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A bit of a long shot but I am looking for a Howard Roberts Fusion III (1991 - 2007) model.
Ideally an earlier one in excellent+ condition with the original case. Any color/finish considered. Just send me a PM here if you have one.
Thanks
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07-05-2026 09:21 PM
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Why do you say "long shot"? There are a few on Reverb, Guitar Center, et. al.
The Marketplace for Musicians | Reverb.com
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I'm looking for one in close to mint or case queen condition with the original hardshell case. I checked all the US listings I could find and was disappointed with the condition of all of them. There is one at Carter Vintage that looks nice but the asking price is pretty high due to past owner provenance.
Originally Posted by Mick-7
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Have you seen this one from Canada (worldwide shipping) The Marketplace for Musicians | Reverb.com Originally Posted by trailmixer
Condition looks very good , as good as my own '97 I'd say (a keeper BTW
) those are amazing guitars.
S
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As you probably know, Mint = New, it's very difficult to find any vintage guitar in that condition. Unless you're willing to wait years for one to turn up, Excellent condition is probably the most you can hope for.
Here are three with that rating:
Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion 1988 Cherry w/OHSC | Reverb.com
Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III Cherry | Reverb.com
Epiphone Howard Roberts Fusion III 1988 | Reverb.com (This one's in Japan)
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You could also contact Howards son Jay Roberts..he has a music school In Washington State..Im sure he would have some info for you. Originally Posted by trailmixer
Jay Roberts | Roberts Music Institute
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His YouTube series on his father was excellent.... Originally Posted by wolflen
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Thanks, I did see this one but paused due to the headstock chip. Also the '97 has quite a different Gibson logo to the '91 which is thinner and more elegant. I know I'm being very vain but I expect this one to be a keeper so I want to get the ideal one. Originally Posted by SOLR
Have you seen this one from Canada (worldwide shipping) The Marketplace for Musicians | Reverb.com
Condition looks very good , as good as my own '97 I'd say (a keeper BTW) those are amazing guitars.
S
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Ironic though when you consider how Howard treated his guitars. Originally Posted by trailmixer
Listen to the story that Phil Marshall tells at about the 5.00 min mark in this video
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Good luck in your search. A 1980 tobacco sunburst Howard Roberts Fusion I that I bought from Dave's Guitar Shop in late 1992 was my main gigging guitar in the 90s. Recently I debated with myself about getting a Fusion III (unlike my old Fusion I - it does not have the full body length maple block that made my Fusion I a boat anchor [I weighed it on a calibrated scale - 13 lbs! No wonder my left shoulder felt like it was about to fall off by the 3rd set]), so it's decently light. Unfortunately, since the time I had my Fusion I, I've grown to prefer chunkier necks than the Fusion's Slim Taper neck profile. So, I've instead paid for an Eastman T64V (I LOVE Eastman necks, and all of my Eastmans have been well made, great sounding guitars). The T64V is Eastman's take on an Gibson ES-330, so I can get on my early 60s Grant Green thing.
A 1980 Howard Roberts Fusion like my old one (which I sold in 2000, due to a money crunch)
Last edited by EllenGtrGrl; 07-09-2026 at 06:16 AM.
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Thank you! I was turned onto the Fusion III in specific by two guitarists I follow on YouTube and really admire, it's been the main jazz guitar for both of them for a long time, which is a big vote of confidence for me. Originally Posted by EllenGtrGrl
Good luck in your search. A 1980 tobacco sunburst Howard Roberts Fusion I that I bought from Dave's Guitar Shop in late 1992 was my main gigging guitar in the 90s. Recently I debated with myself about getting a Fusion III (unlike my old Fusion I - it does not have the full body length maple block that made my Fusion I a boat anchor (I weighed it on a calibrated scale - 13 lbs! No wonder my left shoulder felt like it was about to fall off by the 3rd set), so it's decently light. Unfortunately, since the time I had my Fusion I, I've grown to prefer chunkier necks then the Fusion's Slim Tper neck profile. So, I've instead paid for an Eastman T64V (I LOVE Eastman necks, and all of my Eastmans have been well made, great sounding guitars). The T64V is Eastman's take on an Gibson ES-330, so I can get on my early 60s Grant Green thing.
A 1980 Howard Roberts Fusion like my old one (which I sold in 2000, due to a money crunch)
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The Epiphone Fusion III is an odd bird. It's very different from the Gibson model: it has 3 pickups, two of which are single coil, and they only made it for one year (1988) -- http://epiphonewiki.org/index/Howard_Roberts_Fusion.php
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Yeah, it is a very nice guitar, and if it weren't for its relatively thin neck, I would have bought another one. Originally Posted by trailmixer
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Yeah, that is a bit of an oddball. I didn't even know that an Epiphone version of the Howard Roberts Fusion was made. Originally Posted by Mick-7
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There's a ton of them of Ebay!
Arnie...
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Try Peter Wagoner at Lavonne Music, Savage,Minnesota. He probably knows where a mint one will be. He’s owned several
(952) 890-9288
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This must be his store? -- Electric Guitars – LaVonne Music Originally Posted by jads57
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Can you post links to these players? Originally Posted by trailmixer
S
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The website doesn’t do Peter Wagoner Justice. Believe me he’s been in business since his father started the store in the mid 1960’s.
He along with George Gruhn are extremely knowledgeable about Archtops and vintage guitars in general.
Really great guy,and easy to talk with on the phone
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Yes. It's not their playing so much that I admire (though they are both really fine players) but the style and substance of their videos. Originally Posted by SOLR
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Ahh! Sandra Sherman! I've watched her YouTube channel off and on for years. I didn't know her main guitar was a Howard Roberts Fusion.
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Thank you for the links Originally Posted by trailmixer
S
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There is this one from a Japanese re-seller on eBay: Error Page | eBay
It's not mint but it has an acceptable amount of patina. Interesting the tuners were swapped for plastic tulips instead of metal, and the black speed knobs replaced with orange. It would be a big YOLO but it's nicer than any of the ones on Reverb and cheaper than Carter Vintage.
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Maybe not, the import tariff fee and tax could be sizeable, don't know how to find out the exact charge but I would think the seller could tell you the approximate fee. Originally Posted by trailmixer
"International Buyers (Non-US): Import duties and taxes are NOT included. You may be charged additional fees by your country's customs upon delivery. Note: For items valued over $2,500 USD, customs duties may apply and must be paid by the buyer, even within the United States."
It's undoubtedly from one of these Japanese stores, likely cheaper to buy directly from them via ZenMarket:
Howard Roberts model guitars
Zenmarket Tutorial
P.S. - Gibson first starting making the Fusion III model in 1991, so the guitar the eBay dealer is selling must be a Fusion II - or he has the year wrong (think he does).
Here's a 1989 Fusion II: 1989 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion | PDF | Guitars
Here's a 1995 Fusion III: 1995 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III
The last post in this thread has some useful information: Howard Roberts Fusion guitar, questions and answers
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I talked with Peter Wagoner at Lavonne Music. He said he had 3 different ones he could sell. (952)890-7288
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