini-blades acting as separate polepieces for each string--for "maximum tonal reproduction."





Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster
Desde 1949


The ES-5 combines the acclaimed features of the L-5 with the finest method of electronic guitar amplification. Three separately controlled, adjustable magnetic pickups reproduce the full, rich tones and harmonics to make the ES-5 truly ‘the instrument of a thousand voices.'" — Gibson catalog, circa 1951

The Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster was truly a guitar ahead of its time. First introduced in 1949, the ES-5 Switchmaster was the first ES guitar to be fitted with three pickups, and was initially intended solely for jazz players. It was dubbed the “supreme electronic version” of Gibson’s L-5 and offered a unique four-knob control circuitry that allowed players to manage pickup selection by adjusting the volume of each pickup, thus eliminating the pickup selector switch. Yet despite its pioneering circuitry and three-pickup layout, the ES-5 Switchmaster was not immediately embraced by jazz players while competing guitar manufacturers rushed to introduce their own similar models, including the Epiphone Zephyr Emperor of the early 1950s and the Fender Stratocaster in 1954.





Gibson Barney Kessell model





Fender Tweed 4x100 Bassman
The ’50s Fender Bassman was the pro bassist’s answer to amplifying a great new invention: the Fender Precision Bass® guitar. This powerful 50-watt rig could easily compete with the common instrumentation of the day: horns, piano, four-piece drum kit with calfskin heads, and maybe even an electric guitar through a nice, new 10-watt amp! By the ’60s and ’70s, the original all-tube “Tweed” 4x10 Bassman was popular with rock, country and blues guitarists as a reliably great-sounding and easy-to-use guitar amp. Even some emerging British amp designers of the day copied its circuitry for use in their most celebrated designs.

In the 1990s, Fender released an affordable reissue of the now-collectible ’59 Bassman amplifier to massive acclaim. Many guitarists, tired of experimenting with preamps, equalizers, and effects racks, rediscovered the simple pleasure of plugging into a Fender tube amp. The Bassman’s wide stage coverage, touch-sensitive dynamics and full-frequency “swirl” make it the perfect vehicle for building a great tone with almost any guitar or effect. The reissue Bassman continues to be a staple of the Fender guitar amp line to this day.




Gibson EH-150




Gibson EH-150
Galería de amplificadores anteriores a la Guerra Mundial.



Frases:

'When I heard T-Bone Walker play the electric guitar I had to have one. He had a touch that nobody has been able to duplicate."--B.B. King

"All the things people see me do on the stage I got from T-Bone Walker." --Chuck Berry

"When T-Bone Walker came, I was into that. That was the sound I was looking for." --Albert King

"No one else can touch T-Bone in the blues on guitar."--Jimmy Witherspoon

"He was the first man that made the electric guitar popular."--John Lee Hooker

LONNIE MACK, The Wham of That Memphis Man! 1964

ROCK AND BLUES
Lonnie Mack
Harrison, Indiana




The Wham of That Memphis Man!
1964

El primer disco del guitarrista blanco de Indiana (EEUU). Magnífico vibrato y endiablada velocidad en los fraseos.
Versiones instrumentales de R&B (‘Memphis’, ‘Suzie Q’, ‘The Bounce’) y temas de soul (‘Father Down The Road’) y blues acelerado (‘Wham!) aderezadas con sección de viento y órgano Hammond.
Desde entonces, eterna carrera de bluesman volador con su Flying V.

Seguidores: Roy Buchanan, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Duane Eddy.





La única Gibson Flying V con Bigsby. 1993-1994
Diseño especial sobre una Flying V de 1959.
$2600-$3500 ( lonnie mack flying v )

REVEREND GARY DAVIS, At Home and Church 2010

Reverend Gary Davis
Laurens, South Carolina, 1896
Hammonton, New Jersey, 1972

Ragtime de la coste este de EEUU.
Ciego de nacimiento.
Malgastó su vida en el Harlem de Nueva York.
Un gigante del blues rural.
Una religión en el folk y en la música tradicional.
Maestro de genios como Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, Donovan o Ry Cooder.



Pure Religion and Bad Company
1957




Harlem Street Singer
1960




At Home and Church
2010
Tres fantásticos CDs.
Grabaciones de 1962 a 1967.
IMPRESCINDIBLE.


Similares: Lightnin´Hopkins, Ry Cooder, Brownie McGhee, Blind Willie Johnson, Doc Watson, Bert Jansch, Hot Tuna, The Wood Brothers.




Gibson SJ-200
6.330 dólares

The SJ-200 True Vintage acoustic guitar delivers the look, feel, and sound of Gibson’s original Super Jumbo as it first appeared in 1937. Gibson Acoustic’s master luthiers in Bozeman, Montana have recreated a legend. The SJ-200 was originally built to cut through the loudest acoustic ensembles, but ended up defining the new American music scene of the 1930s on its way to becoming the world’s most famous acoustic guitar. The SJ-200 True Vintage captures the deep, well-balanced tone and powerful sound of these celebrated guitars, and are almost identical in makeup and structure as the most popular 1950’s versions including an Adirondack red spruce top and VOS finish.




Gibson GB-1
Rare model and an incredible piece of American history. This is the banjo that was recorded and played by the Reverend Gary Davis. This is a non Mastertone banjo with thick, 11 inch rim and simple tonering. It has all the appropriate documentation. The original flange was broken and a replacement makes it playable once again.



Gibson B45-12


Gibson B-45-12 ( 1961-1979 )

The Gisbon b-45-12 was also in production during these years ( 1961-79 ) it was a 12 string acoustic guitar , flat top , mahogony wood . The 61-62 models had round shoulders and from late 62 and on gibson made them with square shoulders , and were made in sunburst colors .

In 1963 Gibson also introduced the B-45-12-N ( same guitars but in natural finish ) production ended in 1979 . Vintage Price values are more or less the same as the Gibson b-45-12 ( sunburst )


Gibson B-45-12 Limited Edition Reissue ( 1991 -1992 )

Because of the high demand gibson in 1991 made a limited edition reissue of the b-45-12 ,same guitar but was built with rosewood wood on the back and sides of the body .

Because of the limited number of gibson b-45 reissues produced , they are also considered somewhat collectible .

Vintage Guitar Price Value 2008 :
1967 - 1971 > $500 to $700 ( b-15 )
1962 - 1969 > $1000 to $1600 ( b-25 )
1970 - 1977 > $900 to $1000 ( b -25 )
1962 - 1969 > $950 to $1500 ( b-25n )
1970 - 1977 > $750 to $1000 ( b-25n )
1962 - 1968 > $700 to $1200 ( b-25 3/4 )
1962 - 1966 > $900 to $1600 ( b-25 / 12 )
1967 - 1977 > $800 to $1000 ( b-25 /12 )
1961 - 1962 > $1900 to $2300 ( b-45-12 round shoulders )
1962 - 1964 > $1700 to $2100 ( b-45-12 square shoulders )
1965 - 1969 > $1400 to 1700 ( b-45-12 )
1970 -1979 > $900 to $1100 ( b-45-12 )
1991 - 1992 > 950 to $1200 ( b-45-12 reissue )

FREEDIE KING, Let´s Hide Away and Dance Away 1961

TEXAS BLUES
Freddie King
'The Texas Cannonball' King.
Gilmer, Texas, 1934
Dallas, Texas, 1976





Let´s Hide Away and Dance Away
1961

* Fred Jordan – guitar, rhythm guitar
* Freddie King – guitar, vocals
* Philip Paul – drums
* Gene Redd – saxophone
* Clifford Scott – saxophone
* Sonny Thompson – piano
* William "Bill" Willis – bass guitar


Compositor de instrumentales de blues y genial guitarrista de Texas. ‘Hide Away’ es un tema esencial en la historia del rock and roll.



Similares: Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Eric Clapton, Lonnie Mack, Michale Bloomfield, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck.







Gibson ES-335

La guitarra Gibson ES-335 Dot Reissue es una gran guitarra de semicaja, ideal tanto para sonidos tipo Jazzy hasta sonidos mas contundentes de R'n'R...

The ES-335 brought hollowbody tradition and solidbody performance together in 1958,
and it is still one of the all-time classic guitar designs.

MUDDY WATERS, At Newport 1960

CHICAGO BLUES
Muddy Waters
Rolling Fork, MS, 1915
Chicago, IL, 1983



At Newport
1960

Muddy Waters cambió la historia del Rock and Roll desde la orilla del blues del Mississippi. Junto con Otis Span, versionó temas clásicos de Willie Dixon o Big Bill Bronzy ofreciéndolos más eléctricos e intensos desde Chicago.



1950



DeArmond Jet Star
Basada en la 60's Guild Thunderbird




Gibson Gold Top.
La utilizó a principios de los 50.
P-90 pickups.







Sonriente con su Telecaster.
La usó desde finales de los 50 hasta su muerte en 1983.



Fender Telecaster Muddy Waters
La usó en los 50.




Amplificador:
Fender Super Reverb combo.
40-watt tube amp


Similares: Junior Wells, BBKing, Magic Sam, Howlin´Wolf, Elmore James, Son House, Johnny Winter, Robert Johnson.

CHUCK BERRY, Is on Top 1958

ROCK AND ROLL
Chuck Berry
San José, California
¿Un hombre de color que triunfa entre los blancos? Hendrix encontró su objetivo en San José, California, y se llamaba Charles Edward Anderson Berry. ‘Maybellene’, ‘Carol’, Sweet Little Rock and Roller’, ‘Little Queenie’... la jukebox echa humo y Berry haciendo el paso del pato mientras descarga una rápida escala mayor.




Chuck Berry Is On Top
1958
Maybellene, Carol, Sweet Little Rock&Roller...
Perfecto.



St. Louis to Liverpool
1964
The Beatles y The Rolling Stones estaban machacando su reperterio.
Ahora edita un disco con más energía que nunca.
No Particular Place to Go, You Two, Little Marie...
Lección magistral.




The Chess Box 1955-1973
1988
LA CAJA.
Todas las grabaciones con Chess.




Guitarra:
Gibson ES-335





Traje de 1987






CHARLES EDWARD ANDERSON BERRY.
Seguidores: The Blasters, The Dave Clark Five, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Velvet Underground, Eric Clapton, Johnny Thunders

ROBERT JOHNSON, padre del blues 1938

Robert Johnson
Greenwood, Mississippi




Complete Recordings
1938

Una figura mítica en la historia del blues del Mississippi y de la guitarra. Sus misteriosas afinaciones todavía están por descifrar. Un catálogo de composiciones muy corto pero con una influencia masiva en el rock y el blues de todos los tiempos.


Similares: Mississippi John Hurt, Louisiana Red, Willie Dixon, Nick Drake, BBKing, Angus Young, Jimmy Page.



Robert Johnson L-1
Gibson
2.793 dólares.





Gibson Acoustic’s Robert Johnson L-1 guitar captures the haunting, timeless sound of the man whose legacy and contributions to the blues are unmatched. Though he died tragically in 1938 at the age of 27, Johnson’s historic blues recordings have inspired countless generations of blues artists and guitarists. The Robert Johnson L-1 guitar is tribute to his instrument of choice. It features Gibson’s traditional L-1 body design, exactly as it was on the first L-1 in 1926.



Gibson L-1’s will forever be associated with bluesman Robert Johnson, who was holding a circa 1929 L-1 in his famed Hooks Brothers studio portrait. The 1928 L-1 pictured here is identical to Johnson’s guitar, except that by 1929, Gibson moved the guitar slightly down market by eliminating the binding on the fingerboard and soundhole.



In several ways, this guitar sits at a Gibson guitar-development crossroads. Gibson’s earliest flattops were built with ladder bracing, and the company didn’t fully embrace X-bracing until around 1930. This L-1 has what Gibson connoisseurs call “A-bracing”—just the lower half of the X (see X-ray photo). The result produces the bark of a ladder-braced guitar tempered with some of the warmth of an X-braced guitar. The flattop L-1 was built with the same body molds that Gibson used in its small L-1, L-2, and L-3 archtops of the 1920s. These early Gibson flattops also have dramatically radiused tops and backs, making them resemble their archtop cousins. This L-1 is constructed with an Adirondack spruce top, Honduras mahogany back and sides, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Like many Gibsons of this era, it bears tiny, mandolin-size frets. With its comfortable 13.5-inch-wide body, this guitar is the perfect blues box. Bending strings is a breeze due to the very short 24.25-inch scale, and the 13/4-inch nut width and 23/8-inch string spacing make it a fingerpicking delight.

This Gibson is the sort of guitar you’ll want to take to the intersection of highways 61 and 49 in the Mississippi Delta when you follow in the footsteps of Johnson. You’ll attain instant blues prowess, but the price, of course, will be your soul