1965 Gibson C-1D Very Good, Hard
According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Gibson C-1-D “Laredo” classical guitar was manufactured from 1963 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 classical performance or the coffee house of the 1960s folk music scene than for the blue grass stage, it still has enough carrying power for anybody and is a beautiful example of Gibson craftsmanship.
The C-1-D features a solid spruce top and has beautifully grained mahogany back, sides, and neck in a light natural finish, classical ladder bracing, a really nice rosewood wrap-around bridge, and a beautiful 12/19-fret (including a zero fret) rosewood finger board with a 25 ½” scale; the nut is a full classical 2”. It has a wide patterned rosette Gruhn says was added in 1964 and black binding on the top and back. The slotted classical headstock has the Gibson script logo decal (also added in 1964). The serial number on the label and the back of the headstock (288587) plus the above features date this particular guitar as being from the next year (1965).
After 53 years of making music, there are a few cosmetic concerns about this guitar: there is some crazing or cracking in the finish of the top, a professionally repaired crack and some obvious fingernail or pick wear below the sound hole. On the other hand, there is virtually no wear at the frets (presumably due to its nylon strings), and it basically looks and plays like a well cared-for guitar of about a tenth its age. The action is fine for a classical guitar (with a high saddle if you wish to lower it), the neck is straight, the top is flat, and of course, playing music for over fifty years has made that Gibson sound even better, more resonant, and more powerful.
The hard shell case is vintage but not original, according to the previous owner. While this means it is a well-worn case with few amenities, it is untorn, fully functional, and it affords excellent protection for this fine vintage guitar. The guitar fits it quite well, and it’s a solid vintage complement for your 1965 Gibson.
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 instrument, 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 fine vintage instrument.
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.