| Gibson Dove | |
| Manufacturer: | Gibson |
| Period: | 1962–present |
| Bodytype: | Flattop |
| Necktype: | Maple |
| Woodbody: | Maple |
| Woodneck: | Maple |
| Top: | AAA Sitka Spruce |
| Woodfingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Bridge: | Tune-O-Matic or adjustable or fixed rosewood |
| Pickups: | LR Baggs |
| Colors: | Sunburst, Natural, Ebony |
The Gibson Dove is a flattop steel-string acoustic guitar made by the Gibson Guitar Corporation since 1962.
The Dove was Gibson's second square-shouldered dreadnought, after the introduction of the Hummingbird in 1960. First made in 1962 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, it was based on the Martin D-style dreadnought.[1] Both Gibsons have solid spruce tops and engraved pickguards. The Dove has solid maple back and sides instead of the solid mahogany used for the Hummingbird, and a longer scale length (25.5" vs 24.75"). These make it a louder, brighter guitar than the Hummingbird.
The double parallelogram fingerboard inlays, the two doves on the bridge, and the dove on the pickguard are mother-of-pearl. The original Doves had Gibson's metal tune-o-matic bridge, which seemed like a technological improvement at the time but had negative effects on tone and volume. The Dove has factory installed LR Baggs active electronics powered by a 9-volt battery.
In 1968 the internal bracing of the Dove was made heavier.[2] This sturdier guitar was less likely to be returned to Gibson for warranty work, but its volume was reduced and tone negatively affected.[3]
In 1985 Gibson's new owners began to address the quality issues that were affecting the company's products and reputation.[4] By 1992 production of Gibson acoustic guitars was shifted to Bozeman, Montana.
Models include the Dove Performer (with a Fishman Prefix T Pickup), the Dove Quilt (limited to 20 made with a quilted maple back and sides), the Doves in Flight (with extra ornaments), and the Elvis Presley Dove, based on the 1969 custom Dove that Elvis used in the early 1970s.[5]