1950s Gibson budget (Kalamazoo/Cromwell) ES 120 Archtop guitar

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Source eBay UK

I am sure this is not a 1950s Gibson but a budget model that was owned by the Gibson brand - hence the price! The headstock logo looks like it was added at a later date and the guitar is probably a Kalamazoo or Cromwell ES-120 budget copy - both these brands were owned by Gibson. I took the archtop to a reputable Gibson-licensed guitar shop and they also were pretty sure this was not a Gibson but stated that it was very well made, from the late 1950s and akin to the Gibson design and build quality. I picked it up from an auction house a couple of years ago and it was in poor condition - the binding was coming away and with a high action. A headstock crack has been securely repaired in the the past at some point and does not affect playability. I subsequently had the neck professionally reset and binding replaced last year. The action is now excellent and body solid as a rock. The renovation works cost £350.The P-90 style pick-up is rich and strong sounding, perfect for vintage jazz and blues. The pick-up cover and pots are original bakerlite parts. I know very little else about the instrument other than that it is a quality vintage instrument at a reasonable price. The hard case is period correct but probably not original. I am selling as I prefer smaller bodied guitars.

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