Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends

archtop.com

1969 Gibson Crest Gold

Price and Status: For pricing and hold status of this instrument, please check here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please email your specific requests to [email protected].

Serial #: 843790

Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24.9" Nut Width: 1 11/16"

Finish: Original natural finish, nitrocellulose type

Materials: Arched Brazilian rosewood top, back, and sides; solid Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with block pearl inlay, 5 piece maple neck.

Hardware: All original gold hardware includes twin Johnny Smith mini-humbucking pickups, pearl inlaid tailpiece, Brazilian rosewood bridge with gold Tuneomatic saddle; original black bonnet volume and tone knobs; bound Brazilian rosewood pickguard with gold support bracket; Kluson Super 'waffleback' tuners, 3 way pickup selector switch, engraved Crest truss rod cover.

Notes: A Gibson thinline in Brazilian rosewood? Even many dedicated collectors have only seen the Crest Gold in faded catalog pictures.

One of the rarest and most distinctive Gibsons of all time, the ultra-premium Crest model was built only between 1969 and 1972. Produced in two versions, the Gold and Silver, the Crest was designated according to the type of plating employed. Priced comparably with the upscale Byrdland model, and twice the price of the ES-335, this remarkable instrument is one of just 56 Crest models of both types built in the debut year, out of a mere 162 total produced during the entire production run.

Most dramatically the body, fingerboard, pickguard and tailpiece of the Crest are made of genuine Brazilian Rosewood. Alone in the entire history of Gibson guitars, the Crest was the only electric ever to employ this scarcest and most sought-after of exotic tonewoods. Designed for a warm versatile tone, the Crest featured fully hollow body construction, markedly lighter than contemporary Gibson semi-hollow models. The instrument is fitted with surface mounted Johnny Smith mini-humbuckers, a design unique to this model, and a gold Tuneomatic bridge with Brazilian rosewood base.

This wonderful example shows spectacular bookmatched figure in the highly variegated top and back. Carefully maintained, the instrument has 100% original gold hardware and finish, and shows no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. The neck has a full 1 11/16" nut, and smooth low action over fine original medium jumbo frets, with a comfy classic C neck profile, a welcome departure from the typical skinny necks of the era. The original nitrocellulose finish shows some scattered longitudinal checking, typical of instruments of this vintage, and the all gold plating shows a bit of normal wear. The original owner's name and ID are faintly inscribed on the back of the peghead, and the original pearl-inset tailpiece was returned to the guitar, after a Bigsby was removed years ago.

The voice is warm and inviting, with considerably more depth and resonance than the ordinary Gibson thinline, and the guitar plays effortlessly over a fresh high precision setup. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the scarcest and most eye-catching guitars of the 20th century. One only: call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

Case: Original deluxe arched black Gibson plush lined hardshell case.

Home / Instruments /Accessories / Ordering / Tips / Friends