Gibson Console Grande 7/8 with CC pickups

[Rob Munn]

I am wondering if any one has used this mute bar on this Gibson? Does it work well? What would be a reasonable price for one of these guitars, in good working condition?

[Eugene Cole]

I am wondering if any one has used this mute bar on this Gibson? Does it work well? What would be a reasonable price for one of these guitars, in good working condition?

Only the 1938 models had this mute. These mutes do work when the cloth which touches the strings is in good condition. For the most part the mute is seldem used.

You can see a 1940 model here: http://www.pixenbar.com/images/Gibson_C ... e-1940.htm Note the plates which were added under the bridge and over the pickups. Also the mute is no longer present.

If the guitar is in exceptional condition I would guess that it could and would command $1200 or more. However ANY problems would bring the price down because the cost of having something like a pickup rewound would be factored in to the net-cost to a buyer.

These guitars are a bit tricky to service the pots ad pickups on. Everything inside is not easily accessible. I have a bad pot and I have chosen to just set it and never touch it because it would be a major nuisance to replace it.

BTW: Don't use the OEM legs with these guitars. They do not offer a stable platform and these guitars (mine included) will tip over.

[Rob Munn]

Thanks Eugene,

Then it's a 1938, The pickups are in awesome shape and it really just needs new strings. If I was real industrious, I'd redo the tiger maple finish; there are some rough spots yet the local guitar wizard says not to touch anything, including the case. IF it plays well, leave it rustic and it is more of a collector's piece. Hey Eugene. How do you like your Grande Console? Is it a nice player with the CC's in it? Can it do blues? Thanks again, esp. for those great pics.
Rob

[John Billings]

Eugene;
If that guitar is a '40, what the heck year is mine? The pups look like CCs, but are not. They're more akin to a P-90 style, as it has adjustable polepieces. Slotted screws. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but my camera won't do closeups.

[Steve Ahola]

John:
Can you read any numbers on the pots? That will usually narrow it down unless they have been replaced.

Steve

[J Fletcher]

That's a sweet looking Gibson Rob. I have one like it, less the mute, though in much worse shape.
I'm sure in the right hands, any type of music can be played on it. More guitar than needed to do Elmore James licks with, a six string National would fit that bill. What style blues you hoping to be able to play? ...Jerry

[Rob Munn]

HEY J.


Thanks man. I haven't got it in my hands yet, as I am awaiting delivery from England, a near impossible and ridiculously expensive situation. Fedex wanted get this: 1800 beans for a 3 day delivery. I had some advice that DHL was the way to go, and they're much cheaper. Still about 500 beans. So, my good deal ain't so good anymore. We are in a 6 piece band with fairly eclectic range of tunes. We do standards like "Rollin' and Tumblin", a mix between the Canned Heat and the Cream versions, with great reverence for we do 40 days and 40 nights by Muddy, a few Butterfield's (my main thing is blues harp) and some Bonnie Raiit, Marcia Ball, Susan Tedeschi (my wife is the singer)...and you're right, this immaculate National Chicagoan is a real sweet sounding blues machine, and I am currently waiting for a Lollar rewind to put in my '35 Rick. Chances are I'll be selling the Gibson, (cause I like the Rick and the Nat best so far), but if the Gibby sounds real fine, then I have something to step up my game. Send me some pics of yours. Is ir like the one that Eugene posted on this very forum string? Later,
Rob

[Rob Munn]

HEY J.


Thanks man. I haven't got it in my hands yet, as I am awaiting delivery from England, a near impossible and ridiculously expensive situation. Fedex wanted get this: 1800 beans for a 3 day delivery. I had some advice that DHL was the way to go, and they're much cheaper. Still about 500 beans. So, my good deal ain't so good anymore. We are in a 6 piece band with fairly eclectic range of tunes. We do standards like "Rollin' and Tumblin", a mix between the Canned Heat and the Cream versions, with great reverence towards Willie Dixon. We do 40 days and 40 nights by Muddy, a few Butterfield's (my main thing is blues harp) and some Bonnie Raiit, Marcia Ball, Susan Tedeschi (my wife is the singer)...and you're right, this immaculate National Chicagoan is a real sweet sounding blues machine, and I am currently waiting for a Lollar rewind to put in my '35 Rick. Chances are I'll be selling the Gibson, (cause I like the Rick and the Nat best so far), but if the Gibby sounds real fine, then I have something to step up my game. Send me some pics of yours. Is ir like the one that Eugene posted on this very forum string? Later,
Rob

[J Fletcher]

Hi Rob
Mine is a 1938, and looks like yours minus the mute. Sorry, but I don't have any pics handy. It's kind of rough, and I don't play it, thought about restoring it, but so far haven't.
I play about one gig a month on steel, and use a double 8 Stringmaster, though I only use one neck.
Sounds to me like a single six tuned to open D would work best for the type of music you are playing, but hey, what do I know, I play mostly Hank Williams tunes.
Where in BC are you? I played with Sam Hurrie for a while a few years back, before he moved back to BC.
Jerry

[John Billings]

Steve,
All pots changed. Gotta be a custom ordered guitar.

[Eugene Cole]

Thanks Eugene,

Then it's a 1938, The pickups are in awesome shape and it really just needs new strings. If I was real industrious, I'd redo the tiger maple finish; there are some rough spots yet the local guitar wizard says not to touch anything, including the case. IF it plays well, leave it rustic and it is more of a collector's piece.

Hey Eugene. How do you like your Grande Console? Is it a nice player with the CC's in it?

Can it do blues?

Thanks again, esp. for those great pics.
Rob

I am delighted with my Console Grande. It is warm and mellow. I first played one back in 1985; is was a 1938 with the mute and it was a D8. At the time I had the hots for an L5 in the same shop and it was impossible for me to get both. So the L5 got the nod and was my favorite guitar for quite a while.

The one thing that I wish was different is that I wish it was a D8 instead of a D7/8.

Sure you can play blues on it. It is great for blues. But one can pretty much play whatever you want on this type of Steel.

I would not mess with the finish. Just play it and as my dad used to say when we went shooting: MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE!

I also have some pictures of an untra rare D6 Console Grande (not mine) here: http://www.pixenbar.com/images/
beginning with this photo "Gibson_Console-Grande-D6-1940_01of18.jpg".
I would think that to a Gibson collector these would be the most valuable because they are the rarest variant. And a collector will probably seldom play it. This D6 is for me the least interesting as I prefer 8-string necks and I am seeking instruments to play.

[Eugene Cole]

Eugene;
If that guitar is a '40, what the heck year is mine? The pups look like CCs, but are not. They're more akin to a P-90 style, as it has adjustable polepieces. Slotted screws. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but my camera won't do closeups.

John; Post the serial number here particularly the first few characters and we can probably tell you what the year is. The serial numbers for Gibsons of this vintage are stamped into one of the ends.

I am not an expert on Gibson Steels; I know what I like and I like mine. Your guitar does not look like a Console Grande to me.

I vaugely recall that there was a "Consolette" model Gibson that had a metal plate on which the volume and tone were mounted but I am not familiar with those either.

Perhaps a Gibson expert could give you more information about your guitar. I have not seen any early (pre-1944) Gibson pickups with adjustable pole pieces which are similar to the ones in your guitar. Further the lack of dots on the fingerboard, the bevel and control plate between the necks do not look like a Console Grande model guitar to me.

The lack of a plate bearing the model name was on every Console Grande I have played. Even then 50's or 60's vintage Grandes which are different and only had a rectangular sticker still said Console Grande I think.

Your case also lacks the Tweed covering that Console Grande cases I am familiar with all have. Your case has a side pocket for the legs instead of storing the legs under the guitar.

The accessible control cavity is not like any of the Console Grande model Gibsons that I am familiar with.

What do the switches on the plate of your guitar do?

[Steve Ahola]

I just now noticed that pickups are mounted at a slight angle. (I thought that Gibson kept their pickups straight back then.) And the metal control plate looks like an addition.

The pickup cavity looks big enough to accommodate the real Charlie Christian pickups with their huge magnets.

Mysteries abound!

Steve Ahola

[Rob Munn]

HEy JB. Eugene may have a point however I found this Gibson Consolette (1950's) on Ruby Lane antiques for $1395.00. It looks in excellent shape. Hey Eugene, this may be a little steep, but it is a double 8 with lucite knobs. I'll try and include a pic and the website.
http://www.rubylane.com/item/804528-BR- ... ouble-Neck

Pic is next...

[Rob Munn]

Here is a pic. There are more pics at that Ruby Lane website.

[John Billings]

Rob,
It's not even remotely similar! Note how narrow my guitar is. The space between the necks is minimal. Huge MOP block inlays, and only two legs.It came with two large aluminum "feet!" An oddity!








And,,, I NEED A SEVEN STRING BRIDGE TO RESTORE THIS GUITAR! Anyone got one?

Note; The control plate is the original. It had Tone and Volume controls, but no neck selector switch. I added that switch, and also a switch to turn on the Boo Wah lever next to the upper neck's pup. It's a lever made from odd guitar parts, and a 1 meg pot. Works like a champ, but will be removed when I restore the guitar, IF I CAN FIND ANOTHER SEVEN STRING BRIDGE!

[J Fletcher]

John, regarding your steel, after looking in my copy of A. R. Duchossoir's "Gibson Electric Steel Guitars", I think what you have is a pre-production Console Grande, with experimental pick ups.
There is a patent drawing of a very similar guitar on page 42.
On page 56 there is mention of a "U" magnet pickup with adjustable poles.
Too bad a pic of your steel didn't make it into the book, it's a very interesting instrument...Jerry

[John Billings]

Jerry,
Thanks for that info! Guess it's time I bought that book. A.R. did an article on CC pups for Vintage Guitar. I'd been trying to find contact info for him, but can't seem to locate him.
I knew the guitar was an oddball when I got it many years ago. How many black ones do you ever see? And the huge MOP block inlays were certainly a "deluxe" feature. And no markings anywhere.
JB
WISH I COULD FIND A BRIDGE!!!

[Michael Lee Allen]

deleted

[Eric Stumpf]

Regarding those mute bars; their actual purpose is to cancel out extraneous string vibrations coming from the unplayed neck which feed into the pickup of the other neck. There are no neck selector switches on these guitars.