1940 ES-300 VS. L5 Tailpiece
The photo to the left is of my 1940 ES-300 and 1940 L5. Both archtops made in the same year and share many similarities and contrasts. Please click on the links to view the entire gallery of each instrument. This page is for the viewing purposes of the tailpiece on the ES-300.
The 1940 ES-300 with long slant pickup made its short appearance in 1940's Supplement to Catalog AA. This mentioned supplement shows a drawing of what seems to be an L5 tailpiece (nickel plated with no tailpiece badge or gold color) attached to an ES-300. Yet, in the few photos that I can find, one in Catalog BB, 1942, a 1947 Gibson ad, and a Google search, there are absolutely zero photos of this seemingly rare tailpiece. The only tailpiece ever noted on this model, (except 1940's Supplement to Catalog AA) is the nickel plated tailpiece with the raised diamond motif.
I have searched for years and have finally come across one of the original ES-300 tailpieces that is drawn in the 1940 Supplement to Catalog AA. Perhaps it is a prototype. Nonetheless, it provides a small glimpse into Gibson's view of what the early model ES-300 was supposed to be.