1996 Gibson Citation
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1996 Gibson Citation
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Serial #: 1996001, orange Gibson Custom Shop
label
Body size at lower bout: 17" Body depth: 3" Scale
length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Neck depth,
1st/10th frets: .77/.90
Materials: Handcarved bookmatched solid spruce
top; highly figured tiger maple back and sides; 5
piece tiger flame neck with walnut centerstripes;
solid ebony fingerboard with pearl cloud fingerboard
inlay; pearl "fleur-de-lis" inlay with prewar thin
script Gibson logo on peghead face and back; deluxe
9-ply body binding, 5-ply peghead and fingerboard
binding, 3 ply back binding, triple bound f-holes,
solid bone nut.
Hardware: All original 24 carat gold hardware
includes engraved trapeze tailpiece; Kluson Sealfast
tuners with tulip keys; gold floating Gibson BJB
humbucking pickup with volume control and pickguard mounted 1/4" jack; solid ebony bridge with pearl inlay;
quintuple-bound flame maple pickguard; pearl truss rod cover.
Notes: The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily flower that appears widely throughout Europe heraldry, particularly in France,
and has been found in imagery dating back some two millennia. It's also the symbol of Gibson's most extravagant
presentation guitar, appearing from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece, with stops at the peghead (front and back) right
down to the bridge foot. You know, a theme.
Introduced in 1969, the Gibson Citation was the most ornate, labor intensive and costly production instrument the firm
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1996 Gibson Citation
had ever made. With a staggering $2500 price tag, the guitar was over twice as expensive as the Super 400CN, until
then Gibson's top-line acoustic archtop. An ultra-premium, presentation grade instrument, the Citation embodied the
highest standards of custom handcrafted luthiery, built with a tap-tuned x-braced top, and extravagantly figured
tonewoods. With its rainbow Paua abalone inlay and brilliant 24 carat gold plating, the Citation was the most
extravagantly appointed archtop Gibson had made to date.
The initial release produced a scant eight Citation
guitars between 1969 and 1971. The extravagant
model was reissued between 1979 and 1983, in
another run of perhaps a dozen more examples,
according to most sources. After a hiatus of almost a
decade, the model was revived again in 1993, and has
remained in production to the present day, on custom
order only.
This striking guitar is carved of rare, ultra-premium
tiger flame maple of extraordinary depth and intensity.
The pearl fleur-de-lis motif is one of Gibson's most
venerable archtop and banjo inlay designs, and is
complemented by the clouds in the fingerboard, a
tribute to Epiphone's top-line archtops.
Meticulously maintained in museum quality condition,
this guitar has 100% original hardware and electronics,
and is without apparent playwear of any kind. The
gentle D profile neck is slim and inviting, with smooth
low action over finely dressed original medium jumbo
frets, on a solid ebony fingerboard. The voice of the
tap-tuned X-braced soundboard is delightful: clear,
woody and deeply resonant, with excellent balance
and abundant natural reverb.
A breathtaking masterpiece, this guitar is a spectacular
example of Gibson's very best, combining exceptional
tone, playability and beauty in one memorable
instrument. One only: call now.
Case: Original premium black Gibson arched plush
lined hardshell case.
Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted;
bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set;
string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as
necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated;
fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned
and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel
roundwound strings. The guitar will accommodate
lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to
preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at
the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic
playing with medium strings. The action may be
lowered or raised to your requirements with the
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1996 Gibson Citation
adjustable bridge.
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1996 Gibson Citation
https://www.archtop.com/ac_96citation.html[12/12/2020 18:27:17]
1996 Gibson Citation
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1996 Gibson Citation
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