1950 Gibson CF-100

What a find!

You really don’t see many of these guitars around today….an extremely rare CF-100 from the first year of production. Back then the original price of $132.50 was 42 bucks more than an LG-2!

These rare and fancy models, made only during the 1950′s, and are one of the most requested guitars we are asked to track down for players. The distinctive style and playability of these cutaways and their association with the likes of Roy Bookbinder, Jackson Browne, Gary Stewart and Leon Redbone are just some of the cool factors that make this model so extremely popular. With only about 1600 produced, it’s also highly collectable.

CF100s have a more focused sound…with plenty of volume for strumming, finger style and flat picking – louder than you would expect. The cutaway does not seem to take away from the sound at all, in fact, the two of these I have had both sounded as good or better than the LG-2s and LG-3s (non cutaway) that I’ve compared them with. Plus the added bling of the inlay and headstock crown makes for a great stage guitar.

This guitar was restored by luthier David Sheppard in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. He is well known for his vintage restorations, in particular bracing work. Sweet comfortable set up, perfect intonation and proper string break across the new bone saddle with action set just shy of 4-3 at the 12th with a nut a hair under 1 3/4″.

David made a stunning replica Brazilian rosewood bridge that is exact in footprint and shape. He reset the neck and restored the top bracing and we put on a set of Willi Henkes Antique Acoustic authentic Gibson replica cream colored bridge pins but otherwise this guitar is all original with original finish, frets & tuners.

This example is from one of the first batches made circa 1950. Fully decked out with pearl “Gibson” logo, pearl headstock crown, and fingerboard inlay just like a Les Paul with celluloid trapezoids. The tapered headstock, small guard, and solid sides that you find on this guitar would all change later into the 1950’s.

The CF series was Gibson’s only vintage cutaway flat top – an LG sized body with a Florentine (sharp) cutaway. A fabulous sounding example that packs more volume and bass than the body size would lead you to believe. Don’t miss a chance to pick up an early and fine sounding example of this model.

Enjoy the videos by Richard Bastar III of Fort Myers Florida.