1974 Gibson L6S-Midnight Special Natural
Description
7 lbs. 10 oz.
Very cool mid-70's L6S, Original (except replaced Grover Tuners)
With OHSC. These are getting to be more and more collectible.
This is a good one, Plays great!
512834
🎸 What the Midnight Special Is
The Midnight Special was Gibson’s budget/secret version of the L6-S line, produced from about 1974 through the late ’70s alongside the L6-S Custom and Deluxe models.
It’s essentially an L6-S variant with a bolt-on maple neck rather than the set neck seen on many other Gibson models.
It was never listed in Gibson’s official catalogs or price lists, making it somewhat of a hidden classic in Gibson history
📐 Key Specifications (Typical for 1974 Models)
Body: Solid maple (single cutaway, non-beveled edge)
Neck: 3-piece bolt-on maple with maple fingerboard
Scale Length: 24.75″
Bridge: Schaller “harmonica” style Tune-O-Matic, strings through body
Pickups: Two Gibson “Super” humbuckers with metal covers (no visible pole pieces) Blue Book of Guitar Values
Controls: Master volume and tone with simple 3-way pickup selector Wikipedia
Finish Options (1974): Natural Maple, Wine Red, Ebony (plus very rare custom sparkle/cream versions)
📊 Rarity & Production
Around 2,000 Midnight Specials were produced total between 1974–1979. Vintage Guitar and Bass
Rare custom finishes, especially sparkle/cream and other boutique colors, had extremely limited runs — some sources suggest only a few dozen of specific variants.
🎶 Tone & Playability
With its all-maple body and neck, the Midnight Special is known for bright, clear tones with strong sustain.
Simple control layout and pickup configuration make it straightforward to dial in classic rock/blues tones — though without the expanded tonal circuit of the higher-end L6-S Custom.
📌 Historical Notes & Collectibility
Because it wasn’t catalogued by Gibson, many players and collectors consider the Midnight Special a curiosity or hidden gem rather than a mainline model.
A handful of these guitars (especially in unusual finishes) are sought after by collectors and can command higher vintage prices.
Very cool mid-70's L6S, Original (except replaced Grover Tuners)
With OHSC. These are getting to be more and more collectible.
This is a good one, Plays great!
512834
🎸 What the Midnight Special Is
The Midnight Special was Gibson’s budget/secret version of the L6-S line, produced from about 1974 through the late ’70s alongside the L6-S Custom and Deluxe models.
It’s essentially an L6-S variant with a bolt-on maple neck rather than the set neck seen on many other Gibson models.
It was never listed in Gibson’s official catalogs or price lists, making it somewhat of a hidden classic in Gibson history
📐 Key Specifications (Typical for 1974 Models)
Body: Solid maple (single cutaway, non-beveled edge)
Neck: 3-piece bolt-on maple with maple fingerboard
Scale Length: 24.75″
Bridge: Schaller “harmonica” style Tune-O-Matic, strings through body
Pickups: Two Gibson “Super” humbuckers with metal covers (no visible pole pieces) Blue Book of Guitar Values
Controls: Master volume and tone with simple 3-way pickup selector Wikipedia
Finish Options (1974): Natural Maple, Wine Red, Ebony (plus very rare custom sparkle/cream versions)
📊 Rarity & Production
Around 2,000 Midnight Specials were produced total between 1974–1979. Vintage Guitar and Bass
Rare custom finishes, especially sparkle/cream and other boutique colors, had extremely limited runs — some sources suggest only a few dozen of specific variants.
🎶 Tone & Playability
With its all-maple body and neck, the Midnight Special is known for bright, clear tones with strong sustain.
Simple control layout and pickup configuration make it straightforward to dial in classic rock/blues tones — though without the expanded tonal circuit of the higher-end L6-S Custom.
📌 Historical Notes & Collectibility
Because it wasn’t catalogued by Gibson, many players and collectors consider the Midnight Special a curiosity or hidden gem rather than a mainline model.
A handful of these guitars (especially in unusual finishes) are sought after by collectors and can command higher vintage prices.