1968 Gibson Dove Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1968 Gibson Dove in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. Boasting the features commonly associated with a late ‘60s example, this Dove features an ABR-1 bridge and one-piece mahogany neck, benefitting from the maintenance due an instrument of this vintage with a professional neck reset and restoration of the original bridge plate.

Delivering X-braced square shoulder dreadnought muscle and punch, this Dove features a Sitka spruce top, curly maple back/sides, mahogany neck, and a dark rosewood fingerboard. Immediate and lively with tons of projection on tap, the sound is bright yet full, emblematic of the tonewood selection and a top that’s had decades to open up and relax. There’s a gutsy vitality and taut snap to the wound strings, with plenty of headroom, and the trebles yield a percussive sparkle. Weighing 5lbs 8oz, this Dove has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-53 bronze strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape: Slender C, measuring .810” 1st fret, .945” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, split parallelogram inlays
• Frets: Medium jumbo, light wear on frets 1-3
• Scale Length: 25 ½”
• Nut: 1 9/16”
• Tuners: Kluson “waffleback”
• Serialization: Six-digit stamp dates to 1968

Body Specs:

• Wood: Sitka spruce, curly maple
• Bracing: X
• Bridge: Rosewood “dove” with wing inlays and ABR-1 (new nylon saddles)
• Pickguard: Tortoise with dove inlay
• Marquetry: Simple rosette, multi-ply binding

The gloss nitro lacquer is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, and the spruce top and heavily figured curly maple back are crack-free. There are just a few short, tight repaired splits on the maple rims (two bass-side near the endpin, one treble-side at the waist), with some buckle scratches on the upper bout of the back, a few minor dings on top, and a few additional minor marks from careful use. A ¼” endpin has also been installed (not currently connected to any pickup element). The gloss on the neck profile is clean and smooth, free of palm wear.

A modern black tolex hardshell case is included.