Here for sale we have a beautiful Gibson Custom, Art & Historic division Tal Farlow reissue in Wine Red finish. Tal Farlow was a well known and highly celebrated American Jazz guitarist who was active from the late '40s up to his death in '98. He was known for his work in various groups throughout that time, including as part of the Red Norvo trio which originally included Charles Mingus. Farlow was nicknamed 'The Octopus' because of the way his large hands moved across the fingerboard, producing rapid yet light, flowing lines. In 1962 Gibson produced the Tal Farlow model, based on the ES-350 that Tal had been using in his trio in the mid '50s. The model featured several distinctive visual enhancements over Tal's original ES-350, including the scroll effect in the cutaway, accented by the four-point pickguard. The fingerboard was inlaid with J-200-style crests upside-down, along with two headstock crowns in mirror image. Perhaps due to Tal's semi-retirement some 6 years before the instrument was released, and also because of the advent of semi-hollow and solid body guitars that was happening at the time, only 215 units were ever shipped before the model was discontinued in 1967. Gibson reissued the Farlow model through the Historic Collection in 1993, before it was again discontinued in 2015. Made in the USA in 2003, this instrument features a set-neck construction comprising a Laminated Maple body, 5-piece Maple​/​Walnut neck and 20 fret Rosewood fingerboard, inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Nickel hardware is fitted including a Gibson ABR-1 T-O-M bridge, 'Tal Farlow' tailpiece & Grover sealed tuning machines. A pair of Gibson '57 Classic humbucking pickups are installed and are wired to a 3-way toggle switch and independent volume & tone controls. The 5-piece Maple​/​Walnut neck plays very well, with the 'ES Rounded' profile filling the hand nicely for a substantial yet articulate playing experience across the register. The profile might be described as a 'D' shape, with a very lightly flattened area to the centre rear which encourages ergonomic thumb positioning for speedy bebop lines, note clusters and smooth changes. The Rosewood of the fingerboard is supremely pleasant under the fingers, providing a smooth, durable and tactile surface for the player to explore. The venetian cutaway enhances access to the upper frets whilst the smooth lines of the body ensure comfort on long playing sessions. Amplified, the Tal Farlow delivers the smooth, flowing tone that we expect from a Gibson archtop whilst retaining its own unique voice thanks to its laminated construction. The Gibson '57 Classic humbucking pickups are a natural choice for the instrument as Gibson's modern equivalent of the PAF humbucker that would have been installed in the original Tal Farlow models of the '60s. The neck position is round and smooth, and with the tone control rolled back produces a dark and smooth tone which is distinctly jazzy. The bridge position is brighter for when you'd like to sit a bit further forward in the mix, but with slight tweaking of the responsive controls you can blend into any musical situation. A well regarded model in Gibson's line up which as a rare bird will be sure to stand out from the crowd. Brand- Gibson Model- Tal Farlow Finish- Wine Red Year- 2003 Made In- USA Body- Laminated Maple Neck- 5pc Maple​/​Walnut Neck Profile- ES Rounded Fingerboard- Rosewood Fingerboard Radius- 12" Frets- 14 Clear, 20 Total Scale Length- 25.5" Nut Width- 1.6875" Pickups- 2x Gibson '57 Classic Humbuckers Controls- 3-Way Toggle Switch, Neck Volume, Neck Tone, Bridge Volume, Bridge Tone

Verification report

Luthier Report Our ID: 1160725117710 Weight: 7.35lbs Serial: 20013004 Aesthetic Condition: Headstock: Overall very good condition. Fine lacquer cracking can be seen to the top edge at the seam between the wood & binding, as is common with nitro finishes. At either side of the nut where the instrument would make contact with a hanger the binding has discoloured to a slightly red colour. Light scratching to all aspects of the headstock is visible under direct light. Neck: Overall very good condition. Very fine lacquer cracking is present to the rear of the neck behind the nut, as is common with nitro finishes. Light indentation is present to the centre rear of the neck behind the 3rd fret, lightly felt under the thumb but not impacting playability. The bass side heel of the neck shows very light finish checking, as is expected with nitro finishes. Body: Overall very good condition. Light discoloration of the finish is present at the treble side F-hole, visible under direct light and close scrutiny. Light scratching of the front face is visible in front of the bridge plate, likely where the bridge was incorrectly seated at one time. Light scratching to all aspects of the body is visible under direct light, as is common with high gloss finishes. This is most notable at the bass side of the neck pickup consistent with playwear. Condition of Frets: The frets demonstrate light signs of use, not affecting playability. There is considerable material remaining for any future fret work the new owner may wish to perform. Current Set Up: Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5​/​16" socket) not included. Hardware: Fully functional with mild tarnishing of the metal hardware, most notably the pickup covers and tailpiece. The pickguard displays cracking and repairs performed by a previous owner. The pickguard is complete and remains secure. Structural: No concerns or issues to note. Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height. Strings on Guitar - 10-46 Electrics: Fully functional. Case & Accessories: Gibson Hard Case. Overall very good condition and fully functional. The latches to the case display light oxidation. COA included.