Vintage Vibes | 1946 Gibson ES-300N
VINTAGE VIBES: 1946 Gibson ES-300N
Nathaniel leaves his big honker in the rearview mirror and tries out this more modest 1946 Gibson ES-300N. Big, beautiful, and brilliant, this top-of-the-line archtop is the perfect vehicle for a comfortable cruise to the Savoy and back.
Nathaniel Murphy Describes the 1946 Gibson ES-300N

During its reign from 1940 to 1952, this ES-300 was considered to be one of the top-of-the-line electric Gibson archtops. As with many Gibson models, it was actually the same price as the model number itself. So you could have got this for three hundred dollars back in the day. The first incarnation of this ES-300 featured an incredibly long pick up that stretched from the fretboard top all the way to the bridge. And it is so big, in fact, it earned the nickname the big honker.
It's been a lot of fun to play this guitar. I was initially drawn to the looks of it. I think it looks beautiful. You can see it by the discoloration that it used to have the scratchplate at some point, but there’s a great finish on it. Lots of checking and wear and tear. The neck feels comfortable. The whole thing feels comfortable, and it sounds great as well, so make sure you can check out.

SHOP GIBSON
Related Posts
Introducing | Powers Electric
Designed with the vibrant musical, artistic, and architectural backdrop of San Diego’s North County in mind—think surfing, skateboards, and classic cars—the new Powers Electric A-Type model blends these influences and...
Read moreBest of Superbooth 2023
You don’t have to go to Berlin to find our top picks from Superbooth 2023! Call the Synth Exchange, chat us online or in the CME mobile app, or learn...
Read moreIntroducing | Kithara Guitars
With big-name players like Ariel Posen and Corey Wong adding Kithara Guitars to their gear arsenal, this boutique builder from Northern Ireland caught our attention—and, now, CME is giving our...
Read more

