In 1972 Gibson produced a series of 'Guitar of the Month' brochures, each dedicated to one of their high end models, the Les Paul Recording guitar, L5-CES, ES-175D, Super 400-CES, ES-355TD-SV and
Byrdland. Each brochure was a single sheet folded into four panels, with details of the instruments themselves, their features, musical purpose, and a little history behind the development of each guitar. Only the Les Paul Recording was a new model; the others were all well established in the Gibson line. Follow the link to see scans and further information on these leaflets and other Gibson guitar catalogues from the CMI and Norlin periods.
The earliest versions of the Vox Stroller were actually copies of an early Japanese electricguitar, the Guyatone (also sold under the brand Antoria) LG50. These Strollers, although short-lived did undergo a few changes before taking on the more familiar Strat influenced style of many mid-sixties UK-built Vox guitars. The biggest difference between early and late LG50-style Strollers (and the two pickup version, the Shadow) was the larger pickup, a shade longer, but noticeably wider used in the very first Vox guitars. Compare this early Vox to a 1963 Stroller with the later V1 pickup. For more information about Vox guitar pickups in general, see the Vox guitar pickups page.
This is a Gibson 4-string guitar (serial number 165211). It was my grandfather's and I am totally clueless as to when it was possibly made & exactly what type of guitar it is (maybe what they call a tenor guitar?). It does plug in to an amplifier. Any information at all would be extremely appreciated, thank you.
It is a Gibson tenor guitar - made for banjo players so they could play a guitar. The electric pickup is not original. They were added commonly through the early 70s to acoustics. It is probably a DeArmond pickup. I am not sure which guitar this is. It is a tenor version of something like a J-45. May be from the 1950s. These have some collector value, but very limited due to the fact that not a whole lot of people play tenor guitar or even want to anymore. If you want to sell it, get it appraised by a vintage shop. If you want to keep it, have a luthier look it over for loose braces, and neck issues. You don't want to leave it in a case for years tuned up. Good luck!