1975 GIBSON BYRDLAND

A stunning 1975 Gibson Byrdland, in exceptional condition.

Produced in Kalamazoo almost 6 years after the acquisition of Gibson by Norlin, this guitar condenses both the luxury which has characterized the model since its introduction in 1955 and the visual exuberance typical of the 70s: between the golden hardware and the finish getting closer to Tangerine Sunburst, it’s hard not to be dazzled!

In the early 1950s, Hank Garland and Billy Byrd, two big names among Nashville session players  (and incidentally proponents of Gibson guitars) informed the manufacturer of their desires for an instrument specially adapted to their needs, that of being able to play for long hours in recording studios without getting tired: the result is the Byrdland model (so named by the union of the two musicians’ names, and, surely by coincidence, sharing that of a prestigious New York jazz club!). The general shape borrows from that of the L-5 model, but is reduced in thickness making the Byrdland the first thinline archtop ever produced. The scale length is reduced to 23.5 inches instead of the 24.75 which is the norm on the majority of Gibsons: this not only facilitates access to the top of the neck, but also allows great playing comfort, including for the most tenuous fretting positions. Equipped with two pickups (originally Alnico single coils, later humbuckers), the model also offers a wide sound palette between the roundness of the neck pickup and the biting edge of the bridge pickup. In short, the perfect instrument for those who want great versatility in a variety of playing contexts.

For the rest, the guitar has all the characteristics of the most high-end instruments manufactured by Gibson: carved spruce top, maple back and sides, flamed maple neck topped with an ebony fingerboard, numerous mother-of-pearl inlays – block-shaped on the fingerboard, the flowerpot on the headstock as well as the name of the brand, gold hardware, tailpiece engraved with the name of the model… The instrument is in excellent condition, entirely original with the exception of its pickguard: it is common for the plastic materials used at the time to have decomposed, releasing a gas that oxidizes the metal parts of the instrument. We thus note a loss of gold on the treble side tuners, and the original Patent No. pickup covers have been repolished.

The instrument is in perfect playing condition, fully optimized for playing in our workshop with fret planning and polishing, action and intonation adjustment. Sold in its original Gibson hardshell case.