Pride & Joy: 1974 Gibson EDS-1275

May 19, 2018

3 min read

In 2012 I was admiring a used guitar for sale on the internet. My fiancée noticed the drool on the desk in front of me and inquired the cause of such a behavior. I explained as I pointed to the screen that 'one day, I'll have a guitar just like that one.'

At the time I already had nine electric guitars, two acoustics, and one bass... not to mention five tube amps - all mostly vintage and acquired over a short period of time. I was lucky enough to have earned the bucks by doing modifications, customizations, restorations, repair work, and smart buying and trading deals. But as most of you can attest, there's always room for another guitar, amp, gear, and accessories.

Still, the guitar on my screen was a bit much - certainly more than I ever spent on a single guitar. But man... it was 100% original with OHSC and candy. Although it had a few dings, it was in excellent condition. The seller was a reputable online dealer with a liberal return policy, so I felt confident that once I earned the money I would go for it. That would take some time though...

A week later I was still strategizing how on earth I could afford such a beast. What could I sell to acquire the money? How may setups, pickup swaps, pots change outs must I do? I had only three customization jobs on the bench, and began a new product line of building amp cabinets - I had two 2x12 cabs forming in the shop... At this rate, it would be about 6 months before I could buy that guitar, if it was still on the market.

it was a Wednesday that i returned home from my 'real job' as an engineer manager in downtown Norfolk, VA. My fiancée told me I had a package to pick up at the lobby desk of our condo. She gave me the pickup tag and down the elevator I went. I was expecting some tolex and hardware for one of the cabinet projects in the shop. I gave the tag to the porter who went in the back to retrieve the box. When he returned, he was struggling with a rather large carton - a familiar carton to me - a 50"x18"x6" guitar box. At first I thought someone may have returned a guitar that I sold recently, although I had no indication that should be the case.

I heaved the box up the elevator, brought it inside, and looked for my box cutter to open the carton. My fiancée watched. With one end opened, I removed the top layer of bubble wrap to expose a rectangular black tolex case, like a Fender Strat or Tele, but wider like a Gibson Firebird of Explorer. It still didn't click that this case, marked Gibson, could be that sweet yellowed guitar I was admiring just 10 days earlier. I opened the case and a blinding stream of light shown - like in a dream - to reveal that very guitar - the 1974 Gibson EDS-1275! I was in awe. I looked up at my fiancée whose image seemed to block the same stream on light from behind her - I could barely make out her smile, but it was there. All I could really see was her beautiful blue eyes, radiant and smiling.

I left the guitar in its case to thank her. This was my wedding gift.