Gibson Sonex
Encyclopedia
The Sonex guitars were a range of budget Gibsons
launched in 1980. They were made from a material called Resonwood, and manufactured with Multi-phonic body construction. There were four models: Deluxe, Standard, Custom and Artist.
They replaced the Marauder
and S-1
guitars. Like these two instruments, the Sonex took its styling from the Les Paul
guitars that had been popular for the previous decades, but using Resonwood instead of mahogany
, bolt-on neck
s instead of set
(glued-in) necks, and far less ornamentation.
Meaning the Resonwood was a coating used on a solid , usually mahogany body.
At its launch in mid 1980, the Sonex 180 Deluxe cost $299 which was Gibson's cheapest instrument. The Standard was $375, Custom $449 - all cheaper than the next model, the 335S at $499.
There were four guitar models to choose from in the Sonex Series, all with the Gibson single cutaway design. The Sonex-180 Deluxe featured a rosewood, dot inlayed fingerboard and adjustable exposed coil high output Sonex Humbuckers. All came with a three-position pick-up selector switch, Tune-0-Matic Bridge', stop bar tailpiece and volume/tone control speed knobs.
In 1981, the Standard had been dropped replaced by the Artist series, which was priced at $749. By 1982 the Custom had been discontinued. By 1984 only the Deluxe was left priced at $419.
Unlike the Deluxe, the Standard and Custom models featured the famous zebra Gibson 'Dirty Fingers' pickups, plus a coil tap switch. The Custom has a three-piece maple neck and ebony fingerboard. The Custom was available in white finish, as well as ebony.
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
launched in 1980. They were made from a material called Resonwood, and manufactured with Multi-phonic body construction. There were four models: Deluxe, Standard, Custom and Artist.
They replaced the Marauder
Gibson Marauder
The Gibson Marauder is an electric guitar model. This short-lived series of solid body guitars was produced in the USA from 1974 to 1979. Only one Gibson Marauder was shipped in 1974. These guitars were an attempt by Gibson to break into the single coil pickup, bolt-on neck guitar market dominated...
and S-1
Gibson S-1
The Gibson S-1 is an electric guitar, made by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Gibson started producing the S-1 in mid-1975, but released it on the market in 1976. Its production lifespan was 1975-1980. Like the Gibson Marauder, the S-1 was an attempt to break through into the single-coil guitar...
guitars. Like these two instruments, the Sonex took its styling from the Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
guitars that had been popular for the previous decades, but using Resonwood instead of mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
, bolt-on neck
Bolt-on neck
Bolt-on neck is a method of guitar construction that involves joining a guitar neck and body using screws as opposed to glue as with set-in neck joints. The term is a misnomer, introduced mostly by Fender whose guitars traditionally had "bolt-on necks". Real bolted joints are uncommon in guitar...
s instead of set
Set-in neck
Set-in neck is a method of guitar construction that involves joining guitar neck and body with a tightly fitted mortise-and-tenon or dovetail joint, secured using some sort of adhesive...
(glued-in) necks, and far less ornamentation.
- note: "The Sonex Multi-phonic™ body is composed of Resonwood surrounding an inner tone wood core. The tone wood core not only acts as the anchor point for the neck, it also adds acoustic resonance and exceptional body resilience. The Sonex body is so resilient, that it's structural properties survived extreme testing in temperatures ranging from 40° below to 180°F."
Meaning the Resonwood was a coating used on a solid , usually mahogany body.
At its launch in mid 1980, the Sonex 180 Deluxe cost $299 which was Gibson's cheapest instrument. The Standard was $375, Custom $449 - all cheaper than the next model, the 335S at $499.
There were four guitar models to choose from in the Sonex Series, all with the Gibson single cutaway design. The Sonex-180 Deluxe featured a rosewood, dot inlayed fingerboard and adjustable exposed coil high output Sonex Humbuckers. All came with a three-position pick-up selector switch, Tune-0-Matic Bridge', stop bar tailpiece and volume/tone control speed knobs.
In 1981, the Standard had been dropped replaced by the Artist series, which was priced at $749. By 1982 the Custom had been discontinued. By 1984 only the Deluxe was left priced at $419.
Unlike the Deluxe, the Standard and Custom models featured the famous zebra Gibson 'Dirty Fingers' pickups, plus a coil tap switch. The Custom has a three-piece maple neck and ebony fingerboard. The Custom was available in white finish, as well as ebony.
External links
- The Vintage Guitar Website - Gibson Sonex
- Sonex Guitars at Zuitar Guitar DataBase