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Author
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Topic: Gibson Console
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Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 11 June 2006 01:16 PM
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I'm looking at a mid 50s Gibson Console D-8,,,the yellow one,,,seems to be maybe a 7-8 on a scale of 1-10. The guy wants 800 for it. It has humbuckers,,probaby PAFs in it. Need some opinions,,,,my first venture into the non-pedal world.. |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 11 June 2006 04:51 PM
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I have a '56 Gibson double-8 that's yellow ... it's a Grande Console, oak, large pickups with three rows of poles and 4-way tone switches + master tone and volume. Workmanship and materials are amazing, and it plays and sounds great. Mine was 9+++ out of 10 condition and I willingly paid top dollar for it - $1350. A Gibson D-8 console of any age or model should fetch $500 to $1500 depending on condition ... |
Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 11 June 2006 05:48 PM
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I love those guitars! |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 12 June 2006 05:36 AM
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Thanks guys,,,I've had a "fender" mind set but now I may re-think it,,, |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 07:14 AM
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Sonny,
If you want to get a better feel for the Gibson Console Grande tone, listen to some Don Helms stuff. He STILL plays the Console Grande that he recorded with with Hank Williams. Not a Fender tone but nice!BTW: Does the guitar you're looking at have three or four legs? The three leggers are the earlier ones and seem to be preferred. The legs are kind of woobly on these but I am in the process of replacing the legs with some that have the screw in flanges.[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 12 June 2006 at 07:17 AM.] |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 08:41 AM
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My '56 Console has a great range of tones - from blues to Hawaiian with Western swing in the middle. Don Helms licks sound fantastic on this instrument! A little fuller/richer, less "trebly" than the Fender sound, although it comes pretty close. I also have two mid-'50's Consolettes - both Korina with P-90's. They sound great too! But the Console Grande is clearly the flagship of the line, just an incredible steel guitar! With the curent escalation of Fender console prices, the Gibsons are probably the best alternative (in my case first choice!) for a professional grade instrument. |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 12 June 2006 09:00 AM
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,,,I always thought Helms played a fender!!!,,,Actually the guy I'm talking to about the guitar has 2 of them,,,both mid 50s and he was asking 1100 for one and 1200 for the other,,but said he would sell either one to me for 800,,,guess I'd better pick one of those bad boys up today,,, |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 09:17 AM
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Good price for a Gibson in reasonable condition. They spiff up real nice with a little cleaner and polish. Also, just a technical hint: The entire tuning frame (from tuners to bridge) is mounted to a metal piece under the guitar. Recommend you remove the bottom cover and check all the screws under there for tightness. While you're there you can marvel at the workmanship - lots of mitered fingerjoints. Also, the brace pieces appear to be mahogany, and I'll bet they are scrap pieces from those "50's Les Paul bodies! |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 11:41 AM
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Don,
I think you've got another model in mind.
I have two Console Grandes and neither have the features you are talking about.  [This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 12 June 2006 at 11:43 AM.] |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 12 June 2006 12:01 PM
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These 2 guitars are listed as "consoles",,,both a yellow color, chrome 2 row PAF pickups,,one is stated to be a '58 model. Now the guy has 2 other gibsons,,one is stated to be a console grande,,,and the other a consolette,,,both are sunburst,,one has big white plastic covered pickups(I think 1 or 2 rows of poles),,the other has p-90s. Its the yellow consoles he's asking 800 for. Can ya'll clarify the ones you're talking about??? Are the yellow consoles a desireable guitar?? |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 12:19 PM
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Around 1956 there was a transitional model Console Grande (which is the one I have)with the features I listed: three rows of pole pieces, 4-way tone levers, oak (which is very yellow), etc. It is more boxy than the earlier CG's, which had an angled shape at the tuner end, and were essentiaaly a hollow, very well-constructed box rather than a solid plank like earlier CG's and Consolettes. This became the model C520, I believe, in '57 or so. They look a lot like the early Gibson pedal steels, and some hardware (like the tuners) is the same. |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 12:23 PM
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Sorry, I didn't really answer your question. I believe all of the Gibson console models are "desireable". I haven't played a Gibson steel yet that I didn't like. The Grande Console models, in particular, are excellent, professional grade instruments and $800 is a very reasonable price for one of those in good condition. |
Michael Winslow
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 12 June 2006 07:36 PM
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Hi,Click on the link below - it's where I was "introduced" to the forum. Scroll down and you'll see a photo of the instrument I think you're talking about. Good luck!
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006354.html |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 13 June 2006 05:37 AM
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Yes Mike ,,that's it,,the yellow one!!!,,,is one of those in good condition (not quite as pristine as that one) worth 800 bucks,,?? |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 13 June 2006 06:45 AM
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Looks like a C530 Console from the late 50's. (This model replaced the Consolette in '57. Made of mahogany w/maple laminate). In good condition, well worth $800. |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 13 June 2006 02:17 PM
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Hey thanks guys for all the input,,,anything else you want to add will be appreciated also,,, |
Michael Winslow
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 13 June 2006 04:58 PM
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I've seen them sell for less, but if you've got one available locally now, $800 seems fair. One point: From what I've seen, they tend to have really long scale necks. So make sure you want to play a longer scale neck and not a shorter scale. String spacing is a bit wide also. |
Sonny Jenkins
Member From: New Braunfels, Tx. 78130
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posted 13 June 2006 05:55 PM
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Thanks Michael,,,yes I'll check out the scale,,,don't want to get too far away from the pedal steel enviroment that I'm used to,,,, |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 13 June 2006 06:35 PM
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Scale length on the model in the picture (which is what I think you are looking to buy, a C530 Console) is 23", just 1/2" longer than Fender. |
Blake Hawkins
Member From: Land O'Lakes, Florida
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posted 14 June 2006 07:54 AM
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I have what I think is a 1956 Gibson CG 520,
and it has a 25 inch scale.Blake |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 14 June 2006 08:58 AM
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Blake,My Console Grande ('56)is, I believe a transitional model. I have the product lierature that called it a CG, but according to Gruhn, the features are consistent with the C520. Does yours have 3 row pickups and 4-way tone controls on each neck? Yellow oak constructed body (as opposed to a "plank")? I know the C530 and Consolette have a 23" scale. |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 14 June 2006 09:15 AM
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Need to correct my last statement - I know the Consolette has a 23" scale. The C530 may be longer, better check it out. I personally like the longer scale on CG, makes slants on my other steels seem easy! Does contribute to great tone, though, and I like the higher string tension for a given gauge. |
Frederic Mabrut
Member From: France
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posted 14 June 2006 02:42 PM
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Sonny,
I completely agree with Don about the longer scale and I like the wider string spacing too. It's a very good instrument.
Take a look at this, you'll see a Consolette playing...hope you enjoy it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCfT_bmVWsI&search=western%20swing Fred ------------------
Franklin D10
Gibson CG 520 |
Blake Hawkins
Member From: Land O'Lakes, Florida
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posted 14 June 2006 08:11 PM
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Don,
Yes, that is what I have. The Gibson 4-8-4 humbucker pickups with the 4 way switch:
Bass, Normal, Treble, Chime.
There is also a tone control knob which affects both necks.Blake |
Don Fox
Member From: Idaho, USA
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posted 15 June 2006 05:44 AM
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Spec sheet from '56 and my tape measure shows a scale length of 24 3/4" on our CG/C520's. My Consolettes are 23". I like the feel of the longer scale, and the tone is amazing! It looks like the C530 has the same tuner pan as the C520, and the fretboard looks very similar. I'm guessing it probably is a longer scale than the Consolette. Buy it, measure it, and get back to us! |
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