DAVE ROGERS & JEFF DePETRO
1961 G ibson E S- 5
S witchmaster #A36092
This rare Gibson archtop was one
of eleven natural ES- 5 Switchmasters
made in 1961. The ES- 5 (ES standing for
“Electric Spanish”) was renamed the ES- 5
Switchmaster in 1956 with the introduction
of the new 4-way pickup selector switch,
labeled “ 1, 2, 3, ALL” and a Telecaster-style
switch tip. Three individual tone knobs
were added alongside three volume
controls, allowing for precise control of
the three PAF humbucking pickups that
replaced the P- 90 pickups used on pre-
1957 models. 1961 also introduced the
sharp single cutaway found on the ES- 5
Switchmaster’s body. A maple plywood top
and strong internal bracing was used to
limit feedback and increase durability.
This Switchmaster’s serial number can
be located on an orange label inside the
body’s bass-side bound f-hole. The ES- 5
Switchmaster also features a pointed-end
rosewood fingerboard with 5-ply binding,
large block fingerboard inlays, single bound
pegheads with crown peghead inlay, gold-plated components, including a gold Tune-o-matic ABR bridge and a three-piece neck
82 PREMIERGUITAR NOVEMBER 2007
www.premierguitar.com
