$450 Gibson Leather Case Cover 1960s - Black

[silvermanr]

Just a moment...
Comes from 1960s Lifton Gibson hard case. Good condition.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Which case does it fit? The oiginal Gibson case covers were sized for their Faultless cases. Each one had a model number that was ZC-xx, with the digit(s) after the hyphen indicating for which size case it was made. For example, the 335 series took a ZC-19, Les Paul Standard took a ZC-LP, Super 400 took a ZC-4, and L5 took a ZC-3.

For several years, Gibson offered hard cases with either plush or flannel lining - but I think the outer case dimensions were the same for both. I was a kid when I bought my first Gibson in 1957, and I could barely afford a chipboard case. They still offered case covers in '69 when I ordered a new L5_CN but discontinued them not long afterward. Here's the 1969 price list for them. It's interesting that they began to ask for which brand of case you wanted it.



Since Gibson case covers weren't leather, this is obviously an aftermarket product - so it won't have a Gibson model number to indicate the size. But it has to fit the case well to protect it and not hang loosely at its own peril. What are the interior dimensions?

[wintermoon]

I have an old lined Gibson canvas cover.
I've seen real leather covered hard cases like the Geibs that came w prewar Super 400s that also had canvas covers, but not aware of any leather covers ever being made.
Is it leather or pleather?

[silvermanr]

Which case does it fit? The oiginal Gibson case covers were sized for their Faultless cases. Each one had a model number that was ZC-xx, with the digit(s) after the hyphen indicating for which size case it was made. For example, the 335 series took a ZC-19, Les Paul Standard took a ZC-LP, Super 400 took a ZC-4, and L5 took a ZC-3.

For several years, Gibson offered hard cases with either plush or flannel lining - but I think the outer case dimensions were the same for both. I was a kid when I bought my first Gibson in 1957, and I could barely afford a chipboard case. They still offered case covers in '69 when I ordered a new L5_CN but discontinued them not long afterward. Here's the 1969 price list for them. It's interesting that they began to ask for which brand of case you wanted it.



Since Gibson case covers weren't leather, this is obviously an aftermarket product - so it won't have a Gibson model number to indicate the size. But it has to fit the case well to protect it and not hang loosely at its own peril. What are the interior dimensions?

It fits snugly on a 17inch archtop case. Came from my 1969 L5 case.

[silvermanr]

I have an old lined Gibson canvas cover.
I've seen real leather covered hard cases like the Geibs that came w prewar Super 400s that also had canvas covers, but not aware of any leather covers ever being made.
Is it leather or pleather?

leather

[Geechnyc]

… Since Gibson case covers weren't leather, ….

I have a Gibson-branded leather case cover for my ES-175: identical design as the black canvas Gibson cover I have for my JS (both, however, acquired separately from those 60s instruments/original cases).

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I have a Gibson-branded leather case cover for my ES-175: identical design as the black canvas Gibson cover I have for my JS (both, however, acquired separately from those 60s instruments/original cases).

Very interesting! I have almost every Gibson catalog from 1917 to 2013 plus 1903. Although I haven’t memorized them all, I’ve read all of each of them at least a few times and most far more than that over the years. There’s no leather case cover listed for any guitar that I can remember.

is there any tag or marking on it to suggest its maker or source? When did you buy it? Was it new or used? Was it sold to you as a Gibson product or approved accessory?

[Geechnyc]

Traveling and don't recall inside label: a Reverb purchase; search sold listings and it should come up.