The Gibson ES-Artist is a Norlin-era semi-hollow that sat at the top of the ES range. Introduced in 1979 and built only until the mid-80s, the ES-Artist was Gibson’s high-end 335-style model with upscale appointments and Moog-designed active electronics. Steve Howe is the best-known user; he toured with several ES-Artists in the early ’80s with Yes and Asia.

This 1980 example is stamped “SECOND” on the back of the headstock. Gibson used this factory-second stamp for minor cosmetic flaws that still passed structural QC, so it does not indicate a major repair or defect. That fits with the overall condition here: standard playwear for a 45-year-old guitar, some checking and small marks, and lots of tarnish on the gold hardware, which is completely normal of course. The pickguard shows some minor “gassing”.

The Moog active circuit has been removed, so the guitar now runs as a straightforward passive two-humbucker ES, which many players actually prefer. The mini switches are now a coil switch for each pickup and an out of phase switch. Under the sunburst finish there is a spruce front and back over the semi-hollow body, with a beautiful three-piece maple neck and ebony fingerboard with supercool offset dots. The original TP-6 fine tuning tailpiece has been changed to a standard stop tailpiece, which in our opinion looks a lot better on the guitar. The original low “fretless wonder” frets are still in place; they’re low (obviously!) but play well. Weight is 3800g. Includes a newer, non-original hardshell case.

Cool, uncommon ES from the experimental Norlin period, with the fancy Artist cosmetics but a simpler, gig-friendly passive setup.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Gibson ES-Artist
• Year: 1980
• Construction: Thinline semi-hollow with solid center block, rear control cavity, no f-holes
• Body: Laminated spruce arched top and back, multi-ply bound front, single-bound back
• Neck: Three-piece maple, set neck
• Fingerboard: Bound ebony with offset pearl dot inlays
• Scale length: 24 3/4″ (628 mm)
• Nut: Brass, approx. 1 11/16″ width
• Frets: Original low wide “fretless wonder” style, 22 frets
• Headstock: Bound, pearl Gibson logo with Artist “flying-f” inlay, factory SECOND stamp
• Pickups: Two original Gibson T-top humbuckers
• Electronics: Moog-designed active system removed; rewired for passive operation with 3-way toggle, master volume, separate tone controls, coil switch for each pickup and an out of phase switch
• Hardware: Tune-o-matic bridge into brass studs, stop tailpiece, gold-plated Gibson tuners and hardware
• Pickguard: Multi-ply guard with minor celluloid gassing
• Finish: Sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer
• Weight: 3800g
• Case: Newer non-original hardshell case