[joeybcdt]

I've never even heard of a Gibson Country & Western until today. Saw one on eBay and another locally. The local one is early 60's according to the owner and is for sell for $800.00.

I checked the Gibson website and couldn't find any info on the C&W.

Anyone know the low-down?

Joey

[pimp_vince]

maybe the guy plays C&W and can't remember the model. I sure hope Gibson isn't turning into Ibanez... completely erasing the past models as if they never existed.

[dadfad]

Yeah, I have one (a 1959 Southern Jumbo. The C & W is what they re-named it a few years later). Excellent guitar. The tone is very good (should be anyway). It's slightly smaller than a regular jumbo (like a J-45, etc) and the neck is usually thinner (I like wide necks best). That's a very good price (I paid much more). If the guitar is in nice shape and plays decent, I'd buy it in a second. (For what it's worth, I think Cheryl Crow plays an old Southern C & W). An acoustic blues musician I know named Woody Mann considers the Southern C & W his "Gibson-of-choice". In any case, if the size and neck fit you, it's a fine guitar.

[joeybcdt]

I've done a little more checking. You're right, that is what Crow plays. And the Gibson Crow model is a C&W.

Joey

[dadfad]

Keep in mind, if it's in good condition and plays well, the vintage (pre-1969) Gibsons are superior to the new ones.

[joeybcdt]

You can see it here: Gibson C&W
Here's the description: This is a early 60's acoustic Gibson Country and Western model guitar. It is in good shape for its age. Plays good, Sounds good, Does have a few scratches and a few nicks on back of neck.$800

Serial # is 406471. 1966?

She says it has some pronounced capo indentions on the back of the neck and has some checking on the body.

Joey

[dadfad]

I would look into this guitar. Scratches and wear are expected on vintage instruments. So is checking ("nice" checking is even considered desirable as it shows the instrument now has the ability to "breathe" which means more resonance). Hopefully this is a guitar you can play first. I would also listen closely for any vibrations, even put my hand inside and check for loose braces and tone-bars (most vintage Gibsons were very well-constructed and don't have that problem often). If it's through the mail and you can't play it first, this is what I have done. I insist on paying C.O.D. ( a couple bucks extra). When the guitar arrives I say I want to check it for damage before I pay for it, and take it out of the box. Of course you can't make a thorough inspection while the mail or UPS guy is standing there, but you CAN take a minute and play it and take a quick look at it. (What's he gonna do? Leave?). I've bought a couple of guitars like that and so far have had good luck and been pretty happy with them. This is possibly a pretty good deal (assuming the guitar is okay). I would say if it is, it's probably worth more like $1,200 or so. Especially if it has the original case, then even more. A nice vintage C & W is a good guitar, not as well-known and popular as say a vintage J-45, etc, but to people who know their instruments (especially their Gibsons), it's well-respected.


(Cheryl Crow doesn't play one because she can't afford a new one! )

[joeybcdt]

I went and looked at it. I passed. I'll tell you why and you can tell me how badly I screwd up.

I played it. I didn't fall in love. It played pretty well. Sounded OK. The guy said they were new strings. My Guild G37 and Martin HD28 play and sound much better by comparison.

No cracks or breaks of any kind. The body was in excellent condition considering it's age.

No original HS case.

The entire back 1/2 of the top from the bridge back was bulged a little.

The back of the bridge was a little lifted from the top. About 0.5mm.

Five places on the back of the neck looked like someone took a serrated metal object about broomhandle size and vigorously rubbed it back and forth through the finish and into the wood. Pretty deep in one spot.

The oval sticker in the soundhole was off-white. I thought it was supposed to be orange.

The guy told me he knew for a fact that it was early '60's because in the Gibson logo the "O" was open and the "i" was dotted. According to the serial number (406471) it's a 1966.

Joey

[dadfad]

You might not have screwed up. Sounds like the "belly" in the bridge might have been a problem (if not now, in the future). If it didn't sound that great, possibly a tone-bar and/or brace was loose (possibly the inside saddle-plate too) (totally fixable but not a simple project). A belly usually implies thing of that nature. So does a saddle beginning to lift (the inside saddle-plate usually also needs at least a re-glue if not a re-carve/replace). The neck might be cosmetically repairable, but not easily either (if the gouges are that bad, they might need filling and tedious touch-up finish work). As far as the decal, that sounds okay. Orange decals began around 1969 or so (after Gibson Company was sold and suffered in quality for several years afterwards). If it didn't sound great and it had good strings, etc, etc. don't get it. It sounds like it is probably actually worth the $800 or so, but would require a little (or more than a little) skilled repairs to bring it up to what it should be.

[ctshaynes]

About the Neck. Apparantly back in the day they made some pretty horrendous capos, that would tear a neck to peices like that. here's a pic.

[rustlers_bar]

###### me thats a harsh capo

it looks similar to a guitar ive seen pagey use

[joeybcdt]

ctshaynes:

I think you nailed the responsible monster. It wasn't slid up and down the neck. Just taken on and off an awful lot.

I can't believe I've never seen one of those before. Thanks for the pic.

Joey

[joeybcdt]

Just saw the guy's ad again. He's gone down $100.00. It's now at $700.00.

Joey

[dadfad]

About the Neck. Apparantly back in the day they made some pretty horrendous capos, that would tear a neck to peices like that. here's a pic.

Man, I haven't seen one of those for thirty years or so!



The price is to the point where it's a bargain for someone with some luthiery skills to fix it up and either keep it or re-sell it for a profit. If I didn't already have a pretty nice one (and enough projects to last most of the rest of my life already, if not more! ) I'd think about it myself (for my daughter really, who loves my C&J) (but she'll get mine soon enough! ).


The only "flaw" in mine (aside from perfect "checking") is a slight burnt-looking mar in the finish on the upper bottom-side bout, where it looked like it might have once been leaned against an old radiator-heater sometime in the past. It originally belonged to an old bluesman named "Shortstuff" Macon (John Wesley Macon) who was a relatively small man and preferred the slightly smaller body-size and thinner neck. The same reason my daughter likes it.

Anyway, too bad it didn't work out for you. They're nice guitars when everything is right with them.

[joeybcdt]

Got it! $500.00.

I spoke with the 2 top local repaimen this evening. They both told worse case scenario was $150.00 in repairs for the neck and top...more likely $75.00.

Now I need a case. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help guys. I really appreciate it.

Joey

[dadfad]

Cases aren't hard to find. If you need to, on my web-page on my profile there's a link to Elderly Instruments which has all kinds the sell mail-order.

[ctshaynes]

You know now that it is your responsibility, and duty to post pics of it right?

[joeybcdt]

Gibson C&W