Gibson's Rare Bird in Fine Early-1960s Form
The Gibson Dove first touched down in 1962 as the second member of Kalamazoo’s square-shouldered flock, forever intertwining the model with one of the most revolutionary eras in music history. True to its name, the Gibson Dove Original offers you an authentic re-creation of the model’s 1960s golden-age formula, along with a few choice modern enhancements. From the beautifully inlaid bridge, double-antiqued multi-ply body binding, and thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish, the Dove Original captures every aesthetic nuance of its vintage inspiration. As for the tone, a Sitka spruce top, hand-scalloped X-bracing, and cherry-stained flamed maple back and sides combine with the Dove’s historic long 25.5-inch scale length and square-shouldered dreadnought form to dish out a crisp, balanced, and full-range projection — in short, the very same sound that’s made the model an all-time classic among singer/songwriters and strummers for more than half a century. On the opposite end, a mahogany neck in Gibson’s Rounded profile supplies a firm, full feel and slick navigation of the bound and inlay-encrusted rosewood fingerboard. You also get glorious Grover Keystone tuners and LR Baggs VTC electronics for rock-solid performance from the couch to the stage. Crowned with an exquisitely engraved dove-themed pickguard, the Gibson Dove Original puts the historic legacy and singing sound of a true 6-string legend in your hands.
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The square-shouldered sequel to the Hummingbird
Gibson’s square-shouldered revolution began in earnest in 1960 with the Hummingbird, which marked a significant departure from Gibson’s decades-long history of slope-shouldered steel-strings. Clearly, the shift in formula proved successful, as the Dove took flight a mere two years later in 1962. But for all their visual similarities — flamboyant trim, a square-shouldered dreadnought profile, and an engraved, avian-themed pickguard — each model sang with a wholly distinct song.
In fact, while the Hummingbird is in many respects a square-shouldered reimagining of the J-45 formula, the Dove’s specs clock in closer to the mighty SJ-200. And just like the SJ-200, the Dove immediately built a reputation for its big, bold, and balanced tone, offering all the full-range firepower of a classic Super Jumbo with a more focused projection. From Tom Petty to Elvis Presley, Mike McCready, and beyond, the Dove has remained a mainstay of singer/songwriters and performers with an eye for the extravagant for decades, cementing the model’s status in golden-era Gibson history.
Authentic, ultra-premium tonewoods
The Dove may wear the square shoulders of a classic dreadnought, but its tonewood formula borrows heavily from Gibson’s most prized Super Jumbo recipe. Beneath the cherry-stained glow of this ’bird’s body lies a foundation of highly flamed maple, a tonewood championed by strummers, flatpickers, and fingerpickers alike for its crisp character and beautiful balance. A Sitka spruce top further bolsters the Dove Original’s sweet, resonant voice, supported by traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing and a long 25.5-inch scale length that delivers a roaring low-end rumble.
American craftsmanship at its finest
While the Gibson Acoustic factory in Bozeman embraces modern construction technologies where necessary, guitars such as the Dove Original remain largely handcrafted by a seasoned team of skilled craftspeople. Gibson is rightly celebrated for the sound, style, and performance of its iconic “flat-top” guitars, though the term is something of a misnomer. From the company’s very beginnings, Gibson non-archtop acoustics have featured subtly radiused tops and backs, not truly flat surfaces. To honor that legacy, today’s Gibson acoustics continue the tradition with 28-foot-radius tops and 12-foot-radius backs shaped by carefully curving the hand-scalloped bracing. Why go to such lengths when a true flat-top would be easier to produce? That curvature adds stiffness to the back and sides, marking an integral element of the classic Gibson steel-string sound and contributing to its clarity, resonance, and signature note-to-note definition.
From binding installation and fingerboard fretting to neck setting and the painstaking finishing process, the Bozeman team’s expertise guides every step. They even bend the sides using traditional presses, a technique used for generations. Across every detail, Gibson Acoustic guitars represent the spirit of a traditionally crafted American instrument, built using time-honored methods that forged Gibson’s legendary reputation throughout the 20th century.
Built in Bozeman in the handcrafted Kalamazoo tradition
For more than eight decades, Gibson’s acoustic instruments were crafted in the historic Parsons Street Factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan — only a few hours’ drive from Sweetwater’s Fort Wayne, Indiana, campus. Gibson’s acoustic and electric guitars were built side-by-side there for much of the company’s history. Subsequently, production was relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, over the course of several years between the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Although this change of scenery worked brilliantly for Gibson’s electric lineup, it was quickly discovered that the hot and humid climate of the American South was perhaps not the ideal setting for acoustic guitar building.
Gibson’s acoustic division ultimately packed up its side presses and chisels and journeyed off to the picturesque city of Bozeman in 1989. The move was preceded by Gibson’s purchase of the Flatiron company in 1987; the latter’s immaculate mandolins demonstrated that The Treasure State’s semi-arid climate was the perfect setting to craft Gibson’s historic acoustic instruments. More than three decades down the line, the Bozeman factory comprises a well-seasoned workforce of master craftspeople — many of whom are multi-decade Gibson veterans — and produces what many musicians consider to be among the company’s finest creations.
Gibson Acoustic Dove Original Features:
- An authentic re-creation of the Gibson Dove in its most cherished 1960s-era form
- Sitka spruce top with hand-scalloped X-bracing resounds with a sweet, rich, and responsive tonality
- Cherry-stained flamed maple back and sides impart a crisp and focused character, along with superb string-to-string balance
- Mahogany neck in Gibson’s always-comfortable Rounded profile
- Square-shouldered dreadnought design delivers a powerful projection and a full-range tone that excels whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming, or flatpicking
- Bound rosewood fingerboard with stunning MOP split-parallelogram inlays
- Engraved pickguard with the model’s signature Dove captures all the elegance and charm of a true vintage model
- Stage-ready LR Baggs VTC electronics faithfully capture the guitar’s acoustic character
- Glorious Grover Keystone tuning machines keep your strings stable in style
- Double-antiqued multi-ply body binding and inlaid rosewood bridge impart a high-end aura
- Nitrocellulose lacquer finish will age in and wear over time, just like a golden-era Gibson
- Traditional Gibson construction includes a dovetail joint secured with hot hide glue
