This is guitar is entirely hand made exclusively by Ren Ferguson, who was the master builder/head of Gibson Acoustics in Bozeman, Montana at the time. He built 10 prototypes of each model to introduce the new 2003 line. This is #10 of this model. I purchased it at Guitar Center Hollywood. They had an entire wall of 2003 prototypes of every model built by Ren. This guitar surpassed them all - was the one. I was the Gibson accessories account executive at the time... I could have just bought one direct from Gibson at the employee price but this prototype was/is truly spectacular.

Wonderful sound, has plenty of character & its own personality, strong projection and volume, great low-end, sweet top-end, fantastic strumming guitar, good for finger picking as well & has a fast neck for single notes. Very easy to play and visually striking. It has a built in pickup (battery required/included - lasts forever), gold tuners and crown inlays. Great tuning stability.

This guitar has some very special extra sauce/upgrades: bone nut & saddle, ivory bridge pins (I forget but almost certain they are ivory), and jumbo Plek'd gold EVO frets, which are no longer available, & rolled fingerboard edges (part of the Plek'ing process). Comes with original Gibson case with plush blue interior, which is in great condition minus minor exterior scuffs.

Home/home studio use only. Never toured or gigged with. No smoking/pets/kids environment & always properly humidified.

Almost mint although there are a couple of finish cracks at the top bout above the finger board & at the lower bout below the bridge. Top finish is still smooth - have no structural impact.

Certainly a rare and unique guitar/find!