Gibson
Gibson ES-300 (1947)
Pickup available at 165 Massachusetts Avenue
Usually ready in 1 hour
Have A Question?
Contact Us
1947 Gibson ES-300 just into the shop on consignment!
This post-war 17" electric archtop was Gibson's top model of the period, paralleled by the fully acoustic L-7. It features a single P-90 pickup set into a laminated Maple body, single volume and tone controls, and a floating Rosewood bridge with "shield" tailpiece.
This is the first year Gibson launched their updated blockier logo, yet it still retains the tapered headstock and open-back Kluson tuners for a very nice 40s look. The parallelogram inlays and Rosewood fingerboard binding combine with a bound tortoise pickguard for the elevated and professional look these models are known for.
The Mahogany neck has a very comfortable round C profile that measures closer to the neck shapes found on later 50s electrics, which is quite welcome here. It excels as a rhythm instrument but affords easy transitions across the fingerboard for melodic work. The original small fretwire is in remarkably great shape, allowing for a very comfortable and easy playing experience.
The guitar's finish remains mostly original, save for a few areas of touch-up on the back at the center seam and a small area on the rear lower bout. There are various chips, dings, scratches, and scuffs to be expected from an 80 year old instrument, but overall condition is quite nice. The most notable repair is of a partially broken truss rod. The rod was repaired by local late guitar repair legend Jim Mouradian, who threaded a fender-style truss rod nut from the headstock channel back into the original rod. It's fully functional, and while it doesn't necessarily look the part of an original Gibson, the truss rod cover does its job well, and covers up what would otherwise be a... unique looking modification. Importantly, the neck is structurally intact. A strap button was also added to the heel.
The guitar's FON has faded out with only a digit or two legible, but its specifications all align with 1947 production.
Body
Hardware
Neck
Other
