Gibson EMS-1235 at Bernunzio Uptown Music

[Jacob]

1962 EMS-1235 with an 8 string mandolin neck married to a 6 string guitar neck. (NFI)

[Don Grieser]

Really cool. One like this showed up in the Band's Last Waltz movie, but the mandolin neck was never touched.

[goaty76]

If someone knows what they're asking for please let me know either through a post or PM. I know I could call and ask but I don't like doing so when I have little or no intention on purchasing it.

Phil

[allenhopkins]

If I remember (I'm 71 and don't always remember things), I'll stop by John & Julie's and see what price is on it.

By the way, for those who don't know, Julie's pretty much taken over day-to-day operations at Bernunzio's; John still makes the calls on big-ticket stuff, vintage trades, etc.

[allenhopkins]

If I remember (I'm 71 and don't always remember things), I'll stop by John & Julie's and see what price is on it...

Quoting myself -- epitome of narcissism...

Went to Bernunzio's today, after playing couple of seniors' gigs at St. Ann's Home. Julie has $20.5K listed as price for the double-neck. She says this is the second time it's passed through the shop, and that the asking price is down about $5K from the first time through. I didn't pick up the instrument, which is in the window, but it seemed in excellent condition from an eyeball evaluation.

Not my cup of tea (I'm all acoustic), but definitely a rare and interesting piece.

[pfox14]

The price certainly indicates how much interest, or lack thereof, there is for something that unusual. My info says Gibson only made 25 of them between 1958-1960.

[Larry S Sherman]

Maybe obvious to you, but what does the mandolin toggle-switch do?

Is it an on/off switch for the mandolin pickup?

Is it a guitar/mandolin switch?

Thanks, Larry

[Spruce]

Maybe obvious to you, but what does the mandolin toggle-switch do?

Is it a guitar/mandolin switch?

That would be my guess...

[Jeff Mando]

The price certainly indicates how much interest, or lack thereof, there is for something that unusual. My info says Gibson only made 25 of them between 1958-1960.

Another reason for the high price of Gibson electrics of this era is that they have PAF pickups, which sell for $3-4000 each. So this instrument has about $10K worth of pickups in it, besides the rarity of the instrument itself. 30+ years ago, before the vintage guitar thing was well-established as a mindset, many NON-Les Paul Gibsons were robbed of their pickups to restore old Les Pauls, which were bringing the money at the time (and still do.) Having an all-original instrument from this era adds to the rarity, IMHO.

[eric ernest]

There are a few things to keep in mind here.

The serial number puts it at 1963, not 1962. (Kinda important minutia.)

It does not have a case and the mandolin neck was out of it at one time.

The EMS series almost never have full size PAFs. There are usually two "Byrdland" narrow spaced PAFs....sometime all three are. Narrow PAFs bring considerably less. maybe half. (?) It also does not have tulip tip Kluson tuners. So, this is not an instrument "Part Pirates" would be inclined to destroy. (Thank God.)

Do these issues make this instrument less cool? Not really...but they do carry weight in the price equation.

Hope this helps!

[goaty76]

Great post Eric! Helpful and detailed. Over the years I have developed this level of assessment with regards to acoustic instruments but my eye for detail is not quite as experienced on the electric side of things. Just curious, can you suggest an online forum that one can follow/discuss vintage electrics. For mandolin family I enjoy this site and acoustic guitars the UMGF but I wouldn't mind peaking at a good one for the electrics.

By the way, I briefly talked to you before about these double necks as well as that cool Style O with the vine inlay. Good to see you posting here.

Phil