Gibson Marauder Natural Maple Neck 1978

This Gibson Marauder from 1978 is a genuine piece of seventies Gibson history, finished in Natural over a mahogany body with a maple neck. One of Gibson's more unusual and underrated models, the Marauder was designed with input from pickup guru Bill Lawrence and offered a bold, Fender inspired take on the single cut formula.

Produced for only a few years in the second half of the seventies, the Marauder combined a solid mahogany body and a maple neck for a bright, snappy and punchy character quite unlike a Les Paul. Earlier Marauders came with a rosewood fingerboard, and it was only from 1978 that Gibson switched to the maple board seen here, making this a nice example of that later spec. At 3.9 kg it is comfortable to wear, and the 24.75" scale, C profile neck and 12" radius make it easy and familiar to play.

What really sets the Marauder apart is its Bill Lawrence designed pickups: a humbucker in the neck and an angled single coil in the bridge, voiced for clarity and bite. Rather than a traditional selector switch, it uses a rotary blend control alongside volume and tone, letting you dial in any mix between the two pickups for a huge range of sounds, from warm and full to sharp and cutting. The harmonica style bridge and stop bar tailpiece keep everything anchored and resonant.

This example is in excellent condition for its age. The pickups, tuners and bridge are all original, and while the nut has been replaced, the original is included in the case. It shows the usual dings and wear you would expect from a 1978 Gibson. Fittingly, the pots date to 1977 and the serial number to 1978, consistent with a genuine late seventies instrument. It comes with a hardshell case and a TFOA Passport.

This instrument has been carefully inspected for condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.