1968 Gibson B-15 Natural

The Gibson B-15 was the last of the small-bodied B series (except for the 500 or so B-20s) with which Gibson briefly replaced the LG series. It was introduced in 1967, perhaps as a kind of travel guitar for the hippie/folk music market of the 1960s and early ‘70s.

The B-15 had a ladder-braced unbound spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck; a simple one-stripe rosette; and a large rectangular rosewood bridge with an adjustable saddle. The 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, distinctively narrow headstock with a decal logo and three-on-a-plate nickel open tuners, and tortoise pickguard completed the picture of a bare bones, rough-and-ready basic travelling music machine, built to take a lickin’ and keep on pickin’ (sorry, I couldn’t resist it).

The tough little B-15’s smaller dimensions (14 1/2” lower bout, with a 24 ¾” scale) and laminated mahogany back and sides still provided both strength and resonance, allowing it to play with power despite its size. It was produced exclusively in a natural satin finish until it was discontinued in 1970.

The serial number (529949) is faint but visible on the back of the headstock of this little gem, indicating a manufacture date of 1968. As far as I can tell, it is all original except for mebbe the bridge pins, although I am certainly no expert. As one would expect, the aged and seasoned woods are thoroughly opened up, and it sounds great, woodier but quite similar to my larger Guild D-25, for example. The action is currently set up at a hair under 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and the adjustable saddle and working truss rod would facilitate any adjustments you felt necessary.

Structurally, this guitar is quite solid, but cosmetically it looks a bit like Woody Guthrie carried it on the boxcars; it has been rode hard and put away wet, as my horsey friends would say. It has a small professionally repaired crack on the top upper bout, and the headstock also shows a bit of chipping. The finish has mucho crazing, and there are dings and bruises throughout. There is naturally some wear around the unbound edges; they are chipped but intact and solidly glued. On the whole, it is in good shape for its age: flat top, straight neck, low action, all checked out by a certified Gibson tech.

I will be shipping it in a vintage but probably not original black chip board case, which fits the smaller body pretty well. The top and bottom of the case are professionally “upholstered” in a colorful fabric—something I’ve never seen before and which I guess you will either love or hate. Given that our interest is in preserving the sound of this great little guitar, the case offers the solid protection it deserves, but mebbe you can find sumthin’ else down the road—or I will swap it for a generic black gig bag upon request.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this cool veteran guitar.