Description: Gibson Everly Brothers guitar
Available: 1962 to 1972 (also recently reissued by Gibson as the J-180)
Case: Black hardshell case with a yellow lining was the top-end Gibson case. Also available with a cardboard black aligator case.
Collectibility Rating: 1962 to 1964 models are the more desirable. 1965 to 1967 models are decent, but have lost a lot of the charm of the pre-1965 models (mostly due to Gibson's change in neck size, peghead pitch, Brazilian rosewood to Indian rosewood switch). The later 1968 to 1972 are least desirable because of the change in pickguard dimensions/color.
Production: 1962:2, 1963:148, 1964:69, 1965:41, 1966:22, 1967:8, 1968:48, 1969:51, 1970:60, 1971:39, Total 1962-1971: 488
General Comments: Kind of a funky J-185. The large pickguards can inhibit the vibration of the top, making Everly Brothers guitars sound less impressive than they look. Also the style of bridge does not help with the sound either. That aside, this is an impressive looking model. During the 1950s, the Everly Brothers played J-200 models with two large white pickguards. But when the Everly Brothers model was introduced in 1962, Gibson used tortoise colored pickguards.

If you need to figure out the exact year of your Gibson Everly Brothers, use the serial number. This is located inside the body, on the orangle label inside the sound hole. See the Gibson Serial Number Info web page for help determining the exact year.

If you have a vintage Gibson Everly Brothers guitar for sale, please contact me at cfh@provide.net

1962 Gibson Everly Brothers guitar introduction specs:

Very similiar to a J-185 but with a slightly thinner body. 16" wide and 4 3/8" thick, jumbo shape, spruce top, maple back and sides, oversized top belly bridge with 3 pearl dots, strings anchor thru bridge (no pins), adjustable saddle, huge double tortoise grain pickguards extend below bridge, single white binding top & back, bound rosewood fingerboard, star fingerboard inlays, 24.75" scale mahogany neck, pearl logo, star peghead inlay, metal tuner buttons, nickel plated parts, black finish.

1963 Gibson Everly Brothers guitar specs:

Natural top with red back and sides optional (1963 only).

1968 Gibson Everly Brothers guitar specs:

Natural top with walnut back and sides standard, smaller (but still big!) black laminate pickguards that do not extend below bridge. Bridge changes to a drop-in saddle (not adjustable) - need to verify that fact.

1970 Gibson Everly Brothers guitar specs:

Body 4 3/4" thick.

Gibson Everly Brother guitar discontinued 1972. Re-introduced with different specs. as the J-180 in 1986. In 1992 called the "Everly Bros" again, but in 1996 the model name changed back to J-180. Still in production today.