Introduced in 1962, the Dove was the second square shoulder made by Gibson after the Hummingbird was released in 1960. When it was introduced It featured these specs:
Spruce Top
Maple Back & Sides
Rosewood Fretboard & Bridge with Adjustable Rosewood Saddle
Split Parallelogram Fretboard Inlays
Dove Wing Bridge Inlays
Gibson "Waffleback" Tuners
Dove Inlaid Pickguard
1 11/16" Nut Width
16 1/4" Body Width
20 Frets
25 1/2" Scale Length
This particular instrument was purchased in the late 1960's by the original & only owner. Cosmetically, it does have some wear but no cracks that we can see as well as no headstock break. There is a lot of checking in the lacquer which is normal on vintage guitars and only adds to the vintage mojo of the instrument. The frets are in great shape and have lots of life left to them, due to them being vintage frets they are pretty low to begin with but this instrument was well taken care of and plays great as it is. The neck angle is very good and no neck reset has been done nor is it needed. The bridge has a small lift right at the middle point which is common on these bridges, the bridge is still holding on great and only that little tip is lifting. There is a small hole on the bottom where an output jack for a previously installed pickup was. We believe this was a soundhole pickup as there are no signs of anything being attached on the bridgeplate or signs of a piezo strip under the saddle. In late 1968 to early 1969 the saddle changed to an adjustable wood saddle instead of the ABR-1 bridge with nylon saddles, this was then changed again in 1970 to a non adjustable & more traditional wood bridge.
The serial number comes back as being from 1969 (according to the most recent revision of Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars) but the screwed in pickguards were only on the 1968 models. This guitar was most likely made at the tail end of '68 or very early '69.
A full setup was done to this guitar and it has been strung with D'Addario EJ16 12-53 gauge Phosphor Bronze strings. The hardcase that was purchased with the guitar is also included, the original case handle
