The Square-Shouldered Icon in Vintage Cherry Sunburst
You know the Dove when you see it — that hand-painted pickguard, the cherry-stained maple glow, and a square-shouldered body that's been a studio and stage workhorse since 1962. This isn't a guitar that tries to be everything to everyone. It's a maple-backed acoustic-electric that knows exactly what it does well: crisp articulation, powerful projection, and enough visual presence to turn heads before you even play a note.
This Vintage Cherry Sunburst finish is where Gibson's nitrocellulose lacquer really shines. The cherry stain brings out every flame in the maple back and sides, and that thin finish means the guitar breathes and ages like vintage instruments should. The Dove Original pairs that figured maple with a solid Sitka spruce top and traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing, giving you a guitar that responds evenly across the fingerboard whether you're flatpicking leads, fingerpicking patterns, or driving rhythm.
The LR Baggs VTC pickup system sits under the saddle with volume and tone controls mounted in the soundhole. Plug in and you get a natural, feedback-resistant sound that holds up in live settings and blends beautifully with a mic in the studio. This one's ready for players who need a full-range acoustic tone that translates — on stage, in the booth, or in the living room.
Flame Maple Meets 25.5" Scale
The Dove Original's flame maple back and sides are where this guitar separates itself from Gibson's mahogany-bodied models. Maple delivers tight, focused lows and bright, clear highs with excellent note separation. Strum a big open chord and every string rings out distinct — no mud, no mush. That long 25.5-inch scale length adds tension and headroom, so the low end rumbles with authority while the top end stays articulate and present.
Up top, the solid Sitka spruce soundboard is built with hand-scalloped X-bracing, the same approach Gibson's Bozeman shop uses on their high-end acoustics. Scalloped bracing reduces mass on the top, letting it vibrate more freely for better resonance and dynamic response. The result is a guitar that feels alive in your hands — responsive to a light touch, but with enough power to fill a room when you dig in.
The mahogany neck is shaped to Gibson's Rounded profile, a comfortable middle ground that doesn't feel too chunky or too slim. The rosewood fingerboard has a 12-inch radius with 20 standard frets and mother-of-pearl parallelogram inlays. The 1.724-inch nut width gives you enough spacing for fingerstyle work without feeling wide, and the compound dovetail neck joint ensures solid coupling between neck and body for maximum energy transfer.
Stage-Ready Electronics and Classic Dove Details
The LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup is one of the most reliable acoustic electronics systems in the business. It captures the natural voice of the guitar without the harsh, brittle sound you sometimes get from cheaper piezo systems. The soundhole-mounted controls keep everything accessible while staying out of sight, and the 1/4-inch endpin jack makes setup simple whether you're running direct to a PA or through pedals and an acoustic amp.
This guitar earns its name from the pickguard — an engraved piece featuring an inlaid mother-of-pearl dove with hand-painted detailing. It's one of those design elements that's been part of the Dove identity since day one. The double antiqued multi-ply binding on the top and back, bone nut and saddle, nickel Grover Keystone tuners, and traditional Dove bridge all carry that vintage-correct aesthetic. Even the truss rod cover is specific to the model. These aren't just cosmetic touches — bone saddle and nut improve sustain and clarity, and those Grover tuners hold their tuning reliably.
The gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish will age and develop character over time, letting the wood breathe and the tone mature. Some players love the way nitro finishes check and wear; if you're one of them, this guitar will reward years of playing. Gibson includes a hardshell case and accessory kit, so it's ready to travel from the moment it arrives.
Product Features:
- Solid Sitka spruce top with traditional hand-scalloped X-bracing for resonant, dynamic tone
- Flame maple back and sides deliver crisp highs, tight lows, and excellent note separation
- Square-shouldered dreadnought body shape balances power and clarity
- 25.5-inch scale length provides strong projection and robust low-end response
- Mahogany neck with Rounded profile and rosewood fingerboard (12-inch radius, 20 frets)
- Bone nut and saddle with 1.724-inch nut width
- LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls
- Nickel Grover Keystone tuners and Tusq bridge pins
- Engraved pickguard with inlaid mother-of-pearl dove and hand-painted detailing
- Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Vintage Cherry Sunburst
- Includes hardshell case and Gibson accessory kit
Brand: Gibson
Model: Dove Original
SKU: OCSSDOVCS
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
