1962 Gibson Byrdland
Summary: Many working musicians of the fast-paced and musically adventurous ’50s required a new instrument — one that captured traditional Gibson archtop artistry and craftsmanship but represented a redrawing of the blueprint for the needs of the day. Enter the Byrdland. At the request of Billy Byrd and Hank Garland, the Byrdland was made with a reduced scale length, but featured all the finery of a top-of-the-line Gibson archtop guitar. The Byrdland’s super-thin neck and 23 1/2” scale length might have implied a “student model” instrument, but it was intended purely for speed and playing ease, and its five-ply binding, ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, gold-plated hardware, and triple-loop Byrdland trapeze tailpiece all single it out as a top-shelf guitar. Coupled to the traditional independent volume and tone controls and a three-way selector switch, these units gave this Byrdland the ability to produce anything from a smooth mellow purr to a hot, cutting twang.
Body: Bound Spruce top, Maple back/sides.
Neck: Set bound Maple with an Ebony fingerboard (pearl block inlays), 23.5” scale length, 1.646” nut width, 22 frets, “CUSTOM” truss rod cover.
Pickups/Hardware: Two Patent No. humbucking pickups, three-way pickup selector, two volume/two tone knobs, tortoise shell pickguard, gold hardware, trapeze tailpiece.
Cosmetics: This guitar has beautiful checking on the top and back of the body with just a few dings here and there. (See Photos Please) The neck’s finish has worn on the treble and bass side all the way down to the twelfth fret. There is a ring around the “D” string post. (See Photo) There are two dowels under the tailpiece where someone had installed a vibrola tailpiece. We believe this work was professionally done years ago but can’t say for sure. There is one crack in the binding that was probably made during the refretting of this instrument. Overall, this guitar is in great shape, and it plays and sounds amazing.
Playability: Our in-house guitar tech has inspected, setup, and restrung this guitar with a new set of 10’s. The neck is straight, the truss rod is fully functional, and the action has been setup low and comfortable. The frets are in great shape with no major grooves or divots from use and it plays beautifully up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out.
Modifications: There are dowels under the tailpiece where someone had installed a vibrola tailpiece. This instrument has been refretted.
Weight: 7 lbs., 2 oz.
Case: This guitar ships in the original hardshell case, professionally packaged, and fully insured.
Body: Bound Spruce top, Maple back/sides.
Neck: Set bound Maple with an Ebony fingerboard (pearl block inlays), 23.5” scale length, 1.646” nut width, 22 frets, “CUSTOM” truss rod cover.
Pickups/Hardware: Two Patent No. humbucking pickups, three-way pickup selector, two volume/two tone knobs, tortoise shell pickguard, gold hardware, trapeze tailpiece.
Cosmetics: This guitar has beautiful checking on the top and back of the body with just a few dings here and there. (See Photos Please) The neck’s finish has worn on the treble and bass side all the way down to the twelfth fret. There is a ring around the “D” string post. (See Photo) There are two dowels under the tailpiece where someone had installed a vibrola tailpiece. We believe this work was professionally done years ago but can’t say for sure. There is one crack in the binding that was probably made during the refretting of this instrument. Overall, this guitar is in great shape, and it plays and sounds amazing.
Playability: Our in-house guitar tech has inspected, setup, and restrung this guitar with a new set of 10’s. The neck is straight, the truss rod is fully functional, and the action has been setup low and comfortable. The frets are in great shape with no major grooves or divots from use and it plays beautifully up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out.
Modifications: There are dowels under the tailpiece where someone had installed a vibrola tailpiece. This instrument has been refretted.
Weight: 7 lbs., 2 oz.
Case: This guitar ships in the original hardshell case, professionally packaged, and fully insured.
