Gibson Moderne XL - 2012

Description

Stylistically, the Moderne is characterized by an elongated lower bass bout (similar to the Flying V) that is asymmetrical which makes the guitar much easier to play sitting down, a scooped-out treble bout (similar to a shark fin), an oblong headstock (similar to the Gumby head on early Explorers.

Gibson USA dresses this version of the Moderne in a Trans Amber finish using genuine nitrocellulose lacquer, with the gold-plated hardware that helped the Modernist series stand out in the late ·50s. The body is crafted from solid mahogany (Grade-A beneath the Trans Amber finish), with a solid quarter-sawn Grade-A mahogany neck glued in with Gibson's acclaimed deep-set neck joint. The neck is carved to a slim, fast profile that measures .800" at the 1st fret and .850" at the 12th, and topped with a fingerboard made from exotic granadillo. The Moderne's headstock follows the rare split-top design, as also seen on the extremely scarce Explorer models from the first year of production.

 A pair of '57 Classics captures the sound of the original PAF humbuckers loaded on Modernist Series guitars of the late '50s. These popular pickups feature Alnico II magnets, vintage enamel-coated wire, nickel-plated pole pieces, nickel slugs, maple spacers and vintage-style, two-conductor, and braided wiring, just like the greatest humbuckers of all time. In a variation from the majority of original PAFs, however, the '57 Classics' coils are wax potted to combat microphony and feedback squeal at high volumes so, while vintage voiced, they are suited to high-gain playing, too. Like its Modernistic siblings but unlike most 2-pickup Gibsons, the Moderne has a single master tone control rather than separate neck and bridge knobs.

The timeless pairing of Tune-o-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, both in gold, anchors the strings at the body end for solid sustain and precise intonation adjustment. A set of gold-plated, vintage-style Gibson Deluxe tuners with pearloid buttons retains the accurate look and performance up at the headstock.

The Back Story (Excerpts from Gibson website and Wikipedia)

The Gibson Moderne is an electric guitar model prototyped by Gibson in 1957. It was designed alongside the Flying V, the Explorer-"Futura" as part of a stylistically advanced line of electric guitars, aimed to compete with the new ”Stratocaster”. However, unlike the Flying V and Explorer, the Moderne was not put into actual production in the 50s.

Because few prototypes were made in the 1950s, and no authenticated example is currently known, the hypothetical 1958 Moderne has been called the "mythical great white whale" or "holy grail" of collectible guitars.

In 1957, Gibson President Ted McCarty filed three designs with the United States Patent Office which would come to be called "Flying V", "Explorer", and (unofficially, by later historians) "Moderne". The design patents were issued on January 7, 1958; however, after getting an exceedingly poor reception, Gibson decided not to produce the Moderne. There is only a vague mention of "Mod. Guitars" on a shipping list, which some argue applies to Explorers.

Some Gibson employees said that no prototypes were ever made; others, including Ted McCarty, say that a few were made, but nobody knows where they went. Tales talk of prototypes and raw bodies being burned in a bonfire at Kalamazoo after early showings failed to set the guitar world alight. Some Gibson employees from that time also say that two men took parts being used to make the Moderne prototypes and assembled some outside the factory. Whatever the real story, and perhaps it is lost forever to the mists of time, the Moderne is perhaps the rarest and most elusive Gibson guitar ever created.

Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top has reportedly said he has an original ’57 Moderne, but he has not publicly shown it to anyone.

A musical chimera, shrouded in the silvered mists of myth and legend, the Gibson Moderne has long been known as the enigmatic "guitar that never was"... or, was it? At least until 1982, when the New Moderne was issued by Gibson USA for the NAMM show in Atlanta as part of the "Heritage Series".

The Technical Summary:

· This is a limited edition re-issue from 2012 Made in USA

· Solid Grade-A Mahogany body with Trans Amber nitrocellulose finish

· Mahogany neck with slim, fast neck profile - 0.800" at the 1st fret and 0.850" at the 12th

· Exotic Granadillo fingerboard with acrylic dot inlays

· Split-top headstock (similar to first Explorers made)

· Vintage-style pearloid-button Gibson Deluxe tuners with 14:1 tuning ratio

· A pair of powerful '57 Classic humbucking pickups

· 2 volume knobs, 1 tone knob and a 3-way selector switch

· Tune-o-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

· Gold hardware

It comes protected in a plush-lined hard shell case with white interior and black exterior.

It includes the usual case candy of Quality Control card, Gibson owner's manual with Limited Lifetime Warranty, and truss rod wrench.

 Condition:

This instrument is essential MINT, it has never been played but it has been handled, and is in “as new” condition; It still has the plastic wrap on the pickguard! No dings, scratches, rash, splits or checks. The finish is in excellent condition for a 14 year old guitar. Some very mild patina starting to show on the gold pickup covers. If you're looking for a virtually new historic instrument, this is a great value.

It has been kept in a temperature and humidity controlled environment.

The instrument will be properly packaged for transport.