1963 Gibson C-0 Natural
According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Gibson C-0 classical guitar was manufactured in various forms from 1962 to 1971. Gruhn’s Guide and Vintage Guitar Price Guide basically agree, although there is some disagreement as to specific features. Like most classical guitars, it’s smaller than the dreadnought or jumbo series, measuring 39” in overall length, 19” in body length, 11” at the upper bout, 9 5/8” at the waist, 14 ¼” at the lower bout, and tapers from 3 ½” to 4 ½” deep. While it may have been designed more for the coffee house of the 1960s folk music scene or classical studio than for the blue grass stage, it still has enough carrying power for anybody and is a beautiful example of Gibson craftsmanship in even their lower-priced models.
The C-0 features a solid spruce top with mahogany back, sides, and neck in a light natural finish, a rosewood wrap-around bridge, and a 12/19-fret (including a zero fret) Brazilian Rosewood finger board with a 25 ½” scale. The serial number of this specific guitar (129493) pretty reliably dates it as 1963, and the slotted classical headstock does not have the Gibson script logo decal, which Gruhn says starts in 1964. The black nut of the 1963 period is there, as well as the original tuners with white plastic buttons.
After 56 years of making music, there are a few cosmetic concerns, including some crazing or cracking in the finish, and some small dings and bruises, including some pick wear below the sound hole and some ragged edges in the sound hole decal. While there is one crack in the top upper bout which has been glued and cleated, it is not at all distracting. The bridge has apparently been re-glued, and there seems to be a repaired chip in the black original nut which does not affect playability at all. There is a little fret wear, but the action is fine, the neck is straight, the top is flat, and there is substantial room left on the saddle.
Despite its current good cosmetic and structural condition, this guitar is obviously not for a collector to put in a Gibson museum. This is now a player’s guitar, and I sincerely hope that its next owner is someone who will play it well and often. Most importantly, of course, playing music for fifty years has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful, so the next owner will be amply rewarded. And all the repairs for the next twenty years have been done. It will be shipped in a light-weight vinyl gig bag.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage guitar, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.
Thank you for your interest in this vintage Gibson classic.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.