This was an interesting buy - one of my first on the vintage market. It was advertised as a 1970 and the photo's were average at best. I got emotionally involved with it and bid high 10 seconds out thinking no one else would go that high. They did and I paid $700 too much. When it arrived I found it had a 9/16th's neck width at the nut - my least favourite. And it turned out to be a 1975 model - one of only 69 made in that year, but still...I felt ripped off.
I felt bad about it for a long time and didn't play it much. One day I read about someone changing the stereo out and making it mono and also the Torres Varitone was getting a good write up...so I did both procedures whilst keeping all the bits n bobs for later.
Those things changed my view entirely on the guitar. I now realise I got it cheap because this is one of the most lively sounding 3XX variants I have ever played. The pickups are clear and honky - lots of airy chimyness. The Maestro is sublime and the Torres kit actually useable. And the neck - amazingly it doesn't worry me at all.
This is now my only Gibson hollow I have (recently swapped the Walnut 335 for a 39" Blue Guitar
).....So here she is in poor light.
