❌SOLD❌ Gibson Byrdland Thinline Archtop with Venetian Cutaway Sunburst, 1975

The Gibson Byrdland is an enduring model. Though its sales have never been stellar, it’s consistently appealed to players who need a high quality archtop but also access to more frets with the left hand for complex chording. The Byrdland originally appeared in 1955 as a collaboration between Gibson and two top Nashville session players, Billy Byrd and Hank Garland. It’s remained in production since but varied between having a Venetian (rounded) or Florentine (sharp) cutaway. In all cases, it’s had a solid, carved Spruce top and solid carved Maple back. By the time the Byrdland appeared, most archtops intended for amplification and carrying pickups were built of laminates for feedback rejection.

This Gibson Byrdland dates to 1974 and was built at the Gibson Nashville plant, and carries the Venetian cutaway. It is in overall good condition though the original case and pickguard are gone. This guitar has been used as intended, so it has some wear, dings and dents. The finish has some natural checking, and fingernail marks around the treble volume control. The frets are fairly low but still playable. The electronics and hardware other than the volume / tone knobs are original. The tuners are gold-plated Grover Imperials with metal tulip shaped buttons, and of course the engraved Byrdland tailpiece is there. Also in place is the original rubber mount for the pickup selector, which helps to reduce the ‘thunk’ when changing pickup selections – this is based on an acoustic instrument, and the pickup selector change can be heard in the body.

It’s always interesting to play a Byrdland, with the shorter scale allowing chord shapes I could simply not reach on even a normal Gibson. I might even be able to reach the opening part of Chet Atkins’ arrangement of Cascade!