GARY’S GUITARS • VINTAGE GIBSON
1960 Gibson ES-335 TDC
Original Cherry • Stop Tailpiece • A35451
An exceptionally preserved first-year Cherry ES-335 and Gary’s vintage semi-hollow reference point.
READ GARY’S STORY →
FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION
Gary’s Guitars
The guitars I own, play and keep, instruments selected for tone, feel, craftsmanship, history and the simple pleasure of picking them up.
A Collector’s Perspective
Gary’s Guitars is different from regular inventory. These are personal instruments from my collection, nineteen guitars that help explain the builders, materials, designs and ideas that have shaped my perspective on what makes an exceptional instrument. Each one is here for a reason.
SELECTED FROM THE COLLECTION
Guitars I Chose to Keep
GARY’S GUITARS • VINTAGE GIBSON
1957 Gibson ES-175N
Natural • Early Stickerless Humbuckers • A25149
A remarkably preserved transition-era ES-175 and one of Gary’s most cherished guitars.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • CUSTOM GIBSON
1998 Gibson L-5 CESN
Custom Art & Historic • Natural
Gary’s favorite L-5, created from an extraordinary three-guitar Custom Shop wood set.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • CUSTOM GIBSON
1999 Gibson Super 400 CESN
Custom Art & Historic • Natural
The third guitar from the same special wood set as Gary’s L-5, with a custom Jim Hutchins maple pickguard.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • BENEDETTO
2011 Benedetto Cremona 18"
Serial S-2000 • Savannah
One of Bob Benedetto’s last 18-inch guitars, specified in close collaboration with Gary.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • ARTIST PROVENANCE
1988 Benedetto “Martin Taylor”
16-inch Custom
Martin Taylor’s personal performing and recording guitar for approximately seven years.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • PRS PRIVATE STOCK
2004 PRS “Americana” #614
Joe Knaggs’ Personal Guitar
An important early PRS archtop and the origin of the Americana Bald Eagle inlay concept.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • PRS PRIVATE STOCK
2015 PRS “The Brazilian” #5722
Brazilian Rosewood Top & Neck
An extraordinary Custom 24 built around extensive Brazilian rosewood and a restrained satin finish.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • PRS PRIVATE STOCK
2006 PRS 10th Anniversary #1333
Custom 22 • Violin Amber Burst
Gary’s favorite solid-body guitar, exceptional feel, playability and sonic spectrum.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • PRS PRIVATE STOCK
2006 PRS 10th Anniversary #1326
Singlecut Trem • Tiger Eye Burst
Gary’s favorite Les Paul-style guitar and the companion to #1333.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • RIBBECKE
Ribbecke Testadura Final 25 #23
The Tree • Brazilian Rosewood
A one-of-a-kind semi-hollow collaboration with Tom Ribbecke and Larry Robinson.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • KNAGGS CREATION
Knaggs Creation #2
“The Monument Valley” Severn
Joe Knaggs’ Arizona-inspired Creation Series work of art.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • KNAGGS
Knaggs Sheyenne Serial #1
Black Gold • Brazilian Rosewood
The first Sheyenne, with extraordinary curly maple and an exceptionally dark Brazilian neck.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • NIK HUBER
20th Anniversary Orca Prototype
First Prototype • NAMM 2017
The first Orca prototype in the original Starry Night Burst formula.
READ GARY’S STORY →
GARY’S GUITARS • NIK HUBER
Rietbergen Prototype #1
Serial P999 • Solid Carved Top & Back
The first Rietbergen, solid carved curly-maple plates with a center block, not laminated 335 construction.
READ GARY’S STORY →A COLLECTION WITHIN THE COLLECTION
The 1959 Re-Issues
Every important guitar collection should contain a Les Paul, a Strat, a Tele and a 335. These four guitars complete that idea for Gary: four modern interpretations of landmark 1959 designs, each selected for a different quality that makes it exceptional.
What Earns a Place in My Collection?
It Has to Feel RightThe neck, balance and response matter before specifications on paper ever do.
It Has to Sound Like SomethingI look for character, not simply perfection, an instrument should have its own voice.
It Needs a Reason to StayCraftsmanship, history, rarity or simply an emotional connection can make a guitar worth keeping.
“It’s not just what a guitar looks like... it’s what it feels like, what it sounds like, and the story it tells.”GARY THOMAS
Want to talk guitars?
Whether it is one of my guitars, a builder, a particular model or something you are searching for, call or text me directly.
480-299-3790 • TALK GUITARS →