Gibson Johnny Smith

[Perhaps]

For those in the know...what is the current price range for a used 1960's single pickup Gibson Johnny Smith in good/excellent condition?


Thanks.

[MikeJ]

Just picked up a 1966 one last week for just over 8K US
Mandolin Brothers, Ltd. - Gibson (used, 1966) Johnny Smith

are you looking or selling?

Mike

[Perhaps]

Thanks.
Looking.

[MikeJ]

Beautiful instrument...
Very lively and easy to play.. strong acoustics nice sound plugged in good luck with your search..

Mike

[gravyTrain]

Just picked up a 1966 one last week for just over 8K US
Mandolin Brothers, Ltd. - Gibson (used, 1966) Johnny Smith

Beautiful guitar. I can't imagine selling one of those if I had one.

[Perhaps]

Question...
all the Johnny Smith's I've seen seem to have a metal cover to the pickup. I came across a '69 model where the pickup looks to be black........was it replaced??

[MikeJ]

It is and along with my other guitars will be someday passed onto the Grand-kids..

[MikeJ]

Question...
all the Johnny Smith's I've seen seem to have a metal cover to the pickup. I came across a '69 model where the pickup looks to be black........was it replaced??

All I have seen is the single and double gold pickups as per the link I posted.. I am no expert but sounds like its a replacement. how close is the style it may just be a photo glitch etc.

[JohnW400]

Thanks.
Looking.

There is one at the Guitar Center in Totowa , NJ. The have it up for $9999 but I think that's probably negotiable.

[derek]

All I have seen is the single and double gold pickups as per the link I posted.. I am no expert but sounds like its a replacement. how close is the style it may just be a photo glitch etc.

I saw one this week, and gold pup also. I am quite sure that a black pup is a replacement.

[rbdeli]

Did Smith play these models in '66, or are they simply the brand he endorsed during that era? I would like to hear Smith play one. Is there a quintessential Smith Album that would show off his sound on these?

[hot ford coupe]

Matt W is the one that knows the most about Johnny Smith. I know Johnny Smith played several guitars. Pretty much all of the albums I have were done with his Excel Special. I know guild made him one which became the Award Artist and then Gibson came along and made him one. There are a few Johnny Smith things available on YouTube, one in particular where he plays his D'A with a LeGrande 6 part tailpiece. There are others too.

[threetwoone]

Hi, do you know where I can find a Johnny Smith or Le Grande?

[hot ford coupe]

If you're not strictly hooked on a Gibson, you might want to try a Heritage Johnny Smith. I had one and I regret not keeping it. They really sound great and the label is usually signed by Johnny Smith himself. The only thing is I have no idea how many of them are available at this time.

[Bluedawg]

Guild was the first with a Johnny Smith endorsement .. back in the 50s IIRC before he went to Gibson

and they got it back in the late 90s or there abouts when JS parted ways with Heritage

So there are also some Guild/Benedetto Johnny Smiths from the late 90s or early to mid 2000s

[Patrick2]

Guild was the first with a Johnny Smith endorsement .. back in the 50s IIRC before he went to Gibson

and they got it back in the late 90s or there abouts when JS parted ways with Heritage

So there are also some Guild/Benedetto Johnny Smiths from the late 90s or early to mid 2000s

I've had one of each of the variants you mentioned above. I truly believe there was never a bad JS made by any of those who built them.

My first was a late 60s or early 70s single pup sunburst. Bought it from Buck Sulcer, Guitar Network, Fredericksburg Maryland. That was back around 1995. What a great guitar! Around 2 years later, a guy came to my home to buy my 1969 L5CES. My asking price for it was $4,000 for the L5. It had the 1-9/16th" nut width. Terrible!!! (for me)

When he got to my home, he saw the JS sitting in it's stand (my mistake). He lost interest in the L5CES and wanted to buy the JS for the same price. I assured him it wasn't for sale. He started to increase his offer in increments of $500. When he got to $6,500 as his drop dead number . . I asked him if he wanted me to change the strings and polish it before I put it in the case for him. He called me about 2 weeks later, almost in tears. His 13 year old son was goofing off with a friend and fell on the guitar case, which was laying flat on the floor instead of propped up on its side. The kid fell through the case and smashed the top in.

I bought a brand new Guild Artist Award in 1993 (post JS but virtually the same guitar without his name on it) from Cintioli's Music, Philadelphia, PA. Wonderful guitar!! Traded it and cash back to Benny Cintioli in 1994 for a brand new 1994 L5CES. BIG mistake! I should have just doled out the damn cash and paid for the L5CES without trading the AA back to Benny. (things were a bit different financially for me back in 1994)

I bought a Heritage JS from a private seller. It was a great guitar, but I HATED the black hardware! Sold it to the good Dr. Goetting of K'zoo MI. He sold it soon there after because there was a mouse on the pick guard (don't even bother asking . . the explaination is worthless without the pix)

I bought a 2002 Guild Benedetto JS Award a few years back from a private owner. I've since sold it. It was probably the best out of the four, for tone and playability . . . possibly appearance too.

But, of the four, . . . I wish I had the Gibson back.

Moral of the story (I love telling stories) . . if you have a chance to buy a JS . . . ANY JS . . . just buy it. If you have one . . don't sell it . . you'll regret it for sure. They're all just very special instruments. IMO

[Jabberwocky]

This, Patrick : 2002 Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award : Vintage Rare Collectible Guitar Sales from the Grinning Elk Music Company ?

[Patrick2]

This, Patrick : 2002*Guild*Benedetto Johnny Smith Award : Vintage Rare Collectible Guitar Sales from the Grinning Elk Music Company ?

Yeah . .. that's my guitar . . or it was anyway. Lee, of Grinning Elk bought that from me at the Philadelphia Guitar Show. It's an absolute gem, in every way. Also, Lee is a true gentleman to deal with.

[Bluedawg]

I've had one of each of the variants you mentioned above. I truly believe there was never a bad JS made by any of those who built them.

My first was a late 60s or early 70s single pup sunburst. Bought it from Buck Sulcer, Guitar Network, Fredericksburg Maryland. That was back around 1995. What a great guitar! Around 2 years later, a guy came to my home to buy my 1969 L5CES. My asking price for it was $4,000 for the L5. It had the 1-9/16th" nut width. Terrible!!! (for me)

When he got to my home, he saw the JS sitting in it's stand (my mistake). He lost interest in the L5CES and wanted to buy the JS for the same price. I assured him it wasn't for sale. He started to increase his offer in increments of $500. When he got to $6,500 as his drop dead number . . I asked him if he wanted me to change the strings and polish it before I put it in the case for him. He called me about 2 weeks later, almost in tears. His 13 year old son was goofing off with a friend and fell on the guitar case, which was laying flat on the floor instead of propped up on its side. The kid fell through the case and smashed the top in.

I bought a brand new Guild Artist Award in 1993 (post JS but virtually the same guitar without his name on it) from Cintioli's Music, Philadelphia, PA. Wonderful guitar!! Traded it and cash back to Benny Cintioli in 1994 for a brand new 1994 L5CES. BIG mistake! I should have just doled out the damn cash and paid for the L5CES without trading the AA back to Benny. (things were a bit different financially for me back in 1994)

I bought a Heritage JS from a private seller. It was a great guitar, but I HATED the black hardware! Sold it to the good Dr. Goetting of K'zoo MI. He sold it soon there after because there was a mouse on the pick guard (don't even bother asking . . the explaination is worthless without the pix)

I bought a 2002 Guild Benedetto JS Award a few years back from a private owner. I've since sold it. It was probably the best out of the four, for tone and playability . . . possibly appearance too.

But, of the four, . . . I wish I had the Gibson back.

Moral of the story (I love telling stories) . . if you have a chance to buy a JS . . . ANY JS . . . just buy it. If you have one . . don't sell it . . you'll regret it for sure. They're all just very special instruments. IMO

Thanks for the story ...

and I'm certainly keeping my Le grande ....

[Patrick2]

In an earlier post inthis thread, I mentioned that Mark Goetting sold the Heritage Johnny Smith he bought from me, because it had a pick guard with a "fossilized" mouse embedded in it. Mark just sent me the photo. Hopefully, the file isn't too big. You may need to zoom in to clearly see the rascal. We named him . . . Topo Gigio.

[fws6]

I spotted him immediately even before I read your post

Now thats funny

(figured) Wood is a wonderful thing

[Patrick2]

I spotted him immediately even before I read your post

Now thats funny

(figured) Wood is a wonderful thing

It's funny . . . in the year or so that I owned that guitar, I never picked up on Topo Gigio. When Mark got he, he immediately called me and pointed it out. We both had a good belly laugh. Mark sold that guitar to a young man in his late teens. A music major in some prestigious school somewhere. His dad is financially well off, called Mark and said he wanted the best for his son. Mark later posted a video of the young man playing this JS. If this kid sticks with it . . he's going to be a great one. He truly deserves such a stunning guitar.

[2bornot2bop]

It's funny . . . in the year or so that I owned that guitar, I never picked up on Topo Gigio. When Mark got he, he immediately called me and pointed it out. We both had a good belly laugh. Mark sold that guitar to a young man in his late teens. A music major in some prestigious school somewhere. His dad is financially well off, called Mark and said he wanted the best for his son. Mark later posted a video of the young man playing this JS. If this kid sticks with it . . he's going to be a great one. He truly deserves such a stunning guitar.

And to think, I had the opportunity to buy that HJS from the good Dr. Happy now to hear my passing on it could have contributed towards a star in the making. Gorgeous guitar.

A few days ago there was a '90 HJS on the 'bay that didn't sell.

Heritage Johhny Smith archtop guitar | eBay

[hot ford coupe]

Wow!! Except for those two little dings which you can't see, that guitar is gorgeous. I love that amber color.