Gibson Trini Lopez Deluxe (1968)
Hollow-Body · Vintage
Trini Lopez's guitar model legacy is as unique as the instruments themselves, combining some of the most progressive designs in Gibson's history with benchmark 60s guitar tone.
Few artists can celebrate the fact that they had two of their own guitar models released simultaneously throughout history, and Trini Lopez sits among the top of that list. Gibson introduced two distinct Trini Lopez models in 1964 - one 'Standard' in an ES-335 format and one 'Deluxe' in a flashier ES-175 format - both certainly different both stylistically and tonally, but achieving a similar "wow factor" in presentation.
Why We Love This
This 1968 Trini Lopez Deluxe (also known as Custom) is one of just 84 shipped in 1968, and only one of 302 built during the entire 7-year production run. It's one of the rarest production electrics to come out of Kalamazoo in the 1960s. The twin florentine cutaway body is shared with another artist model - the Barney Kessel. With its ES-175 foundation, it serves as a wonderful jazz instrument and takes a lot of its tonal queues from that model.Paired up with a uniquely designed Firebird-style neck with 6-in-line peghead and bound Rosewood fingerboard with split diamond inlays, it's a captivating guitar to say the least.
In typical late 60s fashion, this Trini Lopez Deluxe features the narrower 1 9/16" nut width and an original pair of Patent # humbuckers. The neck profile sits somewhere between slim and medium, with a nice roundness that still allows for quick playing up and down the fretboard.
The guitar was purchased brand new by its current owner, who played it professionally for decades. It's been extremely well cared for, and shows just light wear throughout. It was professionally refretted by local guitar tech extraordinaire Jon Mouradian a number of years back, and recently had its disintegrated original celluloid pickguard replaced with a perfect replica made by Paul Fox. It has otherwise remained entirely stock. The original hardshell case is in great shape, and the guitar even includes its original hangtag with 'Trini Lopez Custom' stamped on it!
Priced with original hardshell case.
| Style | Hollowbody |
| Body | Laminated Maple |
| Finish | Nitrocellulose |
| Color | Cherry Sunburst |
| Pickups | Original Pat No. Humbuckers (7.38k Neck / 7.29k Bridge) |
| Electronics | Original |
| Controls | Volume (x2) / Tone (x2) / 3-Way Pickup Toggle / 3-Way Standby Toggle |
| Bridge | Original ABR-1 bridge and Trini Lopez "Shield" trapeze tailpiece |
| Tuners | Original Grover Rotomatic |
| Pickguard | Replacement |
| Knobs | Original |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Binding | White |
| Carve | Slim/Medium C: .80-.94" |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Radius | 12" |
| Inlays | Split Diamonds |
| Frets | Med Jumbo (Refret) |
| Nut | Nylon (Replacement) |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4" |
| Condition | Light play and handling wear |
| Serial # | 895337 |
| Weight | 7lbs 4oz |
| Case | Original Hardshell |
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
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