Gibson Tal Farlow - USA 2001

This Gibson Tal Farlow is a 2001 example finished in classic sunburst and represents one of Gibson’s most distinctive and musically focused archtop designs. Developed in collaboration with jazz guitar icon Tal Farlow, the model reflects both his extraordinary technical ability and his preference for clarity, projection and comfort at speed.

Tal Farlow was known for his rapid-fire lines, wide interval leaps and remarkable articulation, and this guitar was designed very deliberately to support that style of playing. The large body offers depth and authority, while the Florentine cutaway and slimmer body depth compared to traditional jazz boxes make upper-register access far easier than you might expect. It’s an archtop that feels surprisingly agile in the hands.

Tonally, the Tal Farlow sits in a sweet spot between warmth and definition. Clean tones are open, woody and articulate, with excellent string separation and a strong fundamental that suits complex chord voicings beautifully. Single-note lines remain clear and fast, even at higher tempos, which is exactly what the model was built to do. It’s a refined, elegant sound that still carries plenty of presence.

The neck profile is comfortable and well balanced, encouraging fluid movement up and down the fingerboard. Combined with the guitar’s thoughtful body proportions, it feels far more playable than its size might suggest. This example presents very well overall and has clearly been well cared for.

Finished in sunburst and supplied with its original hard shell case, this is a classic Gibson archtop that captures an important chapter in jazz guitar history while remaining a highly usable and inspiring instrument today.

Features:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.5mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 20.31mm

Nut Width: 42.73mm

Width at 12th Fret: 52.58mm

Weight: 3.24kg

Model: Gibson Tal Farlow

Year: 2001

Country of Manufacture: USA

Finish: Sunburst

Body: Laminated maple archtop

Cutaway: Florentine

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale Length: 25.5"

Pickups: Gibson humbucker

Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone

Bridge: Ebony

Tailpiece: Trapeze

Tuners: Gibson

Case: Original hard shell case

Condition: Excellent