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1957 Gibson J-160E, Factory Natural Finish
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FON#: U676-21 Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/.94"
Materials and Hardware: Bookmatched Sitka spruce top; bookmatched figured Honduran mahogany back, sides and neck; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearloid wedge inlays; custom P-90 single coil pickup with gold bell volume and tone knobs and 1/4" jack'; contoured tortoise pickguard; nickel Kluson single line, single ring tuners; Brazilian rosewood bridge with adjustable saddle and cream bridge pins; adjustable truss rod.
Notes: Introduced in 1954, Gibson's jumbo electric J-160E model became legendary as the acoustic guitar of choice for both John Lennon and George Harrison on many of their biggest hits, from 'Love Me Do' to 'Norwegian Wood'. Replacing Gibson's cutaway CF-100E of 1951, the J-160E used a custom surface-mounted P-90 single coil pickup, and added improvements like the jumbo body, 20 fret neck, and ladder braced laminate construction that significantly reduced feedback on stage. Produced until 1979, the J-160E was also Gibson's first flat top with an adjustable bridge. Frequently reissued, the model has been popular to this day with touring artists from Elvis Costello to Ed Sheeran.
So what's so special about this handsome guitar? Well, according to the authoritative "Gibson's Fabulous Flat Top Guitars', Whitford et al, 1994, p.108) we quote: 'All J-160E round shoulder guitars were sunburst.' But apparently, no one told this striking instrument, which left the Kalamazoo factory in 1957 with a lustrous original natural blonde finish. All of which is corroborated by Gibson's own published shipping records, which show only sunburst J-160Es built for the entirety of its initial 25 year run. And don't bother looking in Gibson's sales catalogs for blonde ones, either: you'll just be wasting valuable practice time.
Gibson would accept custom orders, however, so reports of a few original blondes have surfaced over the years. But it would be hard to imagine a finer example than this gleaming guitar, which has been maintained in stunning 100% original condition. With its all-original finish, hardware, and electronics, the guitar has all the correct features of its model year, including the short tortoise pickguard, upper bridge belly, single soundhole ring, larger bridge adjustment wheels, and gold bell knobs, right down to its full set of original cream strap and bridge pins, and lovely original plush lined Gibson hardshell case.
Lovingly maintained since the Sputnik era, the guitar boasts a straight Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, with fine original fretwork on a classic medium C profile mahogany neck. Notably free of pick or buckle wear, the guitar shows a tiny patch of thumbwear at the first fret, and just enough fine age checking in its amber blonde lacquer finish to assure its originality. Apart from a few incidental nicks here and there, the guitar shows remarkably few signs of playwear for its long career.
At just 4lb. 14 oz, the instrument is nicely lightweight and well balanced, on the lap or the strap. The action is smooth and low with a fresh high precision setup, and the original P-90 pickup is clear and detailed, with the tone that launched a million screams from the peanut gallery.
You'll be waiting awhile to find another one of these natural wonders, and all the more so in such exceptionally fine condition. As the late Stan Jay of Mandolin Brothers would say, 'GFAO: Go Find Another One'. One only, call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge phosphor bronze strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings.
