Gibson Johnny Smith 1966

**Marty Grass** · 06-26-2021, 04:12 PM

I got to check out a well used Johnny Smith today. The pickguard needed placement. It was broken into two and partially gassed out. Some of the harness needed replacing.

For something that had been played a lot, it was sturdy with a straight neck. It had been refretted. The F holes had been taped over, which left impressions in the lacquer.

The neck was a little fatter than others of that era but still thinnish. The top was a bit thin as well, very similar to the Heritage Super Eagles I have.

Pete Moreno made the pickguard. There was a lot of work doing that. He tried to match the pickguard binding to the 1966 yellowed binding and came very close.

This JS is quite solid for 55 years, much of it obviously in heavy use it seems.

I asked Pete if he knew anyone who adjusted the top tension on the tailpiece. He said he's never seen anyone do that on the L-5 or other Gibsons. There must be someone who has!

I'm posting the pics for those who might enjoy them. It belongs to someone in Indiana.

Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-51272693738_d91bbd86e0_c-jpg

Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-51272693738_d91bbd86e0_c-jpg

Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-51273546960_d8f7e6de73_c-jpg

**2bornot2bop** · 06-26-2021, 04:24 PM

In an era when the Beatles were still going strong! Good to see it revived.

**6v6ster** · 06-28-2021, 01:38 PM

Thanks for posting, I love to see these old gibsons.

Regarding adjusting the tailpiece, that just looks like a quick way to crack the top! I’m sure not cranking on my ‘64 L5.

**skykomishone** · 06-28-2021, 05:09 PM

Very sweet. Often, vintage guitars with serious play wear got that way because they are so fantastic to play. My L7 had the lacquer worn off the neck, and a few dings here and there. Seemed like someone never set it down.
Thanks for sharing Marty!

**Gilpy** · 06-28-2021, 05:41 PM

Great pics of a cool old guitar.
I always thought it was a shame that the pick guard on those 2 pickup Johnny Smiths had to be so f*#in’ ugly!
I guess that’s the only way they could fit all those knobs...

**wintermoon** · 06-28-2021, 05:53 PM

yes, those guards are pretty ugly, not sure why you'd even want a second pickup in the bridge position of a Johnny Smith. if I owned one I'd have a new guard made w/single pickup like most people do.

**floatingpickup** · 06-30-2021, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

yes, those guards are pretty ugly, not sure why you'd even want a second pickup in the bridge position of a Johnny Smith. if I owned one I'd have a new guard made w/single pickup like most people do.

That’s exactly what I did. Mine was originally a JS-D, but I replaced the pickguard and removed all the extra electronics, leaving just the front pickup and a single volume control. It’s much nicer this way (I’m sure Johnny would agree!).
Keith
Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-47f10c9a-8a00-487b-90e4-900cac376134-jpg

Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-47f10c9a-8a00-487b-90e4-900cac376134-jpg

**6v6ster** · 06-30-2021, 03:04 PM

He would agree! In his biography he said he couldn’t stand the double pickup set up. And thought it looked horrible.

**floatingpickup** · 06-30-2021, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by 6v6ster

He would agree! In his biography he said he couldn’t stand the double pickup set up. And thought it looked horrible.

I have his biography too. It is a really fascinating read. He was amazing. My dad got to see him play when he was at the height of his career. He met Johnny that night and he talked about that night for the rest of his life. I met him in his senior years, but he didn’t play anymore by then. He was a very nice man.
Keith

**wintermoon** · 06-30-2021, 08:23 PM

Keith, is that a '67-'69?

**floatingpickup** · 06-30-2021, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Keith, is that a '67-'69?

Good eye! It’s a ‘69.
Keith

**wintermoon** · 06-30-2021, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Good eye! It’s a ‘69.
Keith

Must be early '69. That dark burst is early and late 60's. By mid '69 back to cherry burst for a few yrs.

**floatingpickup** · 06-30-2021, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

Must be early '69. That dark burst is early and late 60's. By mid '69 back to cherry burst for a few yrs.

S/N 533,XXX, which I believe would be early ‘69. The dark burst was one of the reasons I had to have this one.
Keith

**wintermoon** · 06-30-2021, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

S/N 533442, which I believe would be early ‘69. The dark burst was one of the reasons I had to have this one.
Keith

The good thing is w a JS you can get the dark burst but still wide nut as all are 1 3/4 as opposed to other mid to late 60s Gibsons

**floatingpickup** · 06-30-2021, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

The good thing is w a JS you can get the dark burst but still wide nut as all are 1 3/4 as opposed to other mid to late 60s Gibsons

Yes, they all have the nice wide nut, regardless of the year.
Keith

**Stringswinger** · 06-30-2021, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

Yes, they all have the nice wide nut, regardless of the year.
Keith

I have seen at least one with a 1 5/8 nut from 1966

1966 Gibson Johnny Smith Custom

**floatingpickup** · 07-01-2021, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

I have seen at least one with a 1 5/8 nut from 1966

1966 Gibson Johnny Smith Custom

Wow. That’s something I have never run into. Maybe a special order?
Keith

**Cunamara** · 07-02-2021, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by floatingpickup

That’s exactly what I did. Mine was originally a JS-D, but I replaced the pickguard and removed all the extra electronics, leaving just the front pickup and a single volume control. It’s much nicer this way (I’m sure Johnny would agree!).
Keith
Gibson Johnny Smith 1966-47f10c9a-8a00-487b-90e4-900cac376134-jpg

Johnny apparently had negative feelings about the two pickup version and modifying those down to one pickup versions was something he did a lot of in his music store. Apparently customers bought them because that was the only way to get one from Gibson and then would bring them in to JS to have them "corrected." I think this was one of the irritations that resulted in him rescinding his endorsement eventually.

**Marty Grass** · 07-02-2021, 08:39 AM

I don't get the double pickup model either. There may have been some country swing or country artists into that. Maybe a session musician wanted the versatility. But the ES-175 would do just as well for those situations.

**floatingpickup** · 07-02-2021, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

I don't get the double pickup model either. There may have been some country swing or country artists into that. Maybe a session musician wanted the versatility. But the ES-175 would do just as well for those situations.

The only thing I liked about the double pickup version, was having a tone control. I know it would be easy enough to add a tone control to a single pickup version, but I also like the clean looks and simplicity of just one control on the pickguard. Decisions, decisions.
Keith

**floatingpickup** · 07-02-2021, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Johnny apparently had negative feelings about the two pickup version and modifying those down to one pickup versions was something he did a lot of in his music store. Apparently customers bought them because that was the only way to get one from Gibson and then would bring them in to JS to have them "corrected." I think this was one of the irritations that resulted in him rescinding his endorsement eventually.

I guess there a quite a few unused rear JS pickups laying around out there.
Keith