Gibson ES-300N Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1951)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10117
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson ES-300N Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1951), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-6797, natural lacquer finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This lovely ES-300 in gleaming natural maple is very redolent of its era, the late 1940s and early '50s when music everywhere was becoming ever more electrified. After WWII the Gibson company was just getting back to full time instrument production, and this modernized ES-300 was one of their signature designs. The ES-300 was the finest non-cutaway electric in their line, basically the same layout as the acoustic L-7 except the 17" wide, full depth body was constructed entirely of laminated maple. The ES-350 was the same instrument with a rounded cutaway on the body. Both were fitted with the new post-war P-90 pickup, an instant classic and the same unit still in wide use today.
This fairly rare natural finish ES-300N was shipped January 1951, one of only 47 blondes that left Kalamazoo that year. Less than 250 of these natural-finish ES-300s were ever made, and even fewer were double-pickup models. Features specific to this era include the first post-war block Gibson script logo with a joined dot on the headstock, with the earliest Kluson Deluxe individual tuners sporting the now-familiar plastic "keystone" buttons. The three knobs (individual volumes and master tone) are amber "hatbox" style with numbers and the nickel plated tailpiece is the same cast unit as the L-7. The adjustable rosewood bridge and laminated, beveled edge pickguard are typical Gibson fittings.
The warmly ambered natural finish top and back have some nice figure in the maple; both edges feature three ply celluloid binding. The fingerboard and headstock are single-bound. The rosewood fretboard features the double parallelogram inlay that became a post-war Gibson trademark, usually seen paired with the "crown" headstock inlay. The round profile neck is thinner back-to-front than wartime and early postwar guitars, and indeed slimmer than many later 1950s Gibsons.
While showing some wear and repair this is a cool player with that classic 1940-50s Gibson jazz/blues guitar feel and sound. With the non-cutaway body it is perhaps not the most versatile of electrics but the twin pickups do offer a wide range of tones. It has that signature "classic jazz" straight amplified tone, but also a more singing treble than single PU models and can get quite raunchy if pushed hard through the right amp!
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar remains relatively clean for its age overall, with some repair and minor restoration. The most notable issue is a small sealed "smile" crack on the lower back of the headstock, in the typical spot off the treble side. This is neatly repaired but visible, with only some topical touchup. The lower side has some stress cracks on the laminate, including through the jack area, None of these are structurally significant, but as the finish has not been oversprayed are visible. There is an impact mark on the lower waist and one split on the upper side, which is otherwise cleaner. The top and back are crack free.
The finish overall shows typical checking the only area with really notable play wear is the back of the neck, which is partially down to the wood. The remainder of the finish has some dings, dents and scratches but is not heavily worn. The finish remains original with light touch up on the headstock repair but no other overspray.
This repair aside the guitar presents very well. All the hardware and fittings are original except one later tuner and the pickguard, which is a nicely done repro, in the correct style. The pickup covers show some scuffing and there is typical plating wear to the nickel parts, especially the tuner housings. The original small frets show some wear in the lower positions but the instrument plays well and sounds great. It is housed in the original brown HSC, well worn with a noticeable crunch on the lid but still functional. Like all else about this ES-300, it is a trip back to the end of the swing era when the electric guitar was about to take over the world! Very Good + Condition.
This lovely ES-300 in gleaming natural maple is very redolent of its era, the late 1940s and early '50s when music everywhere was becoming ever more electrified. After WWII the Gibson company was just getting back to full time instrument production, and this modernized ES-300 was one of their signature designs. The ES-300 was the finest non-cutaway electric in their line, basically the same layout as the acoustic L-7 except the 17" wide, full depth body was constructed entirely of laminated maple. The ES-350 was the same instrument with a rounded cutaway on the body. Both were fitted with the new post-war P-90 pickup, an instant classic and the same unit still in wide use today.
This fairly rare natural finish ES-300N was shipped January 1951, one of only 47 blondes that left Kalamazoo that year. Less than 250 of these natural-finish ES-300s were ever made, and even fewer were double-pickup models. Features specific to this era include the first post-war block Gibson script logo with a joined dot on the headstock, with the earliest Kluson Deluxe individual tuners sporting the now-familiar plastic "keystone" buttons. The three knobs (individual volumes and master tone) are amber "hatbox" style with numbers and the nickel plated tailpiece is the same cast unit as the L-7. The adjustable rosewood bridge and laminated, beveled edge pickguard are typical Gibson fittings.
The warmly ambered natural finish top and back have some nice figure in the maple; both edges feature three ply celluloid binding. The fingerboard and headstock are single-bound. The rosewood fretboard features the double parallelogram inlay that became a post-war Gibson trademark, usually seen paired with the "crown" headstock inlay. The round profile neck is thinner back-to-front than wartime and early postwar guitars, and indeed slimmer than many later 1950s Gibsons.
While showing some wear and repair this is a cool player with that classic 1940-50s Gibson jazz/blues guitar feel and sound. With the non-cutaway body it is perhaps not the most versatile of electrics but the twin pickups do offer a wide range of tones. It has that signature "classic jazz" straight amplified tone, but also a more singing treble than single PU models and can get quite raunchy if pushed hard through the right amp!
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar remains relatively clean for its age overall, with some repair and minor restoration. The most notable issue is a small sealed "smile" crack on the lower back of the headstock, in the typical spot off the treble side. This is neatly repaired but visible, with only some topical touchup. The lower side has some stress cracks on the laminate, including through the jack area, None of these are structurally significant, but as the finish has not been oversprayed are visible. There is an impact mark on the lower waist and one split on the upper side, which is otherwise cleaner. The top and back are crack free.
The finish overall shows typical checking the only area with really notable play wear is the back of the neck, which is partially down to the wood. The remainder of the finish has some dings, dents and scratches but is not heavily worn. The finish remains original with light touch up on the headstock repair but no other overspray.
This repair aside the guitar presents very well. All the hardware and fittings are original except one later tuner and the pickguard, which is a nicely done repro, in the correct style. The pickup covers show some scuffing and there is typical plating wear to the nickel parts, especially the tuner housings. The original small frets show some wear in the lower positions but the instrument plays well and sounds great. It is housed in the original brown HSC, well worn with a noticeable crunch on the lid but still functional. Like all else about this ES-300, it is a trip back to the end of the swing era when the electric guitar was about to take over the world! Very Good + Condition.