Gibson 1960 Country Western Natural Slope Shoulder w/ Provenance Excellent

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This guitar is a real time capsule.  It is in amazing cosmetic and functional condition, and it includes the original case, also in beautiful shape.  In the case we found the original packing paper that Gibson enclosed in the back of amps and in cases.  More importantly, the original purchase receipt remains with the guitar.  Also included is the original price tag from the case ($13.50!), the original hang tag, a rare "Suggestions for the care and use of your Gibson" guide, a set of period Gibson strings, and a letter to the original owner from the shop that first sold the guitar.  The whole package is kind of breathtaking.  The sound and playability of the guitar is as well - check out the demo video!

The Gibson Country Western was introduced in 1955 or 1956 as a natural-finish version of the Southern Jumbo — the same slope-shoulder mahogany dreadnought platform, the same split parallelogram pearl fingerboard inlays, but in natural rather than sunburst. For its first six or seven years of existence, the Country Western possessed a round- or slope-shouldered design, which changed to the more modern square-shouldered design in 1962. A 1960 Country Western is therefore one of the last two years of the original slope-shoulder configuration — the round-bodied Gibson dreadnought that players and collectors consistently describe as the more musically alive of the two designs, before the Hummingbird-derived square shoulder reshaped the model. Gibson acoustics of this period were often lighter built and lighter braced than later models, making them more resonant and responsive.

Writing in 1977, Tom and Mary Anne Evans described a 1959 round-shouldered Country Western as follows: Gibson's fourteen-fret-neck dreadnought guitars of this vintage were among the most successful ever made. With a decade and a half of aging behind them, the best have a delightful sound. Not only are the basses extremely rich, but the balance from string to string, and the carrying power of the treble, are exceptional for a dreadnought. A 1960 example, now 65 years on from manufacture, has had two additional decades to develop. 

The specification is correct and intact throughout. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with split parallelogram mother-of-pearl inlays and bound edges — the full Southern Jumbo-derived appointment level. Original bone nut and original bone saddle. Original Kluson tuners. Original rosewood bridge. Original tortoiseshell pickguard. Original finish in excellent condition throughout — top, back, sides, and neck. No cracks, no repairs to the top or back and sides. A possible inlay re-glue at the 17th fret is noted honestly. The solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides are in excellent condition and the bracing is confirmed excellent and intact.

The provenance documentation included with this guitar is genuinely exceptional. The original purchase receipt, hang tags, and case price tag are present — establishing a direct, documented chain of ownership from the original sale. A letter from the dealer who first sold the guitar is included, providing the kind of personal and commercial history that almost never survives 65 years with an instrument. For the collector, this documentation is as significant as the guitar itself.

At 4 lbs 6.5 oz this is a remarkably light instrument — the lightweight construction of the pre-1962 Gibson slope-shoulder dreadnoughts in measurable, physical form. Action is set at 2/32" on the treble string and 3/32" on the bass string at the twelfth fret. Nut width 1-5/8", 24.75" scale, 12" radius, 20 frets. Original hardshell case in very good condition.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: natural
• Finish Original?: yes
• Finish Condition: Excellent
• Weight: 4lbs 6.5oz
• Overall Length: 40-3/8"
• Nut Width: 1-5/8"
• String Spacing At Bridge: 2.0835"
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl split parallelogram
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .786"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .859"
• Neck Condition: Excellent
• Neck Repairs: none
• Tuner Brand And Model: Kluson
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: none
• Truss Rod Cover: yes
• Nut Original: yes
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: none
• Fretboard Material: Brazilian rosewood
• Fretboard Condition: Excellent
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• Fretboard Repairs: maybe an inlay re-glue at 17th fret
• Fret Condition: good
• Fret Repairs: none
• Fret Count: 20
• Body Length: 20-1/8"
• Lower Bout: 16-3/8"
• Waist: 11"
• Upper Bout: 11-5/8"
• Body Depth/Thickness: 5"
• Top Material: solid spruce
• Top Condition: Excellent
• Top Cracks: none
• Top Repairs: none
• Top Binding: yes
• Top Binding Condition: good
• Back & Side Material: mahogany
• Back & Side Condition: Excellent
• Back & Side Repairs: none
• Back & Side Binding: yes
• Bracing Material: spruce
• Bracing Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Wood: rosewood
• Bridge Original?: yes
• Bridge Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Pins: original
• Bridge Plate Material: maple
• Bridge Plate Condition: Excellent
• Bridge Plate Original?: yes
• Saddle Material: bone
• Saddle Original?: yes
• Saddle Condition: Excellent
• Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
• Pickguard Original?: yes
• Strap Buttons: Endpin only
• Pickup System: none
• Case Brand: ?
• Case Original?: yes
• Case Condition: Very Good
• Case Smells?: no
• Accessories Included: none
• String Gauge: 12-53
• Documentation: Orig Purchase Receipt, Tags, Case price tag, letter to original owner from the shop that first sold the guitar
• Smells?: no

Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:

"I love that short scale, and the slope D body is somehow easier for me to sit and play for an extended period without beginning to squirm all around in the chair — even though a slope D measures larger than you might think." - The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!
Gibson Guitars — Fender Guitars — Vintage & Used Amplifiers — Vintage & Used Effects Pedals

Shipping Policy
By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to .
Shipping Stringed Instruments: Multiple shipping speeds are available for orders on our website — Ground, 2 Day, 3 Day, and Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb orders: customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.