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1978 Gibson Howard Roberts Artist

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Serial #: 71388058, back of peghead. Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .79/.95

Materials: Seven-ply bound figured maple laminate body; three piece flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; abalone vine peghead inlay and Gibson logo; split block pearl fingerboard inlays.

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes full sized floating Gibson humbucking pickup; trapeze tailpiece with engraved ebony insert; compensated adjustable ebony bridge with mother of pearl inlay; Gibson/Schaller Deluxe sealed tuners; master volume with separate treble and bass tone controls; original black barrel knobs. Vintage correct bound tortoise pickguard, additional compensated ebony bridge saddle installed.

Notes: Featured on untold thousands of major studio recordings, movie and TV soundtracks as both a sideman and soloist, the late Howard Roberts was almost surely the most prolifically recorded jazz guitarist of his time. Like his contemporary Johnny Smith, Roberts also consulted in the creation of a number of technically innovative instruments.

An instrument as versatile as its celebrated creator, the Howard Roberts Model was first introduced by Gibson under its Epiphone label in 1965. Made in Kalamazoo, this innovative guitar combined an arched 16" Florentine cutaway body with a unique oval soundhole, a design with roots in Orville Gibson's very earliest guitars. With its long-scale neck, the Howard Roberts also revived the celebrated vine peghead inlay of the prewar Epiphone Deluxe, and the split block fingerboard inlays of the Epiphone's prewar Spartan model.

While the Howard Roberts was discontinued under the Epiphone brand by 1968, the model was revived under the Gibson logo in 1974. A unique full-sized floating humbucking pickup was produced for this model alone, with innovative separate treble and bass tone controls. Two years later, Gibson premiered Howard Roberts Artist, the most upscale version of the model, featuring a solid ebony fingerboard and all gold hardware. Produced in very limited numbers for only four years, the Artist is now the rarest version of this celebrated model.

This striking example is one of just 42 produced in its third model year in all finish colors, and one of only 129 examples of the Artist Model made in it's total run. With handsome curly maple figure in the body, the guitar is finished in a deep burgundy lacquer, with all original multi-ply binding tight to the body. With all original electronics, the guitar is equipped with the ebony tailpiece, engraved with the artist's name, and the pearl inlaid ebony bridge, as seen on the L-5, Johnny Smith and Super 400 models. This gleaming guitar has been maintained without cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and is fitted with a lustrous vintage correct dark tortise pickguard and an additional compensated ebony bridge saddle. Apart from some typical fogging on the pickup cover, and a few incidental lacquer streaks, the guitar appears to have barely left its case in almost half a century.

The action is smooth and low over an elegant slim depth D profile neck, with a full width 1 11/16" nut, and fresh high precision setup over high polished fretwork. With excellent neck angle and bridge height, the action offers ample room for adjustment to suit any playing style. The tone is warm and rich, thanks to the unique full sized floating pickup, and dual-band tone control system. The distinctive oval hole body produces a fine unplugged voice of its own, yet is substantially more resistant to feedback than a conventional carved archtop.

Rare, handsome and versatile, and a fitting tribute to one of the true legends of contemporary guitar. One only: call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original Gibson logo black arched burgundy plush lined hardshell case.

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