Gibson Johnny Smith Model Arch Top Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, curly maple body, spruce top and laminated maple neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

One of Gibson's classiest 1960's archtop guitars and a relatively rare instrument. The Johnny Smith Artist Model was conceived in late 1960 by Gibson president Ted McCarty and Johnny Smith himself after a signature Guild guitar that Smith had been endorsing proved to be not to his liking. Gibson followed Smith's specifications to the letter, and in the process created an enduringly beautiful guitar.

The Johnny Smith is a fully acoustic cutaway 17" guitar similar to an L5-C but with a Super 400 style peghead and fingerboard inlay. The namesake electronics rig consists of an Epiphone-style mini-humbucker floating over the top with controls and jack mounted to the pickguard, and the guitar's vibration is not hampered by the assembly. The appointments are quite deluxe with multiply binding everywhere, top grade woods and gold plated hardware. The bridge is ebony with an inlaid base, tuners are Kluson Sealfasts and the tailpiece is a gold L-5 style with an ebony "Johnny Smith" nameplate. This guitar features the original-style gold metal-capped knob and large pot affixed to the pickguard as seen on the earliest Smiths; most mid and late-60's examples have a smaller black knob.

Smith was very specific in his requirements, and was well pleased with Gibson's success in meeting his exacting standards. His signature model has become recognized as one of the all-time great straight-ahead jazz guitars, and one of Gibson's classic 1960's models. The Smith was very expensive when introduced (initially even more than a super 400) and was only built in small quantities throughout the 60's…this fine sunburst example from Ted McCarty's last year at Gibson is one of only 20 shipped in 1965. This is a great playing and sounding guitar with a very sophisticated tone!
 
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Extremely clean overall and all original with only very minor finish wear; one expertly repaired top grain split under the high E string is very inconspicuous. The tortoise celluloid pickguard has begun to deteriorate causing some tarnish to the adjacent metal parts but this can be easily restored using the original hardware and binding. A very nice example of one of Gibson's rarer archtop guitars, with an excellent original orange-lined HSC. Excellent + Condition.