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1961 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster #A36092

This rare Gibson archtop was one of eleven natural ES-5 Switchmasters made in 1961. The ES-5 (ES standing for “Electric Spanish”) was renamed the ES-5 Switchmaster in 1956 with

By Dave Rogers,
Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers' collection is tended by Laun Braithwaite and Tim Mullally and is on display at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
davesguitar.com

See Full Bio
Jeff DePetro
Jeff DePetro
See Full Bio
Oct 10, 2007


This rare Gibson archtop was one of eleven natural ES-5 Switchmasters made in 1961. The ES-5 (ES standing for “Electric Spanish”) was renamed the ES-5 Switchmaster in 1956 with the introduction of the new 4-way pickup selector switch, labeled “1, 2, 3, ALL” and a Telecaster-style switch tip. Three individual tone knobs were added alongside three volume controls, allowing for precise control of the three PAF humbucking pickups that replaced the P-90 pickups used on pre- 1957 models. 1961 also introduced the sharp single cutaway found on the ES-5 Switchmaster’s body. A maple plywood top and strong internal bracing was used to limit feedback and increase durability.

This Switchmaster’s serial number can be located on an orange label inside the body’s bass-side bound f-hole. The ES-5 Switchmaster also features a pointed-end rosewood fingerboard with 5-ply binding, large block fingerboard inlays, single bound pegheads with crown peghead inlay, goldplated components, including a gold Tuneo- matic ABR bridge and a three-piece neck consisting of two pieces of maple with a thin layer of wood between them. This Switchmaster has a Bigsby vibrato and Grover tuners along with the brown Lifton hardshell case. Gibson’s ES-5 Switchmaster was discontinued 1962.





Dave''s Guitar Shop
Daves Roger’s Collection Is tended to by Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
All photos credit Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on dispay at:
Dave''s Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-7704
davesguitar.com
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