Name: SOLD - Gibson Style O "Artist" 1922
Brand: Mahar's Vintage Guitars
SKU: zG-0233
Availability: OutOfStock

This is an amazingly clean and very functional 1922 example of a Gibson style O Artist, The guitar is rare as compared to others as it has no repairs or issues, no cracks, and is all original with the exception of the missing pickguard. Even the original case is included.

Gibson’s perception in 1920 of the guitar as a mandolin orchestra instrument is quite evident in Gibson’s top-of-the-line model, the scroll and body point of the redesigned Style O, which originally debuted in 1908. Gibson sometimes called the scroll-body Style O the “Artist’s Model,” and today collectors know this as the Style O Artist. This 1922 model is 100% original and in incredible shape including the almost 100 year old frets that look as if it was rarely played. This 1922 model is the FIRST year to employ a truss rod, which works freely.

16 1/4 inch-wide, 3 3/8 inch deep, 'Scroll-Body' acoustic archtop weighs just 4lbs 5oz. featuring a sunburst carved spruce top with oval sound hole with ornate 'marquetry' rosette. The two-piece birch back and sides. Two-piece mahogany neck with ebony center strip and neck joint at the 15th fret. Single-bound ebony fretboard with 20 original vintage frets, inlaid pearl dot position markers and black dot side-markers. Single binding on the top and the back. Black-faced headstock with single binding and and abalone and pearl 'Crown' inlay. The back of the headstock is black as well, with the Gibson "Stinger" point on the back of the neck. The original three-per side, open-back strip tuners with oval ivory buttons work very well.

So how does this stellar example of a 1922 Gibson sound? Several of us here at the shop, after playing it for awhile all agreed that it sounds like what one would think a 100 year old guitar should sound like. To my ears it sounded "crisp" but with a distinct mid range hump reminiscent of a sweet resonator style guitar. While much of what you read about these guitars isn't that flattering when it comes to playability and tone, perhaps because many examples have issues, this guitar seems to differ.