What an exciting guitar to have come into the shop!  This 1970 Gibson Barney Kessel is one of only three confirmed examples I know of that has all solid wood construction, featuring a solid carved spruce top and a solid carved, flamed maple back. others being a 1965 BK Standard and a 1968 BK Custom.  There may possibly be one other, but that one is not confirmed as far as I know.  If you're not familiar with the model, the early construction typically used laminated spruce for the top and laminated maple for the back, until about 1965 when the top also became laminated maple.  This is a rare find indeed, and in rare cosmetic and all-original condition for a guitar that is 55 years old at the time of this listing. 
 
This rare construction places this guitar in a different category than the typical Barney Kessel.  One could think of this guitar more as a Florentine double-cut L-5 in construction.
 
This one's build makes it one of two very unusual variations to come into the shop this year, the other being a 1966 BK Regular in rare walnut finish.
 
This guitar shows very little wear with only light scratches present in the clear coat finish and light pickguard scratches.  The original frets show only light wear.  Notice that an additional strap button has never been added to this guitar.  While the model typically came with a tune-o-matic ABR-1 bridge, I think it likely that this guitar shipped with the rosewood saddle currently on it.
 
Dating guitars from this era can be a challenge and this one is no exception.  The "Made in USA" stamped on the back of the headstock firmly places it in the 1970s and is consistent with the the rectangular label that replaced the orange ones.  The serial number places it in 1970-1972 or possibly 1974 (the last year of the model).  The presence of shielding cans surrounding the pots leads me to place it in the earlier range of these dates.  This appears confirmed by the price on the original hang tag of $695 which is the list price of the model in 1970, and lower than the 1971 list price of $795 (a big jump!).  All of these features appear to firmly place this guitar in the year 1970.
 
I don't usually go so in depth into the specifics of a model since they are readily available elsewhere, but since this one is very special, it deserved the detail.  Now on to the stuff I usually focus on.  How does this one play?  Absolutely beautifully!  The neck is straight and the action is great.  All notes ring out clearly at all frets.  The sound of the patent sticker T-top humbucker is one of my absolute favorites in an electric carved top archtop guitar, and this one delivers that tone.  There is great clarity that I think is under-recognized in these pickups.  They bring a more single coil type clarity to the sound while eliminating the hum typically associated with single coils.  When some dirt is wanted, they can bring that too.  The all-original electronics are all functioning perfectly and there is no scratchiness at all in the pots.
 
Weight - 6.6 pounds
Nut width - 1.61 inches
1st fret depth - 0.82 inches
9th fret depth - 0.93 inches
Scale length - 25.5 inches
 
The guitar also comes with the original hardshell case.  All latches and hinges work perfectly.  The original hang tag is also included.
 
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