Gibson Vintage Guitar Price Guide

1958–present

The Gibson ES-335 was the world's first commercial thinline archtop semi-hollow electric guitar, introduced in 1958. Its unique construction — a solid maple center block flanked by hollow wings — gave it the warmth of a hollow-body with the sustain and feedback resistance of a solid-body.

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1959–1981

The Gibson ES-345 was the mid-tier model between the ES-335 and ES-355, introduced in 1959. It featured stereo wiring with a Varitone selector switch, gold hardware, and a bound fingerboard with double-parallelogram inlays. PAF-equipped early models are the most collectible.

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1963–present

The Gibson Firebird was designed by automotive stylist Ray Dietrich and introduced in 1963. The 'reverse' body design (with the bass side horn longer than the treble) featured neck-through construction, mini-humbucker pickups, and a distinctive look unlike any other Gibson. Four models — I, III, V, and VII — offered increasing features.

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1958–present

The Gibson Flying V was one of two radical 'Modernist' designs introduced in 1958, alongside the Explorer. The Korina-wood original lasted only two years in first production before being discontinued — making the 1958-1959 Korina Flying Vs among the rarest and most valuable electric guitars ever made.

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1942–present

The Gibson J-45 has been called 'the workhorse' of acoustic guitars — an honest, round-shouldered dreadnought that delivers rich mid-range tone without pretension. Introduced in 1942, the J-45 was designed as an affordable working musician's guitar and has appeared on countless recordings across every genre.

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1952–present

The Gibson Les Paul is one of the most iconic solid-body electric guitars ever produced. Co-designed with guitarist Les Paul, the model debuted in 1952 and went through significant changes in its first decade — from the gold-top originals to the flame-top 'Bursts' of 1958-1960, which are now among the most valuable guitars in the world.

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1954–present

The Gibson Les Paul Custom — nicknamed the 'Black Beauty' — was introduced in 1954 as the upscale counterpart to the standard model. It featured a bound ebony fingerboard, multiple binding layers, and premium cosmetics. The PAF-equipped versions from 1957 onward are among the most collected of all vintage Gibsons.

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1954–1963

The Gibson Les Paul Junior was introduced in 1954 as a student-grade, single-pickup version of the Les Paul. Despite its budget origins, the Junior's raw simplicity — one P-90, a slab mahogany body, and no frills — made it a favorite of punk, rock, and blues players who valued its direct, aggressive tone.

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1955–1963

The Gibson Les Paul Special occupied the middle ground between the Junior and Standard — featuring two P-90 pickups on a slab mahogany body with a bound fingerboard. Available in both single and double-cutaway configurations, the Special offered excellent value and a compelling direct tone.

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1961–present

The Gibson SG was introduced in 1961 as a redesign of the Les Paul. Though Les Paul himself was not a fan, the SG became iconic in its own right — favored by Tony Iommi, Angus Young, and Derek Trucks. Early 'Les Paul/SG' models from 1961-1963 still carry the Les Paul name on the truss rod cover.

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