Gibson Marauder Electric Guitar (1976)

Used item. One owner since the early 1990s. Images above are of the actual guitar, taken in a professional studio photography environment. This guitar is a 1976 Marauder, with its original natural finish. Headstock number: 00 186 426. The "00" denotes that it was manufactured in 1976. The "426" denotes that it was produced at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Should you care to read more about Gibson serial numbers, you may do so via the Gibson Support website, under "Serial Number Search." 

Here is the known history of this Marauder, including all known alterations. This guitar was purchased at a pawn shop on King Street in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1990s. The guitar still has its original tuning pegs and pickups. Everything else is also original, as it was manufactured in 1976, save in two instances. A black leather safety system for holding a guitar strap to the body peg was installed, as is visible in the photographs. This safety system can easily be removed without any alteration to the guitar. More significantly, the original nut was replaced by an Earvana Compensated Tuning System (or nut), to improve intonation for studio recording. This work was done by a local Athens luthier of national reputation, who also dressed the frets, and set up the guitar professionally around 2014. 

Otherwise, save where noted above, the guitar is as it was purchased in the early 1990s, and as manufactured in 1976. The guitar is in great shape, and structurally sound. The only dings and scratches of note are as follows: (1) There is a chip on the top body, near the tailpiece. (2) There are small scratches / chips on the back tailpiece of the body. (3) There some general finish discolorations where the forearm of a guitarist's strumming hand rests. (4) The pickguard has some mild yellow discoloration and scratches from general use, wear, and age. Please see the photographs for these details.

The hardshell case is in very good shape, and fully functional. It is not known whether this tweed case was original to Marauders of the 1970s. It was, however, the case that came with the guitar, when purchased in the early 1990s.