1994 Gibson Custom Shop Starburst
Note: Every year I receive several enquiries about selling this guitar. Usually it is not for sale, but every once in awhile I am "thinning the herd" and might be open to an offer on it. However, the minimum I would consider is $2000 CDN$ net (i.e. in my pocket, after all shipping & transaction costs). So no point in emailing me about it unless you are willing to reach that number! Thanks...
"Der Blingle"
This guitar was commissioned as a Custom after the Starburst
was discontinued. As such, it has appointments and
individual attention to the build beyond any stock Starburst.
The label is signed by Ren Ferguson and John Walker. I
believe it was built by John Walker himself - in addition to his
signature on the label, he has signed & dated it in pencil under the
top.
It's a quilted amber maple with additional abalone rosette
and top purfling, as well as Abalone Star fretboard inlays.
I have had 3 of these - this by far the richest sounding, most
resonant example, testimony to the individual attention it
received when there was a true custom shop in Bozeman.
Has substantial finish issues, but still a beautiful example
of a Starburst -both visually & sonically!
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Very rich amber quilt - hard to do it justice in a photograph.
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Abalone rosette & top purfling (not available on any stock iteration of the Starburst)- unique to this Custom guitar.
Typical darkening around the upper & lower waists as well as to lower bout. Only noticeable in some lights.
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Elite-style backstripe.
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Abalone inlays - a step up from the typical MOP.
Frets are fairly good - most wear is on the B & high-E, frets 1 - 7.
I play it little, so for me a refret is not necessary.
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Neck has great flame grain.
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Sperzel Locking Tuners; Gold hardware.
Headstock exhibits typical Gibson finish checking - not very noticeable unless turned "just so" into the light.
The Starburst is a Ren Ferguson design. Gibson had a true Custom Shop in the period in which this guitar was produced. The label is signed by Ren Ferguson and John Walker. I believe it was built by John Walker himself - in addition to his signature on the label, he has signed & dated it in pencil under the top (best pic I can get so far! :
Certificate of Authenticity.
Deluxe 100th Anniversary case.
Advanced sound controls over the non-Custom Starburst (which only had volume & tone pots).
Also has both phone plug & XLR audio outs.
The picture above shows the missing lacquer section - within the black outline. Other apparent white marks to the right of & above the output jacks are merely reflections.
A previous owner explains it thus: it sat in a corner of a room for 2 years on a special cloth, but when when he picked it up to play it, that portion of the guitar stuck to the cloth. So the cloth was peeled off carefully, but whatever was on the cloth had fused to the paint, and it stayed on the cloth.
There are two small wear spots just above the bridge (blue arrows)- I suspect from some kind of mute being in place by a previous owner.
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A small ding on the neck (blue arrow) and minor typical Gibson finish checking (purple arrow). Unlike my other Gibsons, though, finish checking is hard to detect on this guitar, mainly due to the rich grain of the wood itself. generally this guitar is in great condition, but it is 17 years old and has moderate mojo to go with that age.
More finish checking - strongly angled & accented to be noticeable in a photo.
Looking at the wide shots of the lower back, you can see that the finish checking does not leap out at you. Regardless, all Gibsons develop this finish patina over time.
