Gibson J-160E Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Flat Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar (1956), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # V6303-5, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
One of the more specialized Gibsons of the 1950's was this J-160E, an electrified flat top introduced in late 1954. Designed specifically for country/Western performers getting drowned out by their increasingly well-amplified bands, this fairly fancy 16" Jumbo sported the same electronics and cosmetic features as the earlier small-body CF-100E on Gibson's familiar round shouldered body.
The J-160E is far better remembered, however, not because of any success in the C&W field but as one of the iconic Beatles guitars of the 1960's. John Lennon and George Harrison used early 1960's J-160E's as recording and touring instruments extensively during the first half of the band's most successful period, so it remains indelibly linked to the Beatles' legacy. This one is recently out of the Wilco loft in Chicago, so has some legacy of its own.
This fairly early J-160E is built with a stoutly ladder braced, laminated spruce top. The very first ones had a solid spruce top but this proved prone to feedback when amplified. This 1956 model also has the second version of Gibson's new adjustable bridge system with the saddle mounted to an aluminum cradle raised or lowered by large screws on either side. This construction makes the J-160E a distinctive sounding guitar, with less volume and depth than the standard Gibson Jumbos but the crisp and recording-friendly "Beatle-y" tone the model is famous for.
Gibson's J-160E was a fairly successful guitar in this original 1950s incarnation (377 shipped in 1955) but is now remembered primarily as one of the iconic "Beatle guitars" of the 1960s. The band used their J-160E models on recordings from their first LP right through the end of the group. Lennon retained one during his early solo career, by which point the top had been stripped to natural. This guitar is generally similar to the 1962 models with some subtly differences. Fittings and features include the larger-knob adjustable bridge, amber numbered knobs, Kluson Deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, triple bound top and a single sound hole ring pattern.
The J-160 is admittedly a hybrid but is quite functional especially as and electric instrument. Purely as an acoustic guitar the sound is thinner than most other Gibson flat-tops with a high/midrange emphasis; the sound is distinctive and very notable on many Beatle recordings. As an electric guitar the tone is surprisingly warm and deep, provided by the p-90 pickup under the top just below the fingerboard. A number of Beatle records feature this sound as well. This particular J-160E is a fine playing if well-used example of this rather unique Gibson.
Overall length is 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 in. (12.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear but overall is practically all original and not to shabby looking for nearly 70 years on, an excellent player's example. The finish shows fairly heavy checking and a number of wear spots. The sunburst top has fairly heavy pick wear down to the wood all around the soundhole rim (heaviest on the bottom edge) above the fingerboard extension and off the back edge of the pickguard. The back is scuffed up with a decent swath of belt buckle wear, while the sides have numerous small dings and chips. The back of the neck has some wear to the wood along the lower sides and a few dings, scrapes and dents but only a couple of feelable chips.
There are no cracks or visible repairs to the instrument, which remains all original except for an old Fender strap button added to the side above the heel with a wood block fitted inside to secure the screw. The guitar was neatly refretted some time back and these show minimal subsequent wear. This is an excellent-playing example of this Beatle-style classic, ready for use as an electric guitar or acoustic with a comfortable low action. It actually has a better, fuller acoustic sound than some we have had. A more modern hard shell case is provided for its long and winding road onward, with the Wilco loft markings on the tail end and some of their signature picks included. Overall Very Good + Condition.
