Gibson Master Model Johnny Smith 1988

Here’s a rare example of Gibson’s 25th Anniversary Johnny Smith Master Model, double-labeled and signed by Jim Hutchins on November 29, 1988. Built in a very small commemorative batch, it celebrates a design introduced in 1961 and produced through the late 1980s before evolving into the LeGrand. The Johnny Smith combined a 17″ X-braced acoustic archtop with floating electronics and a 25″ scale for extended voicings and even response. It has long been a reference-point jazz instrument—heard of course in Johnny Smith’s own recordings, and seen with players like John McLaughlin, who used dual-pickup examples.

This 1988 example features hand-carved bookmatched spruce top, carved maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard with pearl blocks, ebony bridge with pearl-inlaid base, and all-original gold hardware including the individually adjustable finger tailpiece and Kluson Sealfast tuners.

Electronics are the floating Johnny Smith humbucker set with volume, tone, selector, and 1/8″ mini-jack cleanly mounted to the bound tortoiseshell guard. The guitar is in excellent condition with one small top dent, original factory paperwork, and the original Gibson deluxe plush hardshell case. Examples signed by Hutchins from 1988 are documented and highly sought after.

For collectors and players, this is a straight, honest 25th Anniversary Johnny Smith: a faithful late-period build of Gibson’s flagship modern jazz archtop, conceived with Johnny Smith’s input and executed to Master Model standards.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Construction: Hand-carved acoustic archtop; X-braced; Master Model, double-labeled; signed by Jim Hutchins
• Body: 17″ lower bout; carved, bookmatched solid spruce top; carved solid maple back; solid maple sides; Venetian cutaway; multi-ply binding; tortoise bound pickguard
• Neck: Maple; 25″ scale; 1 11/16″ nut; multi-ply bound ebony fingerboard; mother-of-pearl block inlays.
• Hardware: Gold-plated; Kluson Sealfast tuners; individually adjustable finger tailpiece; solid ebony bridge with pearl-inlaid base
• Electronics: Floating Johnny Smith humbucking pickups; volume/tone controls and selector switch on guard; 1/8″ mini-jack on guard
• Finish/Color: Sunburst nitrocellulose
• Case: Original Gibson deluxe plush hardshell case
• Condition: Excellent; one small top dent; all original